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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Primi Piatti Fusion review, Stoneridge Shopping Centre (JHB)

I am a firm supporter of the Primi Piatti brand, mainly because every visit has been a pleasure.
Their food is consistently great and their menu offers a good variety for all.
Top it all off with their ability to keep the kids in mind, and it earns them a spot right here, on Plebs with Kids.

Date last visited

July 2011

Location and Setting

Primi Fusion
Shop 24A
Cnr Hereford & Modderfontein Rd
Stoneridge Lifestyle Centre
Modderfontein

Click here for a map - scroll down and look for "Location Map" on the right side of their page.

For the kids...

While you wait for your meal to arrive, Primi Fusion makes sure that the little ones are kept occupied.
Near the back of the restaurant you will find a kids activity area, which Primi calls "Primi Pods".
Here they can sit in front of the colourful mosaic counter, and engage in some enjoyable entertainment, in the form of pizza making and biscuit baking :)

Caregivers are present to assist the young ones, and also to facilitate the process of baking, once the kid-masterpiece-creations have been prepared :)
When the baking is all done, the kids get to try out their very own creations - super cool!

The area is visible to parents, so you can keep an eye on the kids as you enjoy your starter / drinks / coffee / whatever it is that you order :)

Primi also really scores high when it comes to the kids menu.
They offer a colourful and funky "Spaghetti and Ladders" menu, which resembles a game board.
It offers a great choice, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the pricing too.

Get a PDF version here, or a JPEG version here.

For the adults...

This one is all about the food, and in our experience, Primi always gets this very important aspect right.
Their breakfast menu offers great variety - from good old traditional eggs, bacon and the trimmings, to eggs benedict, to health breakfasts, check it all out on their breakfast menu here (PDF) or here (JPEG).

Their main menu offers pasta, pizza, chicken, fish, burgers and of course a decadent selection of desserts.
Download it here (PDF) or here (JPEG).
While I have not yet had the time to try out all of their menu offerings, everything that I have had was of a consistently high quality.

I trust that you will enjoy the same experience :)

Anything else?

The other great thing here, is the staff. From the managers to the waiters, to the kitchen staff and caregivers for the kids, they all just do what they do, with a big smile on their face.

Just look up on the wall as you walk in, and you will see the quote "Work is love made visible...". Clearly these guys practice what they preach.

Keep up the great work guys!

Across the parking lot there is also an Adventure Golf course - something to help you either work up an appetite, or walk off a meal :)

On weekends when we visited Primi Fusion, there was also a jumping castle inflated in the square in front of the restaurant, and we even saw a few clowns walking around entertaining passers-by - it all made for good fun :)

Final words

Primi Fusion @ Stoneridge Shopping Centre is a great idea if it's mainly great food you're after, but with the knowledge that your little ones will also get some educational fun out of it, and a great kids meal to top it all off.

Sometimes you just want to enjoy great food, but you don't really want to venture out to a kids theme park or a place where kids are just bouncing off the walls (sometimes literally :) - and that's where a place like Primi Fusion fits in perfectly.

Getting in touch

Telephone:
(+27) 11 452 2732

Fax:
(+27) 11 452 2732

Email:
fusion@primi-piatti.com

Website:
http://www.primi-piatti.com

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Papachinos, Crowthorne (JHB)

Once in a while, you come across a venue which really just seems to do all the right things.
If you ever find yourself in the Midrand area and you need just such a place, look no further than Papachinos Continental Cafe in Crowthorne.

Date last visited

January 2011

Location and Setting

Papachinos Crowthorne is situated at 40 Whisken Avenue, Crowthorne, Midrand.
It's slightly outside of Midrand proper, so GPS it if you can, or use this direct link to Google Maps to find it.

For the kids...

Papachinos has one of the most extensive kids play areas that we have yet come across.
It stetches virtually the full length of the property, which means that wherever you are seated, you are never far from a play area.
Now if you are part of my generation (born circa 1980), then you will remember the type of jungle gyms we had back then - large multi-coloured square metal structures which were rather unforgiving on the body, should you ever lose your footing or grip...

They also had a tendency to boil in the sun, which made for a rather unpleasant time if you chose to go down the slide in your shorts...

