49 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in South Africa - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in South Africa

Duiwelskloof, South Africa

Sunland Baobab

South African bar inside a hollowed out 6,000-year-old Baobab.

serflac

Added by serflac

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.

mlynch

Added by mlynch

Cape Town, South Africa

Bo Kaap

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

lewblank

Added by lewblank

Ehlanzeni, South Africa

Adam's Calendar

Hidden in the hills is a mysterious stone structure, known only to a few.

lewblank

Added by lewblank

Ehlanzeni, South Africa

Bourke's Luck Potholes

Raging waters have created a strange geological site that looks like something off of a progressive rock album cover.

johnsongeographic

Added by johnsongeographic

Cape Town, South Africa

Macassar Beach Pavilion

An abandoned water park overtaken by the dunes.

Allison

Added by Allison

Johannesburg, South Africa

Collectors Treasury

Over a million items cram the shelves at Africa's largest shop of used and rare books.

Added by feelovestea

Cape Town, South Africa

Seal Island

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

Allison

Added by Allison

See All 49 Things to Do in South Africa See All 49 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in South Africa

African Horned Cucumber

Gastro Obscura

Fruits & Vegetables

African Horned Cucumber

The spiky, fruit cup-flavored orb made an appearance on “Star Trek.”

Gastro Obscura

susarm

Added by susarm

Melktert

Gastro Obscura

Melktert

Four centuries ago, Dutch dairy farmers made this spiced custard pie into a South African classic.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Stinging Nettles

Gastro Obscura

Fruits & Vegetables

Stinging Nettles

Boil away this plant's poisonous hairs, and you're left with a tasty, spinach-like leaf.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Marula

Gastro Obscura

Fruits & Vegetables

Marula

The intoxicating South African fruit is beloved by humans and elephants.

Gastro Obscura

ElizabethAnneSmith

Added by ElizabethAnneSmith

See all 14 things to try in South Africa See all 14 things to try in South Africa

Explore South Africa

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Launch Map

South Africa Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent South Africa Activity

LarkintheMorning has been to Top of Africa

LarkintheMorning has been to Seal Island

LarkintheMorning has been to Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

LarkintheMorning has been to Bo Kaap

yqixelime wants to go to Tswaing Meteorite Crater

Stories
About South Africa

Masalanabo Modjadji, at her home in Midrand on April 24, 2017. When she turns 18, she will be crowned Queen Modjadji VII, the "Rain Queen."

The Restoration of South Africa's Rain Queen

A teenager will become the country's first tribal queen in almost 50 years.

September 21, 2018

The desert landscape is varied—and often foggy.

The Secret World Inside Tiny Fog Droplets

From the Namib Desert to Maine, fog is teeming with life.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

August 30, 2018

Thulani Mabaso, former Robben Island prisoner, on the soccer field in Robben Island, South Africa.

From Apartheid-Era Inmate to Tour Guide—at the Same Prison

Thulani Mabaso spent six years in a cell at Robben Island. Now he’s back to show visitors around.

by Christina Ayele Djossa

Why hello there.

Watch a Great White Shark Breach—Just Feet Away

Why, hello there.

by Kelsey Kennedy