Rynfield Bunny Park review - Benoni (JHB)

If you are headed out to the east of Johannesburg, or the "East Rand", as it is fondly known among locals, why not stop in at the Bunny Park in Rynfield, Benoni.

The Bunny Park is a large farmyard where you can see a variety of animals, feed them by hand, and let the kids spend a good amount of time and energy on the playground equipment there.

Date last visited

May 2011

Location and Setting

The Bunny Park is situated on Pretoria Road, Rynfield, Benoni in Johannesburg.

Approaching on the N12 highway from JHB, take the Snake Road offramp (M44), turn left and continue on Pretoria Road for approximately 2.4km.

Look out for the Bunny Park on your left.

You can find a map here.

For the kids...

The name kinda gives it away - bunnies are just the cutest, fluffiest little creatures and kids love nothing less than to feed them carrots, or chase them about (not advised though - we don't want to traumatize the little guys now!).

At the park you will also see ducks, geese, chickens, sheep, goats, peacocks, pigs, donkeys and maybe a few others that I have forgotten about :)

All in all, kids love it when they get to see animals up close, and the Bunny Park delivers big time on this front.

You can buy a bag of carrots or bird seeds from the kiosk near the entrance to feed the animals by hand, or you can bring your own food to do the same. 

When the kids tire of all the animals, it is time to head over to the playground, where you will find swings, slides, an old tractor and a whole lot of other rides for the little ones to try their hand at.

For the adults...

A morning out to the Bunny Park is a great way to let the kids run around in a lovely park setting. Townhouse and complex living often mean that gardens are scarce, so this is a great alternative if you have kids who need something to do outdoors.

Now I can't speak for everybody, but personally I enjoy any opportunity to see animals, and the Bunny Park is a great way to do this.
I listed the variety of animals above, so you won't be stuck for choice here.

Onto the really important stuff - food :)
The Bunny Park is really more of a picnic venue, than somewhere that you can kick back with a cappuccino in your hand.
There is a tuck shop / kiosk near the entrance where you can buy snacks and drinks such as chips, chocolates and cold-drinks.
There is also a hot dog stand nearby, but that's about where it ends.

Not that I want to take business away from the kiosk, but it probably makes more sense to pack a decent picnic basket for the family, find a shady spot under a tree and enjoy your lunch that way.
Just watch out for the geese... they might just want a taste of your lunch as well :)

Anything else?

Entry is free - I have no idea how they keep it free, when the place is so clean and well maintained.

There are also pony rides near the entrance, a small train for the kids, and a mini fairground where they can get their adrenaline pumping :) (for a fee, per ride).
The toilets were fairly clean for a public place, but as always, bring along those wetwipes just in case!

Final words

For something cheap and fun to do on a sunny day, the Rynfield Bunny Park makes a great destination for the family.
The kids will love it, and there are plenty of great photo opportunities to be had when the bunnies start creeping up on them for carrots!

Getting in touch

The Bunny Park operates from 08:00 - 16:00, 7 days a week.
If you want to visit on a Public Holiday though, it might be a good idea to call first and confirm.

Telephone:
(+27) 11 422 3651

or contact Gideon on:
(+27) 83 391 8184

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Montecasino Bird Gardens review, Fourways (JHB)

"The parrot with the blue feet"...:)

Traditionally in Johannesburg, if you want to see wildlife, you head off to the JHB Zoo (which is very cool itself).
If you feel like something a little different though, why not pay a visit to the Montecasino Bird Gardens.
While you may not see quite the same variety of animals as you would at the zoo, it is a different kind of experience and well worth it, especially if you have little ones in need of a really cool bird show :)

Date last visited

June 2013

Location and Setting

Montecasino is well known in Johannesburg - it sits on the Cnr of William Nicol Drive and Montecasino Boulevard in Fourways, Johannesburg.
Once you are in Montecasino itself, simply follow the signs to the Bird Gardens.
Once you reach the huge Hyundai helium balloon (which you cannot miss), then you are just about there :)

You can get directions and a map on the Montecasino site here.
You can also find a Google map here.

