BLOGGING THE VIEW: 7 family-friendly activities to keep kids busy this holiday
WINTER in KZN is a fantastic time of year – sunny but not too hot, with lots of outdoor events and festivals taking place.
If you're looking for something fun to do with the family this holiday, here are some great winter break activities to consider.
1. Explore the KZN beaches
We're fortunate to have some of the best beaches and, with our subtropical climate, they're even welcoming in winter. The sardine run, which sees shoals of silver fish heading north past the KZN south coast, is also active at this time of year and well worth a visit. Take a beach ball and a picnic for a full day of fun – at no cost.
2. Picnic out in nature
This time of year is also great for getting out and exploring our many nature reserves and parks. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and Dlinza Forest are right on our doorstep, with several other great spots to explore a bit further afield. Try Yellowwood Park or Durban Botanic Gardens in Durban, or Shongweni Dam and Nature Reserve further inland for birdwatching.
3. Discover museums
Museums are a fun and educational outing, especially on colder days. The KwaZulu-Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg has fascinating exhibits on natural history, culture and archaeology. Most municipal museums in the province charge limited fees, making them an accessible option for families. Closer to home, there's the Fort Nongqayi Museum Village in eShowe, the Port Natal Maritime Museum in Durban, and the Luthuli Museum in Groutville.
4. Animal farm or reptile park
Animal farms and small wildlife parks are great outings for younger children, offering hands-on interaction with animals in a relaxed setting. There's the Dayspring Equestrian Centre and Animal Farm just outside Empangeni, Zulu Croc Reptile Park in Hluhluwe, Flag Animal Farm in Ballito, PheZulu Safari Park in Hillcrest, and Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh.
5. Take a hike
Hiking trails are among the best cost-effective activities available, and our diverse terrain means you can pick from beach walks, forest trails, or mountain hikes. There are many local hikes in the Dlinza Forest in eShowe, and the uMlalazi Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Park in Mtunzini. You could also explore further afield, trying the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve in Durban or the many hikes around the Drakensberg region.
6. Local events
The drier, more inviting outdoor weather at this time of year means there are various community farm stalls, markets and outdoor events hosted in June and July. Check out the Zululand Observer for the latest community markets and winter festivals.
7. Fun at home
If travel is a bit cost-prohibitive, you can have lots of fun at home with a bit of creativity. Consider hosting a movie night, garden scavenger hunts, cooking challenges, or arts-and-crafts days at home. The most important thing is to spend time with your little ones!
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The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
BLOGGING THE VIEW: 7 family-friendly activities to keep kids busy this holiday
WINTER in KZN is a fantastic time of year – sunny but not too hot, with lots of outdoor events and festivals taking place. If you're looking for something fun to do with the family this holiday, here are some great winter break activities to consider. 1. Explore the KZN beaches We're fortunate to have some of the best beaches and, with our subtropical climate, they're even welcoming in winter. The sardine run, which sees shoals of silver fish heading north past the KZN south coast, is also active at this time of year and well worth a visit. Take a beach ball and a picnic for a full day of fun – at no cost. 2. Picnic out in nature This time of year is also great for getting out and exploring our many nature reserves and parks. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and Dlinza Forest are right on our doorstep, with several other great spots to explore a bit further afield. Try Yellowwood Park or Durban Botanic Gardens in Durban, or Shongweni Dam and Nature Reserve further inland for birdwatching. 3. Discover museums Museums are a fun and educational outing, especially on colder days. The KwaZulu-Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg has fascinating exhibits on natural history, culture and archaeology. Most municipal museums in the province charge limited fees, making them an accessible option for families. Closer to home, there's the Fort Nongqayi Museum Village in eShowe, the Port Natal Maritime Museum in Durban, and the Luthuli Museum in Groutville. 4. Animal farm or reptile park Animal farms and small wildlife parks are great outings for younger children, offering hands-on interaction with animals in a relaxed setting. There's the Dayspring Equestrian Centre and Animal Farm just outside Empangeni, Zulu Croc Reptile Park in Hluhluwe, Flag Animal Farm in Ballito, PheZulu Safari Park in Hillcrest, and Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh. 5. Take a hike Hiking trails are among the best cost-effective activities available, and our diverse terrain means you can pick from beach walks, forest trails, or mountain hikes. There are many local hikes in the Dlinza Forest in eShowe, and the uMlalazi Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Park in Mtunzini. You could also explore further afield, trying the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve in Durban or the many hikes around the Drakensberg region. 6. Local events The drier, more inviting outdoor weather at this time of year means there are various community farm stalls, markets and outdoor events hosted in June and July. Check out the Zululand Observer for the latest community markets and winter festivals. 7. Fun at home If travel is a bit cost-prohibitive, you can have lots of fun at home with a bit of creativity. Consider hosting a movie night, garden scavenger hunts, cooking challenges, or arts-and-crafts days at home. The most important thing is to spend time with your little ones! Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
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The 6 best beaches in South Africa
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20-06-2025
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Empowering Young Filmmakers and Tourism Entrepreneurs
