It is finally fall, with temperatures falling to between 26 and 32 degrees Celsius all through October, and dropping to 23 in November. The weather allows for wonderful outdoor activities with the kids. Pack your picnics and explore the hidden gems of Cairo. Egyptians spend time at Al-Azhar Park, one of the bustling city's few public parks and popular with families, in CairoEgypt (AP) Azhar Park You can spend the day with your little ones strolling through the green fields, bring a small basket and pick some dates that fall from the many palm trees. On weekdays it is much less crowded, and there is a lake where you can feed the ducks with some bread crumbs or take a little boat. At night, check the schedule and treat yourself to a music concert at the amazing open-air El-Geneina Theatre. https://www.facebook.com/GenainaTheater/ Location: Salah Salem Street; Telephone: +20 2510 3868 Entrance ticket: EGP 20. Kids climbing the fun monkey bars at fagnoun art (Photo: Lina El Wardani) Fagnoon Art This place is a haven for art and nature-loving kids and parents. It is a large farm on the outskirts of Giza that is very spacious with tonnes of activities that will delight your little ones. Kids here can see or even cuddle the little goats and sheep, or take a horse, donkey or camel ride. There is also pottery and clay making as well as all sorts of colouring on wood, glass, frames, floors and walls. There is tree climbing for little monkeys. There are some basic swings, slides, hammocks, etc. Bring your picnic. There are also more adventurous games like swimming in a mud lake and colour wars, so please do not put on your favourite clothes and bring extra sets of clothes. The cafeteria serves traditional bread, feteer, honey and cheese, but you can bring your picnic or take your meat and use their barbecue. The entrance fee is EGP 50 and you get one coin with which you can buy one activity. Choose from clay moulding, colouring, wood art, pottery making, painting on cloth, and more. Location: Km12.5, Saqqara Touristic Rd., Umm Hashem, El-Mariouteya, El-Haram, Giza. Telephone: 02 38151633. The very hospitable Maryanne shows Montessori expert Marwa Rakha around her great farm (Photo courtesy of www.marwarakha.com) Maryanne's Farm This farm is a hidden gem for nature lovers.You can enjoy a peaceful day full of fun here playing with the super friendly dogs (this is also a dog shelter, but please do not bring your own or any new ones), or you can feed and watch the lovely farm animals; donkeys, sheep, goats, cows, water buffaloes, hens and roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, you name it. Kids will love the safe horseback riding, as the farm provides helmets and supervises the horse riding, making it fun and safe for small and big kids alike. During warm weather there are splashing pools set up on the lawn for kids. The greatest joy of this farm is its very friendly host, the charming Maryanne Gabbani, who makes you feel at home the moment you walk in. Fresh organic eggplants from Maryanne's farm, go ahead and pick them up (Photo Courtesy of www.Marwarakha.com) You can enjoy a relaxing day in nature, you can chat with the great Gabbani about everything from politics to nature, alternative energy plans, or organic planting. The best thing you can do is have a delicious homemade organic lunch at the farm for almost next to nothing (EGP 75 for adults and children over 10, and EGP 50 for children under 10). Please call ahead to order. You are also welcome to bring your own lunch for no additional charge, and there is an excellent barbecue available, also for free. The entrance fee is EGP 50 and this includes half an hour of horseback riding. You can also buy fresh organic kale, spinach, lettuce, khobeyza, cabbages and anything that is in season. The products are fresh and the great Gabbani gives you scissors so you can cut it yourself. I totally recommend this place, my own kids cannot get enough of it. Call the friendly Maryanne at least one day before you visit on 0122 211 8386 Location: 1.5 km south of Sakkara Country Club just off Mansoureya Road, near the pyramids of Abu Sir, Cairo, Egypt, behind the villa of Dr Magdy Agamawi, Esbat El-Hawagat Website: https://www.facebook.com/AlSoratFarm/ http://www.alsorat.com Club liko's creative playground where kids can play with water, sand and music. (Photo: Lina El Wardani) Club Liko This spacious three-storey playground is a haven for kids aged one to eight years old. The place has a large outdoor area and an indoor area. Downstairs there is a pretend village, with fancy costumes, a pretend pizzeria, a kitchen, and a supermarket, as well as swings and slides and a water play area with pretend fishing nets and water experiments. Then there is the open air, with a sand area and piano music as well as a xylophone area, toddlers' swings and slides, a football court