I am beyond eggcited to be heading to Spier for what is promising to be the BIGGEST Easter egg hunt in the Western Cape this year. I may even be more excited than my kids, who are quickly turning into choccie-egg addicts thanks to the mountains of Easter treats that have been littering shop shelves since the post-Christmas blowout sales. While I know exactly which bushes I’ll be hunting through this year, maybe you haven’t quite decided where to take your family this Easter. Here’s a list of organised Easter egg hunts happening in South Africa in 2014.
BLOEMFONTEIN
Pretty Gardens Lifestyle Centre
The Easter Bunny is making an early stop in Bloemfontein this year, so bring the kids to him at Pretty Gardens Lifestyle Centre. While the kids take part in a free Easter egg hunt, moms and dads can enjoy a coffee at one of the restaurants or do some leisure shopping.
When: 12 April 2014 at 10am
Cost: Free
WHITE RIVER
Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre
Bring the kids to Shautany Chocolatiers for their 5th annual Belgian Easter Egg Hunt. Easter chocolates of all shapes and sizes will be hidden around the centre for children (aged 12 and under) to find!
When: 19 April 2014 (registration is open from 10am – 12pm)
Cost: R50 per child
Tickets: Contact Velia on 083 294 7998 or email [email protected].
DURBAN
uShaka Marine World
I said bigger is better and I’ll say it again. In partnership with Beacon, the mother of all marshmallow eggs, uShaka Marine World is hosting Africa’s largest Easter egg hunt with 100,000 eggs to be found.
When: 19 and 20 April 2014 at 7am.
Cost: R110 per person
PORT ELIZABETH
Splash Festival
The 3-day Splash Festival at Hobie beach is a highlight on the Port Elizabeth events calendar – not only because of the Easter egg hunt (date to be confirmed). The family-friendly festival programme includes live music, beach volleyball, inflatable boat racing, Tetra Brazil beach soccer, sand castle competitions, stand-up comedy, and more.
Festival dates: 18 – 20 April
CAPE WINELANDS
Anthonij Rupert Wines
The Easter Bunny will leave some of his chocolate treats for the kids to enjoy on the sprawling lawns of the Terra del Capo Tasting Room at Anthonij Rupert Wines in Franschhoek. Over the Easter weekend, visitors can look forward to freshly baked Easter-inspired bread, fabulous wine specials, and al fresco lunches under the olive trees overlooking the Drakenstein Mountains.
When: 19 – 21 April 2014 (closed Good Friday)
Spier
Bigger is always better when it comes to chocolate! If you share my sentiments, join us at the eggceptionally large Easter egg hunt at Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch where kids will follow a trail of yarn along the river to find their colourful chocolate treasures. In keeping with the large scale of the event, there will also be a giant chicken jumping castle and a massive egg piñata, as well as face-painting and egg-painting stations. Moms and dads can enjoy their own cocoa fix with a stylish wine and chocolate tasting (at an additional cost). A special Easter lunch will then be served up on the lawns of the Spier Hotel.
When: 20 April 2014 at 10am.
Hunt only: R100
Hunt and lunch: R325 for adults and R162.50 for children aged 6 – 12 years. Kids under 5 eat free.
Tickets available through Quicket.
CAPE TOWN
One&Only Cape Town
Visit One&Only Cape Town for a decadent Easter Bunny Afternoon Tea from 19 to 21 April with a special Kiddies Buffet on Easter Sunday in Vista Bar & Lounge. On Easter Sunday, 20 April, Reuben’s will be offering a special Easter Lunch Buffet and kids from Reuben’s and Vista Bar & Lounge may enjoy an Easter egg hunt hosted by KidsOnly Club.
When: 20 April 2014
Easter Bunny Afternoon Tea Buffet: R195 per adult and R95 per child aged 4 – 12 years on Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday Buffet at Reuben’s: R295 per adult and R175 for children aged 4 – 12 years.
Reservations: +27 (0)21 431 4511 or [email protected]
Table Mountain
So it turns out the Easter Bunny may in fact be a rock rabbit, because word is out that there is a magical egg hunt happening on the top of Table Mountain. Starting at the Upper Cable Station building, children will follow a trail of clues to find where the Easter Bunny is hiding with his chest of eggs. Kids will get to interact with the magic Easter Fairy, have tea with the Mad Hatter, and meet the Easter Bunny’s helpers.
When: 20 April 2014, from 10am – 1pm.
Cost: R215 for adults and R105 for children under 18.
Tickets: Available online or from the Cableway’s ticket office.
EAST LONDON
East London Zoo
Beware the wild animals as you hunt through East London Zoo to fill your basket of eggs!
When: 20 April 2014 at 2pm.
Cost: R15 (excluding zoo entry fee)
CAPE ST FRANCIS
St Francis Links
St Francis Links will once again host the free annual Easter egg hunt sponsored by Village Square Super Spar. The hunt will be followed by an Easter Sunday carvery lunch for the whole family, so make the most of your long weekend by keeping out of the kitchen!
When: 20 April 2014. The hunt starts at 9am and lunch bookings are open from 12pm.
Lunch: R165 for adults, R70 for children under 12, and R20 for kiddies under 4.
JOHANNESBURG
Montecasino
The Easter Bunny will be at the Montecasino Bird Gardens on Easter Sunday, where he has planned 2 hunts for a maximum of 250 children per session. Aside from the beautiful birds, kids will also enjoy face painting, juice and sweet stations, and more.
When: 20 April 2014 at 11:30am and 1:30pm.
Cost: Regular entrance fees for the Bird Gardens apply. R58 per adult and R33 per child.
But that’s not all! The Easter Beach Festival will see the Montecasino Outdoor Piazza transform into a tropical beach playground with numerous children’s activities by day and the sounds of Calypso musical vibes and seafood specials by night. It’s a great excuse to give everyone a good time during the Easter season, including sandcastles, beach games, ice creams, sunset cocktails, seafood and marimba beats.
When: 17 – 21 April 2014, from 10am
Tickets: R30 for the kiddies’ events. Entry to the evening festivities is FREE.
Garden World
Take the family to Garden World in Muldersdrift for pot painting, a tractor ride, and an Easter egg hunt with the Easter Bunny and Starkie.
When: 20 and 21 April 2014, 1:30pm
Cost: R45 per child
GARDEN ROUTE
Sedgefield Slow Festival
It’s literally going to rain eggs at the annual Easter Bunny Beach Fling, taking place at either Sedgefield Mouth or Myoli Beach (depending on whether the mouth is open or closed). Children 10 and under will be sorted into groups according to height and then pilots in motorised paragliders or micro-lights (weather permitting) will fly over and drop hundreds of eggs for each group to collect.
When: 20 April 2014 at 11am
Cost: R2 per child
PRETORIA
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
The Easter fun continues for longer when the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (aka. Pretoria Zoo) hosts the annual Pick n Pay Easter Treasure Hunt on Saturday, 26 April 2014. Kids are encouraged to dress up as a princess or knight and join the quest to save the Easter Bunny and win lots of exciting prizes. Only 500 children will be allowed to participate in the hunt, so get there early to register!
When: 26 April 2014 at 10am (registration is open from 8am – 9:45am)
Cost: First 30 entrants go in free. Children participating in the hunt receive a R45 discount. Regular zoo prices are R75 for adults and R50 for children aged 2 – 15.
If you know of any other organised Easter egg hunts, please share with us in the comments below!
Feature image courtesy of Spier.
