The family-friendly farm venue The Big Red Barn is located in Olifantsfontein, between Pretoria and Johannesburg. It has three restaurants; the number may change. The range of leisure activities offers several options for planning your trip: they vary by type of activity, target audience and age information. Together with the restaurants, they make the venue a potential focal point if you want to include play and exercise in your stay.

Leisure at The Big Red Barn

The Pirate Ship children’s play area includes an electric go-kart track run by Nino’s Adventures. The karts are suitable for children aged two and up. This age information offers a specific point of reference when planning a visit with children. The Kids Zone is next to the barn and close to the Pirate Ship, the climbing frame and the go-karts. It has tables and sun umbrellas; time slots are scheduled for the Kids Zone in the morning and afternoon.

On the lawn, Nino’s Adventures offers Bouncy Balls for adults and children; the Jump Park has 22 trampolines. Acrobranch adds treetop climbing adventures for adults and children. The age information for the go-karts provides specific guidance; for Bouncy Balls and Acrobranch, the focus is on adults and children as the target audience. Check before your visit whether these activities are currently operating. Also check Acrobranch’s current offering and booking arrangements.

Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome on the Big Red Barn Trails. If a dog is part of your travel plans, this rule is important for the trails; check the current rules before your visit. The trails therefore offer a distinct way to combine your stay with a walk, provided you keep your dog on a leash.

Ceramic History in Olifantsfontein

A historical episode takes us back to 1925: Sir Thomas Cullinan invited Gladys Short and Marjorie Johnstone to set up a new ceramics studio at the then-abandoned site in Olifantsfontein. Both women were graduates of the Durban School of Art. The story thus brings together Cullinan’s invitation, the two women’s artistic training and a specific location in Olifantsfontein.

For those interested in culture, the special connection lies in this combination of named people, art and local history. It concerns the establishment of a new ceramics studio at a site that was abandoned at the time. This episode offers a different perspective on Olifantsfontein from the leisure activities at the Big Red Barn.

This contrast can help you choose the focus of your stay: the Big Red Barn represents leisure activities, while the 1925 story represents ceramics and local history. When considering Olifantsfontein as a destination, you can decide whether play and exercise or the cultural connection should shape your visit more.

Discover more destinations: Germiston, Alberton, Boksburg, Kempton Park, Springs.

For the regional travel overview: East Rand.