Kirstenbosch Winter Wonders

The school holidays are almost here and for many parents, the biggest question facing them is ‘what to do with the kids?’

The answer? Take them to Kirstenbosch for the fun-filled Winter Wonders programme.

From Saturday 25 June until Saturday 16 July, Winter Wonders offers a programme of learning, walking, being creative and listening to stories. Most of the activities are free of charge, and the programme also offers activities for the whole family to enjoy.

The Winter Wonders programme offers an opportunity to explore the most beautiful garden in Africa and learn more about the environment we live in. One of the highlights of the programme is the retelling of the San A San/African folktale ‘Mantis & the Bee’ with botanist, Prof Ernst Van Jaarsveld and puppetry by Sarah Mackie from Imagination International.

The unmissable adventures on offer include animated story reading in the bookshops, a treasure hunt through the gardens, a biodiversity and waste art workshop, a challenge to ‘find 50’ and a nature’s treasurebox experience.

Free Garden entry for children under 18 years during the Winter School Holidays 25 June to 17 July

See full programme details on www.sanbi.org.za. Enquiries: 021 799 8783

Kirstenbosch Winter Wonders 2016

Saturday  25 June 2016, 09h30 – 11h30, Winter Wonders Family Treasure Hunt. Meeting point: Info Desk in the Visitors Centre (Gate 1) Family groups (i.e. no unaccompanied children) will be invited to join a treasure hunting team. Each team will follow a different adventurous route to find some particular treasures in the garden, forest or conservatory. All of this is explained in curious clues which will require some very good thinkers. The Treasure Hunts start at 09h30 from Gate 1, so come early, and will be of about two hours duration. They include a snack break, so come prepared. Each team will be accompanied by an experienced treasure-hunting Garden Guide. Wear weatherproof clothing. No booking is required. Cost Free

Saturday 25 June 2016, 14h00 – 15h00, A San/African Folktale and adventure with botonist, Prof Ernst Van Jaarsveld. Venue: Conservatory (Gate 1). A San/African Folktale, ‘Mantis & the Bee’,  told as puppetry by Sarah Mackie (Imagination International) performance time – 20 minutes. And an adventure with world reknown botonist, Prof Ernst Van Jaarsveld to experience fascinating African plants from warmer climates, in the Kirstenbosch Conservatory.  Suitable for children of 8 years and older.Young children to be accompanied by parents. No booking is required. Cost free

Monday 27 June 2016, 10h00-11h00, Struik Nature’s Author show and tell in the Botanical Society Bookshop at Kirstenbosch (Visitors Centre) Title: A Box of Rocks, Author: Nick Norman. The first book in the series, Landy, tells of Jack finding Landy abandoned at the bottom of a field and how they start their new life together. In the next book, Fender, we meet Landy’s friend who lives near the beach. The story is based around a beach clean-up and how Fender and Dan rescue a seal pup. The third book, Landy’s New Home tells us how Jack and Landy set up their smallholding and make homes for all the animals. : In Fender’s Day at the Harbour, we return again to the coast and hear of Jack and Dan going   fishing while Fender spends the day at the harbour. Cost Free

Wednesday 29 June 2016, 10h00 – 12h00, A San/African Folktale and adventure with botanist, Prof Ernst Van Jaarsveld. Venue: Conservatory (Gate 1) A San/African Folktale, ‘Mantis & the Bee’,  told as puppetry by Sarah Mackie (Imagination International)  performance time – 20 minutes.  And adventure with world reknown ‘Tree’ botonist, Prof Eugene Moll as he guides children through the Kirstenbosch Arboretum to see trees from a birds eye veiw – ‘ The Boomslang’ – Tree Canopy walk. Cost Free

Thursday 30 June 2016, 10h00-11h00, Struik Nature’s Author Story reading and activity programme in the Botanical Society Bookshop at Kirstenbosch (Visitors Centre) Title: Mister King’s Incredible Journey Author & illustrator: David du Plessis. The story follows the travels of a King Penguin captured by fishermen visiting its remote South Atlantic island. Through various adventures and misadventures, both below and above the waves, the penguin eventually lands up on a beach on the mainland, and seems to be destined for the local museum – until Mother Nature intervenes. Cost Free

Friday 1 July 2016, 10h00-11h00, StruikNature’s Author reading in the Botanical Society Bookshop at Kirstenbosch (Visitors Centre) Title: First field Guide to Snakes & other reptiles/ Complete Guide to Snakes/ Complete Guide to Reptiles/Snakes & Snake Bites in Southern Africa/What’s that Snake? Author: Johan Marais. Meet renowned herpetologist Johan Marais and some of his scaly friends! Cost Free

Saturday 2 July 2016, 09h30 – 11h30, Winter Wonders Family Treasure Hunt. Meeting point: Info Desk in the Visitors Centre (Gate 1) Family groups (i.e. no unaccompanied children) will be invited to join a treasure hunting team. Each team will follow a different adventurous route to find some particular treasures in the garden, forest or conservatory. All of this is explained in curious clues which will require some very good thinkers. The Treasure Hunts start at 09h30 from Gate 1, so come early, and will be of about two hours duration. They include a snack break, so come prepared. Each team will be accompanied by an experienced treasure-hunting Garden Guide. Wear weatherproof clothing. No booking is required. Cost Free

