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

Unusual Attractions in South Africa

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.

Duiwelskloof, South Africa

Sunland Baobab

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

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.

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.

Ehlanzeni, South Africa

Adam's Calendar

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

Johannesburg, South Africa

Collectors Treasury

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

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

South African Astronomical Observatory

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

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in South Africa

Duiwelskloof, South Africa

Sunland Baobab

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

Johannesburg, South Africa

Neighbourgoods Market

A growing popular hipster market with over 100 local specialties and live music.

Bathurst, South Africa

The Big Pineapple

The world's largest pineapple building honors Bathurst's favorite fruit.

Cape Town, South Africa

Tapi Tapi Ice Cream

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

Atlas Obscura Trips

Wildlife Conservation and Contemporary Culture in South Africa

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Top Discussions in the South Africa Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
Baleni Salt	2 June 18, 2019	1507	June 18, 2019
Mosbolletjies	1 May 27, 2019	1448	May 27, 2019
Biltong	3 December 9, 2019	685	December 9, 2019
Sunland Baobab	1 January 14, 2020	1230	January 14, 2020
Foreshore Freeway Bridge	2 March 22, 2020	319	March 22, 2020

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Stories About South Africa

Elephants, such as these in South Africa's Kruger National Park, are highly social—and loud.

Can We Track Elephants With Earthquake Detectors?

Low-cost seismometers could give rural communities an alert system, or begin to decipher elephant communication.

by Robin George Andrews

February 8, 2021

Archaeologists Joshua Kumbani (left) and Sarah Wurz (right) work at a site near the Klasies River in South Africa.

The Archaeologists Recreating the Sounds of the Stone Age

Researchers are working to uncover whether ancient objects in South Africa were once used to make noise or music.

January 12, 2021

Plastic bottles are a must to avoid potentially dangerous explosions.

Under Pandemic Prohibition, South Africans Resort to Pineapples

A strict lockdown has meant a spike in homebrewing.

<em>Circellium bacchus</em>, a rare subspecies of dung beetle, is a scarab like no other.

The Outsize Allure of South Africa's Flightless Dung Beetle

In Addo Elephant National Park, the smallest residents may be the biggest draw.

by Sandra MacGregor

The rocky escarpments of Karoo, South Africa. Roughly 183 million years ago, this area was part of the supercontinent Gondwana.

When South Africa Was Home to the 'Firewalkers' of Karoo

The reptilian critters may not have survived, but they made sure to sign off feet first.

by Isaac Schultz

January 29, 2020

Border Cave, between South Africa and Swaziland.

Found: The Charred Remains of a 170,000-Year-Old Meal in a South African Cave

It doesn't look like much, but it's a key step in the development of human diets.

by Isaac Schultz

January 7, 2020

A South African Couple Has Turned Elephant Dung Into Award-Winning Gin

November 21, 2019

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

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