10 School Excursions Teachers Should Put on Their 2027 Planning List
ALLES magazine feature article
There are some lessons that are difficult to teach from a textbook
A photograph of a fossil can explain what it looks like, but standing in a place where important discoveries were made is different. A diagram of a robot can explain how its components work, but watching a learner build and programme one creates a completely different kind of understanding. A paragraph about South Africa’s history can provide information, but walking through a museum or heritage site can make that history feel real
That is why school excursions continue to hold such an important place in education. The right excursion does more than give learners a day away from school. It gives them an opportunity to experience the world that their lessons are preparing them to understand.
With schools beginning to look towards 2027 planning, here are ten destinations and types of experiences worth considering.
1. Sci-Bono Discovery Centre
Johannesburg’s Sci-Bono Discovery Centre is an obvious choice for schools looking to bring science and technology to life. The centre’s work extends beyond traditional exhibitions into STEM education, learner support and teacher development.
Its current programmes include SciBOTICS and Young Technology Innovators, where learners work with robotics, coding, prototyping and problem-solving. In 2026, participating school teams are being challenged to build autonomous robots and develop ideas that address real-world problems.
For learners who enjoy finding out how things work, this is the kind of excursion that can turn an abstract classroom subject into something tangible.
2. The Cradle of Humankind
Few places provide a more obvious connection between classroom learning and the real world than the Cradle of Humankind.
The area is internationally significant for palaeoanthropology, and an excursion can introduce learners to questions about human evolution, archaeology, geology and the discoveries that have helped scientists understand our distant past.It is also an opportunity to demonstrate that science is not simply a collection of facts. It is an ongoing process of investigation, evidence and discovery.
3. Maropeng
Maropeng provides another opportunity to explore the story of humanity and the discoveries that have shaped our understanding of where we came from.
For teachers, destinations such as this can be particularly useful because they allow several subjects to overlap. History, geography, science and social studies can all find a place within the same excursion.
4. Museums and Heritage Sites
South Africa has a complicated and fascinating history, and museums can provide learners with a perspective that is difficult to reproduce in a classroom.
Depending on the age group and curriculum, schools can explore subjects ranging from apartheid and democracy to military history, art, culture and indigenous heritage.
A good museum visit should not simply involve walking through exhibits. Give learners questions to answer beforehand, encourage them to identify objects or stories that interest them, and allow time afterwards for discussion.
5. Planetariums and Astronomy Experiences
Space has a way of capturing children’s imagination. A lesson about planets and galaxies can become much more memorable when learners are sitting beneath a projected night sky and seeing concepts they have been studying presented in an immersive environment.
Astronomy excursions can also introduce learners to careers in science, engineering, mathematics and technology.
6. Wildlife and Conservation Centres
South Africa’s natural environment is one of its greatest educational resources.
A visit to a conservation centre, wildlife rehabilitation facility, botanical garden or environmental education site can help learners understand ecosystems and biodiversity in a way that a classroom diagram cannot.
The strongest experiences are those that explain not only the animals, but the challenges involved in protecting them.
7. Farms and Agricultural Experiences
For many children, food begins in a supermarket aisle. A farm visit can change that. Seeing crops growing, learning about livestock, understanding soil and water management and meeting people involved in agriculture can give learners a completely different understanding of where food comes from. Agricultural excursions can also introduce learners to careers they may never have considered.
8. Engineering and Manufacturing Experiences
Older learners in particular can benefit from seeing engineering and manufacturing environments first-hand. A visit to a factory, workshop or engineering facility can demonstrate how mathematics, physics, design and technology are applied in real jobs. It can also answer one of the questions learners eventually need to ask themselves: What does this subject actually look like outside school?
9. Outdoor Education and Adventure Camps
Education does not always have to happen inside a building. Outdoor camps can provide lessons in teamwork, independence, communication and problem-solving. Learners who may not always stand out in an academic environment can discover completely different strengths when they are placed in practical situations. There is also value in giving children time away from screens and the constant pace of everyday life.
10. Local Businesses and Community Organisations
Perhaps one of the most overlooked excursion opportunities is the community around the school itself. A design studio can introduce learners to creative careers. A bakery can demonstrate food production. A construction company can explain project management and engineering. A local business owner can talk about entrepreneurship. The destination does not need to be famous to be educational.
Making the Excursion Count
The best school trips begin before the bus leaves.
Teachers can prepare learners with questions, research assignments or activities and then use the experience afterwards for projects, presentations or reflection. That is what turns an excursion into an educational experience rather than simply a day away from the classroom.
As schools plan for 2027, perhaps the most useful question is not simply “Where can we take our learners?”
It is:
“What can our learners experience there that they cannot experience here?”
