Need School Holiday Ideas? Kirstenbosch Gardens Give Kids Free Entry

Photo by fotovegraf via Pexels

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are opening their doors for free to children during the school holidays to help parents keep little ones busy.

Cape Town, South Africa (27 June 2025) – Recently named one of the “Must-See” gardens in the world by the New York Times, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are a natural gem right on our doorsteps (well, mostly for Capetonians). This school holiday, SANBI has opened its gates, offering free entry to all the kids.

From 30^th June to 17^th July, Kirstenbosch will become a playground for the imagination, offering a range of learning, exploration, and activities, including nature walks, plant potting, drumming, marimbas, sand art, and more.

The holiday calendar has been carefully curated to inspire children, nurture their connection to nature and create a blissful atmosphere. Don’t miss out on the fun-filled Kirstenbosch Winter Wonders programme.

The team have loads of fun events planned, which you can find out about here. However, once the rainy weather subsides, simply spending time outdoors will do wonders for both children and parents. The gardens are a great place to stretch those little legs and clear the mind.

If the weather doesn’t pan out, head indoors where local authors and illustrators will be sharing their most loved books. Book readings take place during the month of July at 10 am. Please email here to book your spot.

4^th with author Karen Cammell and the Nita book range
7^th with author Pippa Skotnes and the book When the World Was
8^th with illustrator Anja Stoeckigt and the book Superheroes of the Savannah
10^th with author Marc Hoberman and the book Harper
15^th with author Monique Fellows and the book Sandy and the Salty Sea Dog

While most of the flowering plants will be dormant for the winter, you will be able to spot some stunning flowering proteas. Don’t forget the endless paths and the stunning Tree Canopy Walkway (“Boomslang”).

Click on this here to secure free entry into the Garden for children under 18 during any of the dates that fall in the holiday period, or get your free ticket at the ticket office upon arrival at Kirstenbosch. You can download the full holiday programme here.

Kirstenbosch is part of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and plays a vital role in plant research, propagation, conservation, and environmental education.