The cool thing is that the Gautrain Bus network has a drop off point directly in front of the Bird Gardens entrance - super convenient.

For the kids...

The biggest kid attraction here is definitely the animal factor.

The name is deceptive though, as the Bird Gardens are home not only to birds, but to mammals, reptiles, and some other rather unusual species as well.
As you explore the park, you will spot all kinds of creatures - toucans, parrots, flamingos, storks, meerkats, snakes, tortoises, frogs, spiders and many more I'm sure, if you keep your eyes peeled closely enough!

The highlight however, has to be the "Flight of Fantasy" Bird Show.
You can catch the 40 minute show in the Tuscan Amphitheatre - click here for show times.

The show is included in your ticket price and is great fun for young and old, so make sure you catch one while you are there.
We saw the show over 2 months ago, and our 2 year old is still asking about the mascot of the show - a guy dressed up in a giant, colourful toucan outfit, whom she fondly refers to as "the parrot with the blue feet" :).

When the tummies start to rumble and grumble, it's time to make a beeline for Cafe Flamingo.
Here you can sit back and enjoy a meal and a cappuccino or something cold, while the kiddies clamber about on the jungle gym or play in the sandpit and on the swings.
Cafe Flamingo also caters for kiddies birthday parties (max. 30 people) - click here for further info.

For the adults...

Parents will love the wide variety of creatures here, and the Bird Show will definitely put smiles on all faces.
On our last visit, after the show we were allowed to go down and meet some of the bird-stars of the show (including "the parrot with the blue feet" :), and get photos taken with them.

The food at Cafe Flamingo is reasonably priced, and of good quality.
All of the meals we have had there have been great, and their offerings range from breakfasts, to tramezzinis and other coffee shop-type fare.
The place does get busy though, so either get there early for breakfast, or wait until a show is on - this tends to be a quieter period with lots of tables available.

Also try get a table close to the play area so you can keep a close eye on the little ones, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the nearby Flamingo Pond.

Anything else?

When purchasing your tickets, be sure to buy a small container of nectar to feed to the Rainbow Lorikeets - they live in one of the first enclosures as you enter the park, and they will land on your arm or shoulder and literally eat out of your hand. The kids just love it, as do the adults :)

The toilets are clean and well maintained (always a biggie!), and there is a baby-changing fold down table in the ladies toilets.

For current ticket pricing and Bird Park hours, click here.

When you have had your fill of the Bird Gardens, you can always head over to the Hyundai Helium Balloon, which carries 30 people at a time and offers breathtaking views, or why not head into Montecasino, where you get an ice cream and take a stroll over to the Piazza, with its colourful musical fountains which the kids are sure to enjoy.

Final words

The Montecasino Bird Gardens make for a fun and memorable day out, especially as we head into the beautiful summer months up here on the Highveld.
The variety of bird and other species, a wonderful bird show, and the Gautrain Bus convenience factor make it something that you will want to do over and over again.

Getting in touch

Telephone:

(+27) 11 511 1864

Fax: 

(+27) 11 511 0477 

Email: 

mbirds@mweb.co.za

Website:

Click here.

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Jingle Jangle Tea Garden review, Moreleta Park (Pretoria)

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Luschka has been at it again, scouring Pretoria for kid-friendly places where she can get a great coffee at the same time. Thanks Luschka!

Jingle Jangle is my favourite place in Pretoria. It ticks all the boxes I need when we need some time out of the house, it's peaceful and has great coffee.

Date last visited

March 2011

Location and Setting

Jingle Jangle is located in Moreleta Park in Pretoria East. It's accessible from all major routes and pretty easy to find – there's a map here.

Jingle Jangle is set in a large area with beautiful bluegum trees and loads of activities for children. It's a perfect afternoon out, and even on the hottest of days, there's a cool breeze under those trees.