Monday 4 July 2016, 10h00 – 11H30, Family Activity: Find 50 in Kirstenbosch Competition. Family groups are required to purchase the Find 50 in Kirstenbosch activity book at the Kirstenbosch bookshop – Gate 1 for R 40.00. Out of 50 items, family groups need to find 25 items from the booklet and take photographic evidence of the item matching the one in the activity booklet. Families have 1h30 min to complete the activity and submit their entries at the bookshop. Extra points will be awarded for creative photographs and final presentation. # The first family to complete the task wins a Struik Nature book hamper!!! Cost R40

Wednesday 6 July 2016, 10h00 – 11h00, A San/African Folktale and adventure with botonist, Prof Ernst Van Jaarsveld. Venue: Conservatory (Gate 1) A San/African Folktale, ‘Mantis & the Bee’,  told as puppetry by Sarah Mackie (Imagination International)performance time – 20 minutes. And adventure to see the Kirstenbosch African hut and traditional plants garden. No booking is required. Cost Free

Thursday 7 July 2016, 10h00-11h00, Struik Children’s Author Story reading and activity programme in the Botanical Society Bookshop at Kirstenbosch (Visitors Centre) Title: Katya’s Hairy Tales: The Bacon Chase. Author: Julia Richman. Illustrator: Celeste Beckerling. The Bacon Chase is the story about a lovable cat with an amazing, magical tail. Katya or Kit-Kat, as her owners affectionately call her, simply loves bacon and will do almost anything to get her beautiful paws on some. During a summer holiday at the seaside, she befriends a nervous seagull with one leg, Frederick Twiddle. While attempting to help Frederick to take revenge on the greedy hotel cat, Chubs, who bit off his leg, Katya lands herself in the middle of a CATastrophe with fluffy winter slippers and some really strange and scary humans. After a daring rescue effort, she receives a tasty reward! Activity to follow. Cost Free

Saturday 9 July 2016, 09h30 – 11h30, Winter Wonders Family Treasure Hunt. Meeting point: Info Desk in the Visitors Centre (Gate 1) Family groups (i.e. no unaccompanied children) will be invited to join a treasure hunting team. Each team will follow a different adventurous route to find some particular treasures in the garden, forest or conservatory. All of this is explained in curious clues which will require some very good thinkers. The Treasure Hunts start at 09h30 from Gate 1, so come early, and will be of about two hours duration. They include a snack break, so come prepared. Each team will be accompanied by an experienced treasure-hunting Garden Guide. Wear weatherproof clothing. No booking is required. Cost Free

Wednesday 13 July, 09h00-13h00, Biodiversity and Waste Art Workshop. Gold Fields Environmental Education Centre Art Workshop 1: Suitable for grade 4–6 (approximately 10 – 12 years). Booking essential with Sally Hey: 021 799 8676 / 8670 s.hey@sanbi.org.za Children will learn about Biodiversity and how waste is impacting on it. They will enjoy a guided walk in the Garden and go into forest, Fynbos and useful plants areas. They will learn how valuable biodiversity is to us. Back at the Gold Fields Education Centre, they will construct a stationery holder for their desks or a frame out of “waste” materials. These will be decorated with other recycled items or dried plants. Cost R60

Thursday  14 July 2016, 09h00-13h00, Nature’s Treasure Box Gold Fields Environmental Education Centre Art Workshop 2: Suitable for Grade R – 3 (approximately 6–9 years). Booking essential with Sally Hey: 021 799 8676 / 8670 s.hey@sanbi.org.za Children will take part in fun games, story-telling, and an exploratory walk in our magical garden. Children will be given the opportunity to discover the special treasures which nature provides. Back at the Gold Fields Centre, they will create and decorate their own treasure box into which they will put the items they collect from nature. Cost R60

Friday 15 July 2016, 10h00-11h00, Struik Children’s Author reading in the Botanical Society Bookshop at Kirstenbosch (Visitors Centre) Title: Aunt Alice and the Lion & The Elephants are Coming Author: Lindsay Norman. Illustrator: Izak Vollgraaff. Aunt Alice and the Lion: Themba and his brother and sister are excited that Aunt Alice is coming to visit them in the village. When they arrive at the station to meet her, the children find her in a tree. She explains that a lion wants to eat her. There is no sign of a lion but as the days pass and to the family’s great amusement, Aunt Alice remains convinced that there is a lion lurking behind every bush, just waiting to pounce. Could Aunt Alice be right? The Elephants Are Coming: Ten-year-old Themba dreams of joining his father and older brother in chasing the elephants away if they should come to eat their corn, as they did last year. Sadly, everyone tells him that he is too young and must stay at home to protect his mother, sister and grandfather while his father and brother are away. But danger lurks much closer to home! Readers will have to find out if Themba is brave enough for the challenge. Cost Free

Saturday 16 July 2016, 09h30 – 11h30, Winter Wonders Family Treasure Hunt. Meeting point: Info Desk in the Visitors Centre (Gate 1) Family groups (i.e. no unaccompanied children) will be invited to join a treasure hunting team. Each team will follow a different adventurous route to find some particular treasures in the garden, forest or conservatory. All of this is explained in curious clues which will require some very good thinkers. The Treasure Hunts start at 09h30 from Gate 1, so come early, and will be of about two hours duration. They include a snack break, so come prepared. Each team will be accompanied by an experienced treasure-hunting Garden Guide. Wear weatherproof clothing. No booking is required. Cost Free

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