Durban and beyond: School holiday fun for kids

Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Little Pigs are all familiar stories, but The Wolf is at the Door throws them together for one stage adventure.

The school-holiday production gives families a rare children’s theatre option in Durban and comes in at a reasonable R90 a ticket. It is a welcome change from spending another afternoon inside a shopping centre.

Where: Westville Theatre Club
When: 3 October 2026 at 2.30 pm
Cost: R70
Best for: Young theatre lovers and primary-school children
Booking: Tickets are available through Webtickets

Show Runtime: Roughly 1 hour, making it perfect for kids of all ages (from 5 to infinity)

If your child uses the furniture at home as an obstacle course, this is your opportunity to redirect that energy.

The Total Ninja Holiday Club at Gateway is designed for children aged four and older, with obstacle challenges, games and supervised activities. The morning and afternoon sessions also give parents more than an hour to themselves, which may be the real holiday treat.

Children can attend for one day or sign up for the full week.

Where: Total Ninja, Gateway Theatre of Shopping, Umhlanga
When: 28 September–2 October 2026
Time: 8.30 am–1 pm or 1.30 pm–6 pm
Cost: R350 per day or R1,400 for the week
Best for: Energetic children aged four and older
Booking: Booking in advance is recommended

Konke Gamers is doing something far more meaningful than simply setting up another room full of consoles.

The Durban-based initiative uses adaptive controllers and customised technology to make gaming accessible to children and adults with disabilities. Equipment can be adjusted around a player’s mobility, strength and individual needs, opening gaming to people who may struggle to use conventional controllers.

Sessions are free and can be arranged for individuals or groups in the Durban area, mainly over weekends.

Where: Sessions are arranged at different locations around Durban
When: Mainly weekends, by arrangement
Cost: Free
Best for: Children and adults with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities
Booking: Contact Konke Gamers in advance or email [email protected]

Jump 4 Joy at Watercrest Mall has the trampolines, climbing wall and soft-play areas you would expect, but its provision for children with autism makes it particularly worth knowing about.

Tell the team that your child is autistic when you arrive. Your child will receive an additional white armband, so staff and other visitors can recognise that they may need more patience, space or support. A parent or guardian can also receive a complimentary armband to enter with them, helping the child feel safe and comfortable while they play.

That small adjustment can make a noisy, unfamiliar environment far less daunting for both the child and the adult accompanying them.

Where: Watercrest Mall, Waterfall
When: Open throughout the school holidays
Cost: From R85 for junior jumpers and R140 for general peak-time access; grip socks cost R40–R45
Best for: Active children and children who need a caregiver close by
Good to know: Sessions begin on the hour, and advance booking is required

Sage Kids Corner is tucked inside the Sage Centre in Salt Rock and offers a gentler alternative to the large indoor play centres.

Children can hunt for colourful stones in the Scratch Patch, make slime, try sand art and choose from other small creative activities. There is a shaded play area too, while the centre’s cafés and restaurants make it easy to turn the visit into a relaxed family morning.

The activities are individually priced, so parents can set a budget and let the children choose what they want to do.

Where: Sage Centre, Salt Rock
When: Open daily
Cost: Activities are individually priced
Best for: Toddlers and younger primary-school children

Good to know: Combine a few activities to make the drive worthwhile. Find current details through Sage Centre

The KwaZulu-Natal Museum’s Holiday Careers Workshop gives older children something more substantial than another day of general entertainment.

The workshop offers an opportunity to learn about different career paths in a museum setting, making it particularly useful for children who are beginning to ask what they might want to do one day. It also gives Durban families a reason to make the drive to Pietermaritzburg and explore more of the museum while they are there.

Where: KwaZulu-Natal Museum, 237 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg
When: From 28 September 2026 at 8.30 am
Cost: R60
Best for: Curious older children and young teens
Booking: Book through Webtickets

The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board offers one of the city’s more unusual educational outings.