For the kids...

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

For the kids there's a costume shop and a stage for fancy dress – an additional fee applies for this. There are plastic 'motorbikes' and quad bikes (also additionally charged) on the riding circuit for older kids. There's also a play area with two climbing frames, a pole for sliding, a tunnel to climb through, a 'horse' to ride, a sandpit and swings.

Jingle Jangle's play equipment includes a trampoline and a bouncy castle as well as ride on toys such as dinosaurs, a Flintstone-style car and so on.

As with many other places in Pretoria, there's an animal farm, although it's really more of an enclosure than a farm :)

The children's menu has nice foods on it, and their chocolate and vanilla milkshakes are very yummy. 

There are pony-rides on weekends and public holidays too.

For the adults...

I think about Jingle Jangle, and I feel relaxed. 

I'm not kidding...For adults, there's really just the tea room – and if you don't want to be surrounded by children, there's a lovely separate enclosure too. 

I love the outdoors area though. Shaded by bluegum trees, able to keep an eye on the little ones, and have a bite to eat, there's not much missing. 

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Their fruit juices are fantastic, as is the coffee.

Anything else?

There's plenty of parking and a car guard on duty. 

The toilets are lovely and there's a small baby-change area. You can book the area for private parties, or bring your own cake, but for that there's a 'corkage' fee.

Final words

As I said, I love this place, and it's my favourite in Pretoria. 

It's one of the most relaxing spots I've found and if you visit, you're likely to find me there!

Getting in touch

Address:

Wekker street
Plot 54
Kimiad Estate
Moreleta Park

Pretoria 

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Telephone:

012 997 0134

Fax:
0866 924 724

Email:
jinglejangle@vodamail.co.za

Website:

http://www.jinglejangle.co.za/

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Kids Castle Animal Farm and Playground review, Die Wilgers (Pretoria)

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Luschka van Onselen has been very busy in and around Pretoria - here is her next contribution - thanks Luschka!

The urban farm is definitely the 'thing to do' in Pretoria, and Kids Castle Animal Farm and Playground is another option if you're looking for somewhere to go. 

Kids castle has a playground and farm, and is a party venue for children.

Date Last Visited

March 2011

Location and Setting

Located behind the Grove Mall just off Lynwood Road or off Simon Vermooten if you're coming on the N4, Kids Castle Animal Farm and Playground is at 21 Farm Road. 

It was actually remarkably easy to find, armed with just those two street names.

You arrive in a sand car park, and being the only people there, we found ample parking (plenty of which is in the shade). 

There's a restaurant to your right (which wasn't open during the day) and a nursery school, which also didn't seem to be open. Ahead is the 'farm' part and to the left is the reception for the large play park and entrance to the farm.

A map is available here.

For the kids...

Honestly, it's all about the kids. The playground has three large climb frames, a 'tractor', sand pit, various swings and slides, a roundabout swing thing and a trampoline. 

The biggest problem we found was that everything was in the sun and scorchingly hot. We were able to play on some of the equipment, but a few trees around the play area would not hurt.
There are separate party areas so that two parties can be held at the same time.

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Upon arrival we were given animal food – cabbage for the goats, sheep and rabbits and corn for the chickens, geese, ducks and random other fowl. As we approached they rushed to the fence, and my daughter loved it. 

The goats were the keenest for food and were remarkably gentle in taking it from my 17 month old.

For parties there is also a jumping castle, tractor rides and donkey rides, and the package (R700 for three hours venue hire, R50 per child and R25 per adult) includes party packs and entertainment.

For the adults...

There's not a huge amount for adults, other than playing with your little ones, which is probably the point. There's not a lot of shade, but saying that, as the only people there on the day, we were fine. 

You can buy a small selection of soft-drinks from their shop. I paid R10 for a Fanta Grape.

Anything else?

Dawie, one of the owners was very friendly and informative. He told us details about the animals and wasn't shy of spending a bit of time making sure we were looked after.