Thankfully though, this is 2011, technology has advanced, common sense has prevailed and plastic is now the order of the day :)
By plastic, I mean the new generation of jungle gyms that are taking the kiddies world by storm - I mean just take a look at this giant chunk of playtime fun:)

Papachinos Crowthorne has no less than 3 of these, and it makes you want to be a kid all over again!
The ever-present child-minders even have races with the kids down the slides... I am envious!
Speaking of child minders, these are ones that you really don't mind tipping as they do such a great job :)

In the photo above you will also spy a bit of road - there are 2 of these tracks in different areas on the premises, along with a fleet of fancy ride-on bikes for the little tykes to practice their lap times on.

The playground also has some more traditional play equipment - swings, see-saws, ride-on animals (thankfully bolted into the ground, otherwise airborne children and injuries would be plentiful!), and of course the signature Papachinos kiddies-pizza-making facility :)

Here they can sit alongside other kiddies at a kids-height counter, and create their very own pizza from scratch, starting from a pre-cut circle of dough and adding their topping of choice.
Fun and food combined :)

If pizza won't do it for them, then there is a great kiddies menu that will definitely provide enough of a choice to keep those growling little tummies satisfied :)

For the adults...

It really is all about great food at Papachinos - all of the meals that we have had here have been fantastic, from good old pizza, to unique Mediterranean-style wraps, to a great breakfast selection, right down to a comprehensive kiddies menu, Papachinos just do great food.

As already mentioned above, all this great food can be enjoyed safe in the knowledge that the kids are well taken care of and having a ton of fun.

You also have the choice of sitting outside (alongside the play area), or if you prefer there are no less than 3 other areas in which to enjoy your fine dining - an inside area, a bar area and a small outside courtyard just next to the bar.

In our experience, even during a busy Saturday lunch, Papachinos didn't feel quite as chaotic as one may have expected with so many kids running around.
There seems to be an equal emphasis here on keeping the kids happy while still retaining the "come back again soon" factor.

Anything else?

There are dedicated baby-changing facilities on the premises, and high chairs are readily available if the little ones are not yet ready for full-size chairs.
There are also small picnic benches and tables especially for the kids to sit at.

According to their website, there are also safety officers and first aid kits onsite (which we thankfully didn't have to use :).

Booking ahead is highly recommended.
Arriving early enough on a Saturday morning might be ok without a booking, but be advised - this place does fill up quickly.
Parking is plentiful and there are car guards on duty.

Final thoughts

Papachinos Crowthorne is a great all-rounder.
Great food, smiling kids galore, and a venue which really looks out for all of its patrons, young and old.
A winner.

Getting in touch

Telephone:
011 702-1234

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

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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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Johannesburg Zoo, Parkview (JHB)

For as long as I can remember, the JHB Zoo has been a fascinating and wonderful place to visit, both for kids and adults.

It provides a beautiful green belt where you can see a wide variety of animals, right in the middle of the concrete jungle that is Johannesburg (ok not quite the middle, but pretty close...:))

Date last visited

July 2013

Location and Setting

The Johannesburg Zoo is located at the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Upper Park Drive in Parkview, JHB, overlooked by the Westcliff Hotel.

It is a well-known and well-loved destination for many families and their little ones.

For the kids...

First and foremost, the JHB Zoo provides an opportunity for kids to see all of their favourite animals up close - lions, tigers, bears, birds, giraffes, elephants, polar bears... to name only a few of the amazing species that call the zoo their home.

The animals are always a hit and are guaranteed to plaster smiles all over those inquisitive little faces (alongside the bits of food also plastered there...:)).
In particular, the lion and tiger enclosures are very impressive, having been upgraded in recent years to allow the animals much more space to roam.


The zoo also offers a lot of green space for the kids to run around in - always a biggie for city dwellers who are confined to apartment living, with minimal or no gardens.

There are also several theme-park styled rides near the main entrance, in case you need a few moments of adult-quiet time while the little ones run off to make themselves dizzy...
On our most recent visit last week, we also discovered that a really nice new kids play area is being built just near the lion enclosure - we were told that it would be ready during the next few days (so expect it sometime this month - July 2013):



There are many other activities that the JHB Zoo offers for kids, but I can only really scratch the surface here - for a complete guide to what's happening at the Zoo, you really need to check out their website at http://www.jhbzoo.org.za/.

For the adults...

I cannot speak for all adults, let alone even a few of them, but I for one never tire of the JHB Zoo.

As far back as I can remember, it was always a thrill to go on a zoo outing - as a kid I would sometimes request a zoo visit on a weekly basis...!