The visit begins with an audiovisual presentation about sharks, the marine environment and the safety gear used along the KZN coastline. This is followed by a shark dissection, giving children a close look at the animal’s internal anatomy while learning more about its role in the ocean.

The dissection is fascinating, but it is graphic. Parents of sensitive children should decide beforehand whether it will suit them.

Where: KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, 1A Herrwood Drive, Umhlanga
When: Presentations and dissections generally take place from Tuesday to Thursday at 9 am and 2 pm, with a Sunday afternoon session
Cost: Contact the Sharks Board for current admission rates
Best for: Older primary-school children, teens and young marine-life enthusiasts

Good to know: Confirm the programme before visiting, as times may change

For children who would choose Pokémon over another playground, The Big Bang Shop is worth the Umhlanga detour. Alongside trading cards, board games, figurines and blind boxes, the shop hosts regular in-store play. Saturday sessions include Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!, while Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece and Warhammer feature elsewhere on the weekly programme. Newcomers are welcome, but check the latest schedule before visiting.

Where: Shop 4, The Auroras, 9 Aurora Drive, Umhlanga
Contact: 072 326 8659
Website: bigbangshop.co.za

Ice skating in Durban still feels delightfully out of place. Outside, it may be warm enough for shorts; inside Galleria, children can wobble their way around a full-sized ice rink.

Beginners can hire penguin skating aids, while more confident children can head straight onto the ice. Sessions last two hours, which gives them enough time to get past the initial wall-clinging stage.

Where: Galleria Mall, Amanzimtoti
When: Public sessions run daily at scheduled times
Cost: R80 entry plus R45 for skate hire
Best for: Older children, teens and adventurous beginners

Good to know: Wear long socks and bring an extra layer. Check the current session schedule with Galleria Ice Rink

The Animal Farmyard in Assagay is smaller and less polished than the big-name animal attractions, and that is part of its charm.

Children can meet and interact with a variety of farm animals before adding a horse ride, tractor ride or zipline to the visit. There is also a coffee shop, or families can bring their own picnic or braai supplies and make a longer day of it.

Because the farm is terraced, it is not wheelchair-friendly.

Where: 3 Lello Road, Assagay, near Botha’s Hill and Hillcrest
When: Daily and public holidays, 8 am–5 pm
Cost: R40 per person; horse rides cost R20 and tractor or zipline rides cost R10
Best for: Toddlers and younger primary-school children

Good to know: Picnics and braais are allowed, and there is a coffee shop on site
Booking enquiries: 031 765 2240 or 082 979 6030

A beach day does not always have to mean swimming. At low tide, the rock pools around Umdloti and Umhlanga become miniature marine worlds filled with shells, small fish, crabs, and other creatures hiding between the rocks.

Give each child a small notebook or use a phone to photograph what they find. The challenge is to spot as many different creatures as possible without removing or disturbing them.

Check the tide times before leaving home, wear shoes with a good grip, and keep children away from exposed rocks when the sea is rough.

Where: Umdloti or Umhlanga rock pools
When: At low tide and in safe weather conditions
Cost: Free
Best for: Curious children who enjoy nature and exploring
Remember: Look, photograph, and leave everything where it belongs

Not every holiday outing needs to take half a day. Sometimes a surprise drive for ice cream is enough.

The Polar Ice Cream factory shop in the Springfield area sells a wide selection of ice creams, frozen treats, and take-home tubs. Let each child choose something they have never tried before or buy a few different options and hold a family taste test at home.

It is a small outing, but it is exactly the kind of thing children remember.

Where: Polar Ice Cream factory shop, Lakedale Road, Springfield Park area
When: Weekdays and Saturday mornings; confirm hours before visiting
Cost: Depends on what you choose
Best for: A quick, affordable holiday treat
Good to know: Take a cooler bag if you plan to buy tubs or frozen products to take home

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Public schools break from 24 September to 5 October 2026 and return for the fourth term on 6 October. Independent-school dates may differ.

Prices, programmes and operating hours can change, particularly during school holidays. Confirm directly with venues before travelling and book timed sessions or workshops in advance.