Cape Town - With school holidays just around the corner – again – we decided to take a posse of small human beings to Bounce World at Montague Arena to see if they could be sufficiently exhausted.
The large warehouse venue in, well, Montague Gardens, hosts a variety of activities for adults and children.
Over weekends and during holidays it’s primarily home to Bounce World, the biggest of its kind in Cape Town. Several jumping castles, slides and obstacles courses are inflated inside a safe, enclosed area, with only one way in and out, and you can release your offspring and let them have at it. An early indication of the level of hysterical fun is that you can hear the noise from outside the front entrance.
Each “thing” – I honestly don’t know what else to call them – is watched over by a staff member who will help the children and keep an eye on them, although parents are welcome to hang around as well. There are chairs for them to sit on, and if they are so inclined, they can use the apparatus – there’s the word! – as well. Anyone who jumps pays the same fee, and adult parties are not unheard of.
Owners of older children who require less supervision can go upstairs to the bar, which has an outside deck with braais (take your own wood and meat), and screens showing the rugby, making this a fun day out for the whole family. Food like wood-fired pizzas, hot dogs, and chips, and a full range of beverages are on sale. Bounce World is a great birthday party venue, but for that you have to cater yourself.
Owner John Litten told me, as the husband of a woman who plans her own party at least six months in advance, he knows better than to get involved with what mothers want. Wise man.
The children were given armbands, took off their shoes, and promptly disappeared. The only time we saw them after that was when they were hungry or thirsty. Until the bubbles were inflated, that is. “Bianca, Bianca! Can we go in those?” said Bella Boo, tugging at my hand.
Another activity at Montague Arena is bubble soccer. In fact, this was what Litten wanted me to come try out initially, but despite my best sales pitches, no one would come with me. Having now seen it first-hand, I agree it can be enormously entertaining, but at the same time I can imagine being rolled around, getting dizzy, and banging my head. First-aiders are on duty, but still.
The blow-up bubbles are quite large and weigh about 14kg. You get inside the middle of it and then run around kicking a soccer ball and bumping into your opponents like a giant sumo wrestler. It’s better for bigger people because of how heavy the bubbles are, but children from the age of 10 or so can do it. The way I view it, the shorter they are the better because they are completely enclosed by the ball and can roll safely. I have to say it’s hilarious when they get stuck upside down, their little feet wiggling and waving in the air.
Shame, I probably shouldn’t laugh, but I couldn’t help it.
Back in Bounce World, the girls and boys ricocheted from one apparatus to another, but the firm favourite was the one they call The Rocket. It’s a 4.5m tower which is sealed off and filled with high pressure air. In the middle there are four sling seats attached to a parachute which lifts to the top of the tower as it’s filled with said air. When the door is opened, it drops down quite quickly, causing that delicious tummy-dropping feeling and much delighted squealing.
Besides the bouncy stuff and the bubble soccer, other sports like action cricket, action netball, and hockey are played during the week at Montague Arena.
l Bounce World costs R60 for the whole day (non-jumpers don’t pay) and there is no way a child won’t be tired out by the hyperactivity. It’s open 9am till 5pm on most weekends (unless corporate events are booked), and 9am till 4pm during school holidays. Since everything is still inflated on a Monday morning, this is the time to book a school outing.
l 15 Montague Drive, Montague Gardens. Call 021 552 3165, or visit www.montaguearena.co.za for more information.
Weekend Argus