Scratch patch – Cape Town, South Africa - Atlas Obscura

Scratch patch

A large cave littered with beautiful semi precious stones waiting to be picked up. 

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Pretty stones are often high on the list of things to bring back from a far away country, but now that more and more places are cracking down on this environmental theft it’s important to find ethical alternatives. The scratch patch offers this.

On first glance you’ll see a old looking wooden house that leads to a shop specializing in stones of various sizes and rarity. While this type of establishment is by no means unique, they found a way to set themselves apart by means of a small man made cave complete with mine cart and stalactites. In true Indiana Jones fashion the cave is littered with treasure, namely a thick layer of semi precious stones. 

Visitors to the scratch patch can pay to gain access to the cave with a small bag that they can fill to the brim with whichever stones they like. This leads to adults and children alike spending time on their knees in the cave looking for the perfect stones.

Know Before You Go

See website for opening hours and prices. You can look at the area for free if you walk up the stairs of the building.