The only real downside of Kids Castle is the toilets. There's no baby change facility, which in a place catering for children is a little strange, and there were hundreds of mosquitoes. 

Hopefully management have taken note of this and will improve the facilities in the near future.

I think it would be a great place for a birthday party or to go with friends. Mums and Dads can sit and chat while the kids run themselves ragged and entertain themselves with the animals.
Day visitors are welcome – i.e. you don't have to be part of a party, and adults will pay R15, while children are R25.

With a toddler on my own it was good for about two hours, but with older children or a group, and a few snacks, it could easily be a whole day out.

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Getting in touch 

Website
http://www.kidscastle.co.za

Telephone
Dawie 0828046979
Marika 0837701786
Tel: (012) 8070688

Address
Plot 21
Farm Road Off Simon Vermooten

Die Wilgers

Pretoria

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Safari Garden Centre review, The Willows (Pretoria East)

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Thank you again to Luschka van Onselen for this, her latest contribution to Plebs with Kids - keep 'em coming!

I'm not sure if it's all over South Africa, or just in Pretoria, but Garden Centres are glorified playgrounds that sell a few garden essentials on the side. 

Honestly, I've seen garden centres all over the world, and none of them hold a candle to the ones here, and in the garden centre league, Safari is my personal first place title holder.

Location and Setting

On Lynwood Road, Pretoria, Safari Garden Centre lies on the T-Junction of Lynnwood and Rubida Street, The Willows (Pretoria East) and it is pretty impossible to miss.

From the road it looks like your average garden centre. 

Parking is plentiful, free, and there's a car guard on duty.

You can find directions here.

For the kids....

Credit: Luschka van Onselen

Walk through the garden centre and you're faced with a world you didn't know was there from the road. Passing by all the plant centre things, you find a wonderland for children.

There are pony rides and a train ride on weekends and public holidays.

There's a jumping castle, and a walk in aviary / animal farm, which houses bot belly pigs, chickens, rabbits, a few goats and more varieties of farm birds.

There are also marmoset monkeys, dwarf mountain goats and rabbits.

In the centre of all this is a playground with slides and climb frames. Really, its a child's paradise.

There are also many water features, water falls, fish and a rickety looking bridge over the water, something my daughter was fascinated by.

There are ride-on machines and a large elephant for looking at, and there's plenty of opportunity for walking around, exploring and playing imaginative games.

Credit: www.safarigardencentre.com

For the adults...

There are different 'plant' sections – rose, cacti, herbs, herbaceous and indoor are only a few- and a water feature area with everything from little fountains to a roaring waterfall. 

There are also plenty of opportunities to walk around daydreaming about your ideal garden.

The key to any good child's place for me, is a decent cup of coffee, and the restaurant here serves that, no doubt. There's a full restaurant, a bar, a chapel and various function rooms.  

Outdoors there's a function area with a huge bonfire. The restaurant also stretches all the way to the play area, so you can keep an eye on the children while enjoying lunch or a drink.

Anything else?

Although the Safari Garden Centre is open till 17.30, the aviary is locked around 16.30, and the restaurant stops serving around the same time.

There is no entrance fee for any part of Safari, and only the rides and ride-on toys will cost you any money – and of course anything you purchase from the restaurant.

Credit: www.safarigardencentre.com

Final thoughts

The Safari Garden Centre is a free, fun-filled afternoon. There is so much to see that it caters for all ages, and it's hard to believe that beyond the King Kong - like walls, there's a whole bustling city.  

It's one of my favourite places in Pretoria, and I strongly recommend it for a visit.

Contact information

Telephone:

012 807-0009

Fax:

0866 800 772

Physical Address:

Credit: www.safarigardencentre.com

C/o Lynnwood Road and Rubida Street

The Willows

Pretoria East

Business Hours:

Monday to Saturday: 08:00 - 17:30

Sunday and Public Holidays: 09:00 - 17:30

Email:

info@safarigardencentre.com

Website:
http://www.safarigardencentre.com

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Lory Park Zoo, Midrand (JHB)

Kids love animals.

