Sometimes you just want an outing which is low-parental-impact. Sometimes on a Thursday afternoon you just want to sit down, have a coffee and a chat with a mate, and let the kids run free a bit. Sometimes you want this badly enough that you'll settle for a pretty mediocre cup of coffee in fairly dingy surroundings.
The Barnyard in Tokai is perfect for all the above.
Added bonus: the kids love it and won't realise you've actually come here for your own selfish reasons.
For the very smalls there's a huge shady sandpit, rather treacherously scattered with broken plastic toys (maybe bring your own?) but any kiddies up and walking will probably be far more interested in feeding the assorted birds (you can buy small bags of bird feed from the restaurant) ...
... getting up close and personal with an array of farm animals (Sunday's wondering what it would take to catch that turkey) ...
... taking a pony ride, or a couple of turns on the rather decrepit looking merry-go-round.
The day we were there it was fairly quiet, the coffee was pretty weak, the service left a lot to be desired, the tables were sticky. But the staff operating the rides and caring after the animals were friendly and warm, and we discovered one gets a mountain of hot chips with your toasted sandwich.
And the chance to see a wide variety of farm animals this close to Cape Town?
Seems it blew her hair back forward, and that's all that really counts right?
That and the (relatively) uninterrupted catch-up my friend and I had! I love the Barnyard!
My bobcat and I love the Barnyard, although often I have to send the chips back cos the oil was old. Kids milkshakes are yummily sweet though, but don't do the strawberry daiquiri - made with cordial, vile! My favourite moments are when the hordes of pigeons get a fright and blow off crazily into the sky all at once. And I have a serious weakness for a fat pygmy pig...
ReplyDeletedude, maybe I should keep all the girl's leftover scraps and take them to that pig once a week? tho I fear the milkshakes will negate all the intended benefit of the plan ...
ReplyDeleteDudette, wtf happened to the Barnyard? Can you find out for us fans? I tried to go there a few times end Nov/early Dec but there was a sign saying "Closed due to weather" and all the animals were gone. Now in Jan it is more barren than a mall after a bomb scare. Even the structures are gone? What happened to the piggies and Jonny's favourite pony?
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