For adults who work and operate in a stressful and busy environment every other day of the week, the JHB Zoo offers a welcome slice of nature where time slows down ever so slightly... :)

The Cafe Fino that runs at the JHB Zoo certainly know how to make a nice meal as well - they offer a varied menu, offering breakfasts, pizza, pasta, trammezzini, wraps, salads and of course the usual array of coffees, milkshakes and beverages, without which any menu would be incomplete.

Recently we decided to try the Vegetarian Tostado - a type of wrap prepared with a filling of avo, halloumi cheese, mushrooms, peppadews and topped with a mix of melted cheese... 5 stars of deliciousness awarded for this one guys!

Round that off with a memorable Danesi Cappuccino, and the day is complete :)

My only con here would be the slightly long waiting times for service and for food... but then again it was pretty busy, and I suppose the wait was well worth it in the end :)

Anything else?

The JHB Zoo also operates a tractor ferry that you can hop onto, which caters for visitors who prefer to do a little less walking - it stops at various points for viewing opportunities and does a loop of the zoo grounds, more or less.
The toilet facilities are also generally clean and well-maintained.

Final words

Whether you bring a picnic basket, or pick up a hotdog at one of the many stands at the zoo, or even just kick back at Cafe Fino, the JHB Zoo always seems to be a safe bet if you just want to get out for a pleasant day away from home, in the company of your family, friends and a little bit of "controlled" wildlife :)

Getting in touch, Facts and Figures etc...

For entrance fees, click here.

Operating hours are from 08:30 - 17:30 with last entry at 16:00.


Telephone:

011 646 2000

Email:
info@jhbzoo.org.za

Fax:
011 486 2866

Website: http://www.jhbzoo.org.za

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Bambanani, Melville (JHB)

We were invited out for breakfast one Sunday morning to a little place in Melville called Bambanani.
Not expecting much, we set off hungrily, and were most pleasantly surprised by what we found.
Having subsequently returned to Bambanani (a xhosa word meaning stand together/unite) on 2 further occasions, I feel adequately qualified to give a fairly accurate review :)
So without further ado, read on...

Date last visited

August 2010

Location and Setting

Bambanani is situated at 85 4th Avenue, in Melville, JHB.

It is fairly central, if a little closer to those in the West / Central areas of JHB. The exterior of the establishment belies what you will find inside...

It was a chilly autumn morning when we visited, and the first thing to greet us upon arrival were several cosy fireplaces churning out a good amount of warmth. 

Now I am totally clueless when it comes to fancy interior design terms, but I loved the look and feel of the place - very warm and welcoming.

For the kids...

Bambanani prides itself on a large kiddies play area, situated outside and behind the main restaurant.

There is an astro-turf area where the little ones can scoot about on kiddies motorcycles and clamber up on jungle-jims, and for the more adventurous little tikes out there, there is one of those huge multi-storey scaffolding type maze constructions.

Send your kid in there and you may not get them back for several hours...!

To add to this, dedicated child minders make their presence felt, so you can comfortably leave your precious little ones in their care. Tipping is of course always welcome.

The restrooms were clean and well presented, with very decently equipped changing rooms for those stink bombs that the little ones sometimes produce... :)

For the adults...

The warm, welcoming atmosphere is just awesome at Bambanani. It sure helps that all the staff we dealt with were relaxed and friendly, and fairly prompt to boot.

Food-wise, this being a breakfast, I can testify that several members in our party laid great praises upon the Eggs Benedict... :) 

Over and above this, the menu is varied and caters nicely for the kids as well.

All of those in our party loved their meals - a variety of different breakfasts were enjoyed at our table :)

Several cappuccino's and an awesome slice of lemon meringue later, it was unfortunately almost time to go... :)

Anything else?

Not much else to add - an excellent time was had by the adults, the kids had a great time and we will most definitely be back in the near future.

The staff here are superb - you get the feeling that they are really happy to have you in their establishment.

Oh and there is the option to dine inside or outside - the upper outside dining area overlooks the play area, so you can keep one eye on your food, and the other on your offspring playing below :)
The lower outside dining area is neatly spread around the play area, so if you want to avoid the stairs, then this is for you.

Free admission.

Final words

Bambanani turned out to be a superb hit - great food, great vibe and kid-friendly as well.

Truly a place of many happy returns!

Getting in touch

Call Bambanani on 011 482 2900.

Their website is currently under construction at http://www.bambanani.biz/

Highly recommended.

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