You just need to mention the word “lion” or “tiger” and their little eyes light up with glee and anticipation
We have already reviewed the JHB Zoo, and of course it scores well as an outing for the little ones.

You can only do the JHB Zoo so many times though, before other animal-themed options need to be found.
Lory Park Zoo then, presents a refreshing alternative if it’s animals that you want to see.

Date last visited

January 2011

Location and Setting

If it's JHB and Pretoria that you are considering, then Midrand is about as central as you can get.

...Meditation time...

Lory Park Zoo is situated at 180/1 Kruger Road, President Park, Midrand, in and among other agricultural holdings.
It sits almost directly underneath the flight path of small aircraft departing from and arriving at Grand Central Airport, so if you are an avid aviation-type person, this would be an added bonus for you...
...and when the kids get bored of the animals, just look up at the sky and point out the aircraft as they fly by :)

Directions can be found on their website at www.lorypark.co.za.


For the kids...

It's a zoo - nuff sed :)
Ok that's not entirely true - Lory Park has a selection of some unique and fascinating animals, and the layout of the walkways and cages allows you to get up close and personal with some serious players in the animal world.

This allows for some awesome photo opportunities, and at times you forget yourself as you stand motionless, admiring the incredible sight of a Siberian Tiger as it paces back and forth only one or two metres in front of you... better hope that mesh in between you is made of sturdy stuff!

Lory Park is a sanctuary and a haven for many animals, including big cats (tigers, cheetahs, lions, jaguars, leopards, pumas), small cats (caracals, ocelots, servals), canines (foxes, jackals), primates (lemurs, monkeys), tortoises and birds (parrots, birds of prey).

Speaking of birds of prey, you can also get up close and personal with owls in their enclosure - you don a leather glove and head on in.
Lift up your arm and they just flock in to grab some grub off you. Drop your arm again and they're gone.
Very cool!

This is SO the life...

For the adults...

Growing older doesn't mean that you have to lose your appreciation for nature - and thank heavens for that, because the animals at Lory Park Zoo are as much a treat for the adults as they are for the kids.

As I mentioned above, Lory Park is a sanctuary for many animals, some of them on their way to larger facilities or different habitats.
That means that you are likely to see different animals on subsequent visits, which is always a good thing.
For example, the super-cute tiger cubs in the photo below were at the zoo during our visit in 2008, but are no longer there now (or they are just a whole lot larger :).

There is also a small Tea Garden at the zoo, but when we were there they were only functioning as a kiosk where you could get a colddrink, a chocolate or some chips etc.
According to the menu on their website though, they do offer a light meal or refreshment in between your fix of wildlife.

Anything else?

Depending on the timing of your visit, you can see the cats getting bottle-fed or as in the photo below, getting treated to a dose of fly-repellent :).
For R50 extra you can also go into some of the enclosures (cubs only, of course), for a hands-on experience with these incredible creatures.

Lory Park Zoo also offers other services like bird food sales, bird wing and nail clipping, bird lodging etc.
Best to contact them directly for any queries along these lines.






Final words

There isn't really much else to be said, that quite describes seeing big cats so close up.

For example, there is a jaguar at the zoo who was rather reclusive during our visit.
I always thought jaguars were pure black, but there is in fact a subtle yet discernible pattern on their skin that is visible from certain angles.
I am no game ranger (I run away from small spiders), so I do not know if all jaguars have this characteristic, but it was something quite fascinating to see.

For a refreshing animal-themed outing, Lory Park Zoo delivers a unique and memorable experience, and you will leave wanting to come back again soon.


Getting in touch

Telephone:

011 315 7307

Email:

curator@lorypark.co.za

Website:
http://www.lorypark.co.za

Fax:
011 312 2364

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