19 Unusual Things To Do In Cape Town For A Different Experience

Cape Town is one of only a few towns on Earth where you can get lost in the depths of nature during the day and experience clubbing in an urban metropolis at night. It’s one of the most popular holiday destinations (even voted as the best city in the world by the Telegraph) and there’s a good reason for that; from beautiful beaches to pristine nature and cultural monuments, Cape Town has it all (and it’s also one of the oldest cities in Africa). During my first week in Cape Town, I did manage to cover most of the city’s popular tourist attractions.

However, I won’t talk about them in this article. This is the kind of information you can get on most major travel websites. In this article, we’ll cover some unusual things to do in Cape Town that you can’t find anywhere else.

See The Rare African Penguin On Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach is one of the last remaining places where you can see the very rare African Penguin. Hence, it’s no wonder that Boulders has turned into a tourist attraction in recent years and it’s one of the most visited beaches in Cape Town. More than 2,000 African penguins call this beautiful beach home, making it one of only a few mainland penguin colonies on our planet. You can see them from far away, come to say hello, or even go swimming with these amazing creatures! Talking about unique animal encounter opportunities, another thing you may want to experience is.

Seeing Whales In Hermanus

The Western Cape coast is also home to one of the 12 best whale-watching destinations, according to World Wildlife Fund. If you’re a nature lover, whale-watching tours in Hermanus are one thing you wouldn’t want to miss. Additionally, every year in June, the annual Hermanus Whale Festival takes place, attracting visitors from every corner of the world. If you think this is all Cape Town has to offer when it comes to unique animal-encounter opportunities, you’re wrong. While visiting you can also.

Meet The Seals Of Seal Island

Located just off the Cape Town Coast, Seal Island is a small landmass filled with seals (as its name suggests). Seals use the island as a breeding ground at least until great white sharks attack the surrounding waters. This happens several times a year when sharks surround the island and wait for any seal that swims too far away from the shore. If you’re looking for unique animal encounters that you can rarely experience, visiting Seal Island is a great choice!

The island doesn’t have any vegetation and the only other thing you can find here (that’s not a seal) is the old eroded radar tower built during WWII. Talking about old, abandoned places.

Explore The Macassar Beach Pavilion

The once-upon-a-time-popular Macassar Beach Pavilion in Cape Town has been abandoned in an attempt to let nature reclaim this area. The water slides are rusty and filled with sand and the once-bright colors fade away into the surrounding sand dunes. The old water park spreads across 2,700 acres, making it one of the biggest abandoned sights in the area. The old signs in the park were replaced with “dunes on the move” signs, serving as a warning to the few curious souls that end up wandering around.

The Remnants Of The Iconic District Six

District six was historically the most cosmopolitan neighborhood in Cape Town in every sense of the word. Around the mid-20^th century, more than 60,000 people from different ethnicities and religions lived in this neighborhood until the apartheid regime came to power. During the 1960s and 1970s, all non-white residents were forcefully relocated and slum clearing was used as an excuse. In the years that followed, District Six became a symbol of apartheid oppression.

While you’re around, also visit St. Mark’s Anglican Church, one of the rare buildings that the Government wasn’t able to tear down, and the successors of the exiled family drive from all corners of the city to attend Sunday service even today. As you can see by now, this is a very diverse country and it’s probably a good idea to read more about some things you should know before visiting South Africa.

If this sounds interesting, you should also check out…

Bo Kaap, The Old Muslim Neighborhood

During the 16^th and 17^th centuries when South Africa was occupied by the Dutch, thousands of Muslim slaves from Malaysia and Indonesia were brought to Cape Town as slaves. During the apartheid, all Muslims were relocated to the new Bo-Kaap neighborhood. Bo-Cap literally translates to a Muslim-only neighborhood. As a sign of peaceful revolt, the community of Bo-Kaap painted the entire neighborhood with bright colors, making it one of the most colorful places in the world.

Today, this once-Muslim-only neighborhood faces a real danger of losing that same community that made it what it is today. Since 1994, property taxes for this neighborhood have gone up and a lot of the people living here are moving out, unable to pay the high taxes. These people are being replaced by rich South Africans who want to live in the popular colorful neighborhood which can’t help but resemble the faith of District Six mentioned above, but that’s a topic for some other day. Anyway, visiting Bo-Kaap is one of the most unusual things to do in Cape Town.

If you like this story and want to discover more of Cape Town’s history, you have the unique opportunity to.

Follow Mandela’s Footsteps

Even if you’re a total noob when it comes to history, you have probably at least heard of Mandela’s inspiring story. Most of the important events in Mandela’s life took place in Cape Town and you can still visit most of these places today. You can hop to Robben Island and see the prison where he was detained as well as the balcony where Mandela’s first speech after 27 years in prison took place.

You can also visit the home in which he grew up, in Soweto township, see the Victor Verster Prison where Mandela spent the last 18 months of his life, and check out a lot of other interesting landmarks where important events of his life took place.

If this sounds exciting and you like taking independent tours that allow you to explore the city, also check out.

The Gallivanting Goose

If you’re traveling with your friends or coworkers, the Gallivanting Goose is a great way to spend an afternoon. This tour gives you the chance to spend some quality time with the people you’re traveling with while getting to know the city at the same time. It’s basically a big scavenger hunt that includes landmarks around Cape Town. You’ll need to get creative, develop a good strategy, and of course, great teamwork in order to complete the hunt.

