A visit to the Scratch Patch is great fun for children (and adults too) as you pick and choose from the masses of brightly coloured gemstones. The original Scratch Patch was started in Simon’s Town in 1970, and there is now also a Scratch Patch in the V&A Waterfront. Buy a packet or tub to fill with a wide variety of tumble-polished gemstones, mostly popular Southern African stones, such as Tiger’s Eye, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Jasper, Agates and Crystals.

Simon’s Town open daily: Monday – Friday from 8:30am to 4:45pm and on Saturday/Sunday/public Holidays from 9:00am to 5:30pm.

For further details, visit www.scratchpatch.co.za.