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

Unusual
Attractions
in South Africa

Hollowed out bar inside the Baobab

Duiwelskloof, South Africa

Sunland Baobab

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

-23.6213, 30.1989

Added by serflac

Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

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.

-34.1965, 18.4500

Added by mlynch

Adam's Calendar from above

Ehlanzeni, South Africa

Adam's Calendar

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

-25.6319, 30.7596

Added by lewblank

Higher-altitude view of Bo Kaap

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.

-33.9182, 18.4143

Added by lewblank

Bourke's Luck Potholes

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.

-24.6743, 30.8108

Added by johnsongeographic

Cape Town, South Africa

Macassar Beach Pavilion

An abandoned water park overtaken by the dunes.

-34.0769, 18.7519

Added by Allison

Tobias the cheetah cub.

Cape Town, South Africa

Cheetah Outreach

This big cat sanctuary allows visitors a face-to-face encounter with some of South Africa's rarest creatures.

-34.0911, 18.8133

Added by Metallicar

Collectors Treasury.

Johannesburg, South Africa

Collectors Treasury

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

-26.2041, 28.0557

Added by feelovestea

See All 41 Things to Do in South Africa See All 41 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
from South Africa

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

Added by rachelrummel

Gatsby

Gastro Obscura

Gatsby

This Cape Town sandwich is as extravagant as a certain literary character.

Gastro Obscura

Added by paulamejia

Bunny Chow

Gastro Obscura

Bunny Chow

This curry-on-the-go hails from South Africa.

Gastro Obscura

Added by Ike Allen

Salema Porgy

Gastro Obscura

Meats & Animal Products

Salema Porgy

After dining on this fish, your next course might be 36 hours of hallucinations.

Gastro Obscura

Added by rachelrummel

See All 5 Must-Eats in South Africa See All 5 Must-Eats

Explore South Africa

South Africa Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent South Africa Activity

akrep wants to go to Collectors Treasury

bluestorm1738 wants to go to The Goat Tower of Fairview Cheese & Wine Farm

bluestorm1738 wants to go to Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai

bluestorm1738 wants to go to Seal Island

bluestorm1738 wants to go to Cheetah Outreach

Stories
About South Africa

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

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