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All South Africa Cape Town

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Cape Town

20 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Cape Town, South Africa

Updated March 4, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa

Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

This African beach is home to thousands of rare mainland penguins that are known for their annoying voice.
Higher-altitude view of Bo Kaap

Cape Town, South Africa

Bo Kaap

Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, Bo Kaap is a colorfully-painted suburb located in the “Mother City” of South Africa.
Southern African Large Telescope

Cape Town, South Africa

South African Astronomical Observatory

This historic observatory was established to keep shipwrecks from littering the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape Town, South Africa

Seal Island

Haven for Cape Fur Seals, until the Ring of Death of jumping Great White Sharks arrives.

Cape Town, South Africa

Tapi Tapi Ice Cream

The frozen treats at this Cape Town parlor are inspired by Africa's food cultures.
The District Six museum.

Cape Town, South Africa

District Six Museum

A sobering account of the vibrant multicultural neighborhood that was destroyed under apartheid.
Chapman’s Peak Drive

Cape Town, South Africa

Chapman's Peak Drive

This road winds through the steep coastal cliffside offering spectacular views for those who brave the drive.
The Foreshore Freeway Bridge.

Cape Town, South Africa

Foreshore Freeway Bridge

Despite many attempts to finish this overpass, it has been abandoned since the 1970s.
See All 20 Things To Do in Cape Town

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa

Tapi Tapi Ice Cream

The frozen treats at this Cape Town parlor are inspired by Africa's food cultures.
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Marine wildlife and Kruger Safari

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Explore Cape Town, South Africa

Animals 3
Abandoned 3
Clocks 2
Time 2
Astounding Timepieces 2
Beaches 2
Roads 2

Cape Town Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. CoolCrab
    6
  2. Edward Denny
    2
  3. hrnick
    1
  4. ellenbwright
    1
  5. Tony Dunnell
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Cape Town.

Places Edited

  1. CoolCrab
    8
  2. Collector of Experiences
    7
  3. hrnick
    2
  4. tahasic
    2
  5. earwin
    2
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. sdutki
    14
  2. Collector of Experiences
    13
  3. shayanatlas
    12
  4. jesicarennie
    12
  5. jacivn
    11

Recent Cape Town Activity

  • mail4june

    wants to go to Heart of Cape Town Museum

  • mirjamniewold

    has been to The Most Southwestern Point of Africa

  • martinbull2802

    has been to The Most Southwestern Point of Africa

  • aidentait

    has been to Seal Island

  • aidentait

    has been to Just Nuisance Statue

Stories About Cape Town

Khan also holds workshops for children to interact, play with, and learn about seeds.

In South Africa, a Seed Librarian Seeks Ancestral Knowledge

Zayaan Khan runs a "Seed Biblioteek" out of her home.
by Mary Fawzy
April 7, 2022

Podcast: Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
February 3, 2022
The matemba ice cream flavor mixes salt-cured fish with toffee.

Tapi Tapi Ice Cream Is a Sweet Education on African Liberation

Tapiwa Guzha's desserts stir up conversation about culture, history, and identity.
by Mary Fawzy
February 12, 2021
Ducks on the move.

A Parade of 2,000 Ducks Keeps a South African Vineyard Running

For pest control, this South African farm enlisted a fowl army.
by Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey
March 20, 2020
The spectral ship has a curious, centuries-old history.

The World's Most Famous Ghost Ship Is an Enduring Symbol of Empire

The Flying Dutchman's long afterlife began with a British power trip.
by Isaac Schultz
October 24, 2019
Cape Town’s unfinished freeway bridge.

A Highway in Cape Town Has Been Left Half-Finished for 40 Years

The spans just stop, mid-air.
by Sarah Laskow
September 19, 2018

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