Sibusiso Gumbi, the acting Chief Executive of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority. Image: Supplied MUCH is being done to empower the next generation of filmmakers and tourism entrepreneurs by KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTFA), as well as by the industries themselves. Later this month, and again in August 2025, TV audiences will be able to see the work of emerging young local filmmakers who got their latest break thanks to KZNTFA's support. We funded two KZN-born filmmakers, Sthobile Hlophe and Nqanawe Shangase, to take part in the 2023-2024 National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) Youth Filmmaker Project. This is an annual, year-long discovery, training, and mentorship incubator by Sisanda Henna Films, a boutique film company, for the brightest film writing and directing talent in the country. As the film company explains, this is a transformative programme dedicated to previously disadvantaged youth with a mission to build, strengthen and nurture writer-directors, hone their skills at a practical level, produce quality films and go through an incubated career and skills-propelling programme. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading KwaZulu-Natal filmmaker Sthobile Hlophe production will air on national TV through an initiative driven by KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority. Image: Supplied Fresh young KZN talent Now, this fresh young local talent will be showcased when two new films by Hlophe and Shangase will premiere on SABC2 today and on August 3. 'The Moment In Between' written by Hlophe and Raihaanah Sayed who also directed it, will air first, while 'Quantum', written and directed by Shangase, will be screened in August. Both films are part of 'Little Africa', a groundbreaking drama series developed by executive producer Sisanda Henna. The stories of resilience and redemption told in the series are expected to eventually be screened to audiences worldwide. Film Fund KZNTFA also has a dedicated Film Fund, 30% of which is allocated to youth development initiatives. The Film Fund has a two-year youth-focused, KZN-only development and production project for up to 10 filmmakers a year. These young filmmakers are paired with industry experts to develop and produce a 60-minute film to be broadcast on a local platform. In addition to that, we also have a film bursary programme, which is strongly youth-focused (94%) and is spread over three years, with women making up 62% of the recipients. And there is an active district development project where brand-new filmmakers from outside the metros are provided with funding for the development of their projects. These have been carried out in iLembe, Mpophomeni and there is a project currently underway in uMzinyathi. KwaZulu-Natal filmmaker Nqanawe Shangase's production will air on national TV through an initiative driven by KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority. Image: Supplied Inspiring It is encouraging to note that the film industry experts say that young people in KZN are inspiring audiences and reshaping the future of the film and television industry. These individuals are agents of change, pushing beyond conventional methods and forcing traditional media to adapt. They are driving innovation and their fluency in digital trends and audience engagement strategies positions them as the industry's future leaders. Indeed, much of the talent that has been cultivated by Stained Glass itself has already risen to leadership positions across South Africa's film and television landscape. With some now working as directors, producers and writers, this is indeed proof that investment in youth development yields tangible, industry-shaping results. Enthusiastic The youth, of course, are passionate about creative storytelling and highly enthusiastic and eager to break into the industry, as Bonnie Sithebe of Durban Motion Pictures explains. 'They bring fresh energy, a willingness to learn and innovative perspectives,' she explains, while Nilesh Singh, spokesman for the internationally renowned Videovision Entertainment agrees, says young people introduce fresh ideas and innovation. This influence is evident in the content, direction and aesthetics of local productions. The biggest hurdle in the retention of young talent 'is the slow adaptation of traditional media structures to new creative waves''. Many young professional streamers, influencers and digital designers operate outside conventional frameworks and the industry needs to evolve and integrate these roles, says David Mukhwebo, the series creative director at Stained Glass TV. While AI and digital tools offer incredible efficiencies, they cannot replace the essence of human storytelling – and traditional craftsmanship like scriptwriting, cinematography, performance, remains the heart of storytelling. A dream Videovision Entertainment has hosted several apprentices over the years. The company works with NFVF to host learnerships and work experience opportunities through the Get On Set Mentorship Programme. The next step is tertiary studies with opportunities starting at intern level, then progressing to engagement on contract on a per project basis. Apprenticeship programmes The tourism industry itself has long played a vital role in providing opportunities for youth. Southern Sun hotels in Durban have an apprenticeship programme for students leaving school who are technically-minded and interested in a career in facilities management (maintenance). Samantha Croft, Operations Director for Southern Sun's KZN region explains: 'We have partnered with the George Campbell School of Technology and take on 7-10 students every year and rotate them among our hotels. 'During their 12-month internship, they are able to apply for any vacant position within the company.' One of the first students had grown within the organisation and now holds a management position. Two others hold supervisory positions and others are permanently employed. The five-star Oyster Box Hotel in uMhlanga, has three main initiatives for youth development: The Professional Cookery Learnership: The YES – Youth Employment Services – Programme: and CATHSSETA (Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality & Sport). The hotel took on 20 unemployed youth in 2024 for the 12-month Professional Cookery Learnership programme. On completion, 15 students walked away with a National Certificate (NQF Level 4) and five were permanently employed by the hotel: four as Commis Chefs with the other graduate being put on the Red Carnation Hotels management programme. The government-funded YES programme gives graduates a one-year internship within the company and the hotel currently has an HR and IT intern. It is currently recruiting for more chefs. Since 2023, the hotel has hosted 46 students to do their internship/work experience. Sixteen have been permanently employed by the Oyster Box and the rest have moved on to other positions both locally and internationally. These are interesting and innovative times and while there may be challenges, there are also some fascinating opportunities as the youth continue to remain top of our minds. Gumbi is the interim Chief Executive of KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority. His views don't necessarily reflect those of the Sunday Tribune or Independent Media SUNDAY TRIBUNE
