Helderberg Fun
By Bronwyn in 
These are some activities which I have enjoyed with my little Rooster and his friends in the Helderberg Area and will hopefully update regularly as Rooster and I go on adventures.
The Helderberg Farm
This lovely picnic, petting zoo is just outside of Somerset West on the R44 going towards Stellenbosch (directions to Helderberg Farm). There is lovely green grass to sit and picnic or if you don’t want to get that close with nature, there are chairs and tables. They serve a small “coffee shop” menue and often have produce on sale from the farm at reasonable prices. Around stra
wberry season they sell boxes of “canning strawberries” for R30. I made jam for a small colony.It’s simple but very sweet place and unlike many places, it’s free.
I have been there when they have had a slip slide up for a children’s party and there are old tractors and harvesters for the children to climb on. It’s a great venue for those summer babies birthdays. The little petting zoo is most exciting for the little ones where they can pay R5 to get a bag of food to feed the animals. They can climb into the rabbit hatch and cuddle with the rabbits too.
I like it there and visit often!
The Helderberg Nature Reserve
This little reserve is no Kirstenbosch but it is one of my favourite places to take Rooster. It includes the Helderberg Mountain so that can be your land mark in getting there. (Directions to Helderberg Nature Reserve)There are two large grassed fields with plenty of tree cover. There are little streams that we play in and they have recently built a jungle gymn at the reserve. There are very pram friendly wooden walkways around the duck pond as well as a little mainly shaded trail around the base of the mountain. There are obviously more adventurous walks and even running routes in the forest. 
I can say that this place taught my Rooster what a tortoise is. They have a few very large tortoises which are very entertaining for the little ones. The birdlife is incredible. There are turtles in the pond and if you’re lucky the bontebok will pay you a visit too. They are beautiful. There is an educational center there too for those teachers looking for a lovely, educational outing and for the eternal munchers, a little coffee chop.
To enter the reserve it is R10 an adult, R5 per child over two years and R5 per car. However, I have just bought a year pass for R85. Seeing as Rooster is under two he doesn’t pay. The family pass is R170 no matter how large your family is. Not bad, I say! You can buy this year membership from the first of March till the end of April. You can’t just buy it any time of the year.
Love this place. Love it! Love it!
Wiggle Worms
Music and movement for your little one that is fun and very relaxed. It’s run by a lady called Lynette Calver who also runs her business Music and Movement in the nearby pre-schools. It is 30-45 minutes where moms and tots (ages 0-3) g
et to get working on some cool dance moves, play with instruments and learn basic theory of music from “Crocodile Crotchet”, “Semi-breve Seal”, “Minum Monkey and “Quacky Quaver. I’ve been taking Rooster there since he was about 3 months and his love for music can definitely be attributed to Wiggle Worms. Lynette is such a warm and caring person that she makes the kids feel relaxed and comfortable almost immediately!We’re a small group of moms with children of varied ages but we all enjoy the time together.
Lynette (or Netty as she is affectionately called) runs Wiggle Worms from her home in Heldervue, Somerset West on a Wednesday morning starting at 9am. The programme does not run in the holidays. Her contact details: 082 792 000. Her daughter also runs a music academy for older children called Dolce Music Academy so if you’re looking to get your family into music, this is the family to contact!
Indoor Play Gymns
These indoor play gymns as I call them is a large jungle gymn and play area for kids. In the Helderberg Area we have Kids at the Mall(in Somerset Mall outer complexes) and Kids Zoo (In Gants center off the N2, near Virgin Active and BMW dealership). They both have two sections one for the little guys up to the age of three and then there’s the rest of the place for older children. These places are designed with a coffee shop where you sit and keep and eye on your kids while they are assisted by the gymn’s staff. You are charged hourly for the time your children have played and you can purchase food items while you sit and pay as you leave. They also cater for kids parties.
The only real difference between these two places was the price. Kids Zoo was slightly cheaper at R25 and hour whereas Kids at the Mall was R30 an hour. It may seem quite pricey but I found one hour sufficient and can be a lifesaver on a rainy day.
Child Friendly Coffee Shops
Baby Inc- This is also in the Somerset Mall Outer complex next to Treehouse. They sell designer baby items, cots and rockers as well as there is a breastfeeding clinic there. The coffee shop is simple but has a lovely e
nclosed little are for little ones. There prices are good and so are there portion sizes.
Mondeor- Come fetch your gardening supplies and then relax with a cuppa tea while the kids play on the jungle gymn or in the kiddies pool. Very near to Monkey Town just off the N2 heading towards Sir Lowry’s Pass.
Helderberg farm and nature reserve get the thumbs up from me! Look forward to trying out the other places-thanks for that