and a bike court. Upstairs there is a colouring room, a Lego room, a toddlers' room, and what is really a big hit with the kids is the theatre room and kitchen. Every hour there is an activity; either a puppet show or cooking time, where one or two of the fun Club Liko team will be leading the kids in their adventure to cook something new like a crepe, pizza, cookies, pancakes, or healthy sandwiches. They get a chance to cook with their own hands and talk about the ingredients, and at the end they eat their yummy goodies. Every week in Club Liko there is a theme; sometimes a country, a character or a general theme. The cooking, puppet show, the music and dancing, and the colouring all enhance this given theme. For the parents this place is ideal as you can enjoy your coffee or a lovely lunch in the restaurant indoors or outdoors, and rest assured your kids are supervised by a great team. They are all professional, all young and smiling. The entrance fee is EGP 160 per child and you can stay all day. Location: Al-Karma 3. Sheikh Zayed, Giza 12566. Telephone: 01028888335. an Egyptian tourist guide looks through a telescope in on the Cairo Tower in the Zamalek district in Cairo, Egypt (AP) Cairo Tower The kids can enjoy a horse cart ride around Cairo Tower on the island of Zamalek and see the tower from the outside as well as enjoy the view of the city from the top. The entrance ticket is EGP 40, and there is a cafeteria downstairs for a quick snack and a revolving restaurant upstairs, though it is currently closed for renovations. Egyptian tourists ride on horses at the Giza Pyramids, on the outskirts of Cairo (Reuters) The Great Pyramids of Giza What could be a better adventure than walking so close to the great pyramids, walking through the tombs and seeing the sun boat? Take a kite and go on a windy day for double the fun. Take a horse or camel ride along the pyramids. Giza Zoo The Giza Zoo is a treat for all kids as there is a wide range of animals. To make the most of your visit you should go on Wednesdays or Thursdays, as the zoo is closed on Tuesday for cleaning, so it is at its best after the cleaning on a calm weekday. Pay a little extra and get your photo taken with the elephant or the lion and get it printed at the zoo. Pay EGP 10 and take a picnic to the Royal Grotto, which is a closed part of the zoo that is clean and well maintained. There is a grotto and stairs where you can get nice photos and a good view. simplifying the most mysterious secrets of ancient Egyptians the Mummification for kids in the Pharaonic village. (Photo courtesy of www.marwarakha.com) The Pharaonic Village The village offers a boat ride in the Nile that takes you to a live demo of ancient Egypt. Actors dressed like ancient Egyptians show the children what life was like in ancient Egypt, including how papyrus and perfumes were made and how they used to take care of cattle. There is also a dress up area for souvenir photos. Boat making simulation using palm trees in the Pharonic village, Giza, Egypt. Photo Courtsey of Marwa Rakha (www.MarwaRakha.com) Blue Lotus Farm This is an environmentally friendly guesthouse and restaurant situated at the foot of the Step Pyramid in the heart of the ancient city of Men-nefer (Memphis) in the village of Sakkara, located 30km southwest of central Cairo. The Blue Lotus Guesthouse offers nine comfortable rooms in a quiet and serene atmosphere. This is a family-owned farm and guesthouse where you can see the ancient blue lotus flower planted in water ponds. Enjoy a day with the friendly farm animals and spend the night too if you want. Call at least one day prior to visiting to taste their home country cooking, all locally grown, farm-fresh produce. http://www.bluelotusofsakkara.com/en/index.html The entrance fee is EGP 100, and children under five enter for free. Heliopolis Child Museum Located in Heliopolis, the child museum is a must-see for kids visiting Cairo. The museum consists of four floors of wonderful, interactive, fun and educational 100 percent Egyptian activities for all ages. Kids will get to enjoy interactive screens, puzzles, competitive games, simulated presentations, and more. The museum also benefits from a huge garden with a lovely playground as well as many outdoor statues of animals, each with clear description. The Swiss Club On the edge of the buzzing working-class district of Imbaba, this green haven is lovely for kids and parents. The club has a spacious playground in the sand with swings and slides, where the kids can bring their bikes and scooters to ride freely. There are three lovely gardens where you can sit, enjoy the breeze and sip your fresh lemon juice. The restaurant offers Swiss and international dishes. Location: Villa Pax, 90 El-Gihad Street off Sudan Street, Imbaba, Cairo, El-Salam, Giza Governorate Phone: 02 33142811 Entrance and parking fees are EGP 20
