Check out these hot teen chilling spots across South Africa, Botswana and Zambia where teens can chill out, relax and have fun!

Botswana:

The Lion Park Resort, Gaborone Area
A stones throw away from Gaborone, along the Lobatse-Gaborone high way, the Lion Park Resort is Botswana's first beach within reach. Famous for its lions, the Lion Park Resort now offers water slides a theme park and an animal park. For a fee of P30 you can enjoy access to the amusement park and the water slides. If you are after something more adventurous like visiting the lions you can pay P50 for a journey into the lion's wilderness. The Lion Park Resort offers flame grilled Hot Dogs at P10, and stews start at P25. Opening hours: Thursday till Sunday, from 10am till 5pm. Contact number: 73293000

The BNYC Resource Center, Francistown
Visit this resource center, located in the city center next to the national library to play sports and games and just chill with your friends. The great sports and recreation facilities include a pool and you can play soccer and volleyball. If you're not feeling sporty, you can play chess or monopoly. The center also hosts talk shows and video screenings and is an information hub where youth can surf the net and counselors are available to chat. All services provided at the center are free.

Opening hours: 7.30am-4.30pm weekdays and stays open till 6pm on Fridays.
Contact number: 2441807

Adansonia Hotel, Francistown
The Adansonia Hotel is an ideal spot for young people to kick back and have some relaxed fun. It boasts an Olympic size swimming pool and you can take a stroll through the marvelous garden to unwind after studying.
Meals start at P35.
Contact number: 2419714

South Africa - Mpumalanga

Schoemansdaal community club
This club near Way Inn and Matsamo Plaza offers all kinds of sporting and recreation facilities and often hosts dances and talent and entertainment shows.

Dennilton Youth Centre
The youth centre offers all kinds of sporting facilities as well as educational activities around youth issues including HIV/AIDS. Sports you can enjoy include soccer, volleyball and tennis among others and there's also a gym if you'd like to work on toning those muscles!

The Lighthouse in Nelspruit
The Lighthouse was started by Bo Nillson to provide a place for teenagers to have fun and relax is a safe environment. Open on Friday evenings, teenagers can come and enjoy the live band, skate boarding, climbing wall and games and just chill and have a good time. The Lighthouse can be found just outside the city centre near the Nelspruit Town Lodge and Road Lodge and safety is guaranteed thanks to the security guards on duty.

Opening hours: 6-10pm on Friday evenings

South Africa - Western Cape

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town
The beautiful Kirstenbosch gardens cover an area of 528 hectares with 36 hectares of cultivated garden. The gardens celebrate South Africa's beautiful indigenous plants and visitors can also enjoy the garden's impressive birdlife and spectacular views from the upper slopes. Whether you're in the mood for a casual stroll, a more strenuous walk or a lazy picnic, the gardens are a must-see when visiting Cape Town.

Entrance Fee: R30 for adults, R20 for SA students with student cards and R5 for children ages 6-18. Children under 6 years are free.
Opening times: 365 days a year 8am-7pm Sep - March and 8am- 6pm April - August.
Contact number: 021 799 8783

Boulders penguin colony - Cape Town

Boulders Penguin Colony is a magical place crammed with African Penguins. The beautiful beach in Simon's Town in the deep south of Cape Town is named after the huge smooth rocks which create protected swimming areas and beaches. Come and see the comical birds waddling around the beach and nesting along the wooden walkways. Access to the beach costs R15 for adults and R5 for scholars, but you can see a lot from the wooden walkways and lookout points, where you can walk free of charge.

Opening times: April – Sep 8am-5pm, Oct-Nov 8am-6pm
Contact number: 021 786 2329

Leisure Island, Knysna
Leisure Island is a beautiful island 10minutes drive away from Knysna's town centre overlooking the Knysna Lagoon and famous Knysna Heads. Take a picnic or goodies for a braai and make use of the picnic and braai area. You can also swim in the lagoon at high tide or walk around the beautiful island and lagoon at low tide.

Picnic and braai facilities overlooking the lagoon can be used free of charge.

South Africa - KZN

uShaka Marine World, Durban
uShaka Marine World, situated right on the beach boasts a variety of water and sea-inspired fun for the whole family, including a water world of slides, aquarium, dolphinarium, seal pool and dive tank. The Village Walk shops and restaurants and the beach area often host live entertainment, which can be enjoyed free of charge.

Costs: Entrance to uShaka Marine World, the shopping area and beach is free.
Sea World and the Wet n Wild adventure park each charge R90 for adults and R65 for children and youth and a combined ticket costs R120 for adults and R90 for children and youth
Contact info: 031 328 800
www.ushakamarineworld.co.za

The Pavilion, Westville
At the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Westville, you can wander around the shops, enjoy the exhibitions and events that are often organised, go to the movies or play arcade games.

Trading hours: Monday - Saturday 9am-7pm Sunday and Public holidays 9am–5pm
www.thepav.co.za

If you think your spot is hot, mail us on Iamgold@goldpe.org.za and we'll consider featuring you on our Hot Spots page in the next issue and on our youthzone website!