Catch Merle from Jozikids.co.za on Jacaranda, every Sunday morning, to find out what to do with your kids and families.

This week we want to tell you about places you can take your family to see animals or go horse riding.

First up is Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park, near Warmbaths, Pretoria North. They claim to  host one of South Africa’s largest private Primate collections featuring 38 species, in addition to a large number of beautiful, exotic birds and predators such as White Lions, Bengal Tigers and Cheetahs. They are open until 4pm- adults R100, kids u/13yrs R50 , u/3yrs free. They offer guided tours, have a restaurant, sell picnic baskets plus 4 star luxurious accommodation if you want to spend the night.

Then there’s Ukutula Game Lodge and Lion Education Center conveniently situated within an hours drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria in the Brits area.  The game farm comprises 260 hectares of unspoilt bushveld boasting a variety of antelope species, giraffe and zebra. Tour Times: 8am & 4pm (for our lion walks) 10am & 2pm (for Lion Interaction Program)

Another fabulous family outing is visiting the Mapatiza Underground Gemstone Mine in Kyalami– you’ll see a a huge variety of African gemstones being cobbed, sorted and polished. Witness the outside mine-run, view colourful underground chambers and passages. There’s also a huge kiddies scratch patch  they’re open until 2pm daily and very reasonable at R30 for adults and R20 for kids including a free bag of gemstones for the kids to take home.

If its horse riding you want to do, whether it’s going on an outride or letting your kids ride a pony there’s Egoli Rangers in Craighall Park and near Muldersdrift, there’s Croc River Horse Trails where you can choose from a variety of horse trails , one of which takes you game viewing on horseback in the beautiful Glen Bourne Lodge game reserve .

Information about everything we have mentioned is available on www.jozikids.co.za