We’re fortunate to live in a city that really values family life and has an amazing kiddies’ culture.
Planes and burgers = the BEST combination
Take your little ones to Airborne Café, a family friendly restaurant situated at Bloemfontein Parachute Club at Tempe Airport. They have a superb outside area with seats and umbrellas, bouncy castles, a playground, plastic bikes and kiddies’ tables to do arts and crafts. All this, while witnessing parachuters, planes taking off and landing, and helicopters doing their rounds. This is such a win!
Contact: 082-445-1794.
Eat and play
There are literally tonnes of restaurants and coffee shops in Bloem which cater brilliantly for kids, so that you can enjoy some mommy-time while the children are entertained. A few we can think of, are:
Spur (for the obvious reasons)
Panarotti’s at Mimosa Mall (great kids’ menu and cool play area)
Copper Clover (kids eat free on Tuesdays and the play area is out of this world)
Greenside Nursery (great kids’ menu and stunning play area)
Black Sheep Café at The Playground, Westdene (Yummy food, safe and new area where kids can play under supervision)
Family fun
Be Human – Middelwater Farm, on the R30 towards Brandfort, hosts fantastic family markets each Saturday, with loads to do for kids. There are animals to pet, play areas, entertainment, so much to learn about growing your own vegetables, and the occasional
horse riding and biking events. Just a fantastic thing to do with your kids, and to get outside!
Facebook: Be Human – Middelwater Farm.
Also, don’t forget about the typical Bloem tradition of visiting the Boeremark each Saturday at 22 Elias Motsoaledi Street. There you can buy affordable hand-made toys, eat delicious pancakes and boerewors rolls and let your kids play on the bouncing castles,
slides and other cool inflatables. There’s also an opportunity to ride on the donkey cart and kids’ train.
Facebook: Langenhoven Mark/Market.
Arts and culture
Museums are a fantastic way to teach your children about our history and other important things about life and our world.
To name a few: Oliewenhuis Art Museum (while you’re there, do a picnic and go for a ride on the carousel!), The National Museum, and the Anglo-Boer War Museum. Also, for an epic art experience, book a session with The Canvas Club.
(read more about this on page 46).
Animals and nature
Every parent will concur – seeing real-life animals gets little kids excited every time. We start with Bagamoya Wildlife Estate. It’s a sanctuary for lions offering tours as well as animal interactions. This venue also offers accommodation, a child-friendly restaurant, a children’s play area and a variety of outdoor activities.
(Contact: 082-497-7550).
Naval Hill, in the heart of Bloemfontien, forms part of the Franklin Game Reserve. Visit this popular spot for amazing views of the city as well as a variety of wild-and birdlife.
The Free State National Botanical Garden offers a peaceful backdrop for
family picnics. Birds and small creatures are in abundance… your kids will love it!
The Seven Dams Conservancy is worth a visit for the purpose of picnics, walking- and hiking trails, jogging, bird watching, mountain biking or dog walking. A kids’ nature paradise.