Talking about unusual things to do in Cape Town, we can’t miss mentioning.

Taking An Unusual Jazz Safari Tour

Do you want to get away from the gentrified side of Cape Town and get under the city’s skin? In that case, a jazz safari is a great option for you! This unique musical tour includes visits to the houses of famous local jazz musicians in an evening filled with intimate conversations, great food, useful information not only about jazz but about Cape Town’s culture as well, and of course, a lot of jazz. The tours are catered to small groups and are a great way to learn about the local jazz scene.

And if you’re a fan of the alternative scene, then you’ll surely enjoy…

I Love My Laundry

Who says doing laundry has to be boring? At I Love My Laundry, you can see art exhibitions, go on wine-tasting tours, have craft beer, and even eat delicious dim sum, all while doing your laundry! The laundry has three branches spread across Cape Town and they all have different programs. I love My Laundry has become quite popular among travelers and is also a great place to meet other travelers in Cape Town.

Since the topic of this article is unusual things to do in Cape Town, we have to mention some adventure activities to the list, like.

Driving Chapman’s Peak Drive

Chapman’s Peak is one of the most scenic but also the most dangerous roads in South Africa. Even though it has been recently renovated, the road is still very difficult to navigate because of the countless number of hairpin bends. If you can handle all the twists and turns this road has in store for you, you’ll get an amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Southwestern coastline as a reward.

Fun fact: In 1988, a driver had an accident on Chapman’s Peak, falling 30 stores below in a Mercedez-Benz. He miraculously survived and even filmed a Mercedes commercial a few years later!

Bonus: if you aren’t brave enough to drive Chapman’s Peak on your own, there are a lot of companies that offer driving tours. Some of them even do it in an old, vintage open-top sports car.

Talking about driving tours, another thing you have to experience while in Cape Town is.

Board The Franschhoek Wine Tram

I know the Franschhoek Valley is worldwide famous for its cuisine and wine estates and that it attracts many tourists but the wine tram tour simply has to be included in this list of unusual things to do in Cape Town. This hop-on-hop-off tour is a great way to explore the valley and discover its 300-year-old history. It all starts with what appears to be a very old vintage 19^th-century tram but this tram is different; the stations where it stops are the most distinguished wineries in South Africa. The tour is the perfect combination of wine tasting and stunning outdoors.

And speaking of the outdoors…

Camping At Kogel Bay Beach

Kogel Bay Beach is one of the most romantic spots in Cape Town. What most tourists don’t know is that a lot of locals propose to their girlfriends on this very same spot! So, if you’re an outdoor couple and are looking for a great camping spot, nothing compares to waking up and seeing the sun rising over Kogel Bay Beach.

If you want to get off the beaten track in Cape Town, use this AutoEurope coupon and get 15% off on all car rentals in South Africa.

Ride Horses At The Edge Of South Africa

Based in Noordhoek, the Sleepy Hollow Trail is one of the most picturesque horse-riding routes in Africa. It’s located on the southernmost tip of Africa and is a must if you’re a fan of horse riding. Along the trail, the horses pass through water, meet flamingos, and trot on the way, and you’re surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa and charcoal mountains with the blue ocean coming in and out of the mist.

Climb Up Table Mountain

I don’t know if you knew but there are a lot of exciting hikes around Cape Town and this list of unusual things to do in Cape Town can’t be complete without Table Mountain, even though it’s slowly turning into one of the most visited places in Cape Town. This mountain is on UNESCO’s list for a good reason; it covers only 0.5% of Africa’s land but it’s home to more than 20% of Africa’s flora. If that’s not a reason enough to visit, I don’t know what is!

Discovering the Fynbos at Silvermine Nature Reserve

Nestled within the Table Mountain National Park, the Fynbos (translating to “fine bush”) is a unique floral kingdom that captures the highlights one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. Only here, you can see the geometric perfection of a Protea flower, the national flower of South Africa, the delicate beauty of Ericas and Restios, among others, or smell the scent of the buchu plant with the soothing sounds of birdlife in the background dotted with serene waters that reflect the sky.

Paragliding Off Lion’s Head

Paragliding off Lion’s Head is the ultimate way to earn your wings, offering a bird’s-eye view of the city. The adventure begins with a hike up Lion’s Head and ends with flying over Cape Town. You’ll have the unique chance to see the city sprawl underneath like a 3D map with Table Mountain in the background and the Atlantic kissing the shore. It’s the kind of experience that makes you want to scream, “Look at me, world! I’m flying!”—and with modern technology, you probably can (and will) live-stream it.

Skeleton Gorge’s Secret Beach

This list of unusual things to do in Cape Town couldn’t be complete without the trek leading to Skeleton Gorge’s Secret Beach. The hike begins at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and leads you through the colorful gardens all the way to this secluded spot where the mountain’s runoff has created a natural pool.

Strolling The Boomslang At Kirstenbosch

Last but not least, we conclude this list of unusual things to do in Cape Town with Kirstenbosch. Imagine a walkway that lets you saunter through the treetops, offering views that even the birds might envy. That is the Boomslang at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, an engineering marvel that offers visitors a chance to levitate amongst the foliage in an experience that tickles the senses.

Helpful Tips For Finding Unusual Things To Do In Cape Town

When booking flights, use Qatar Airways’s Discover the World at a low price program and save big on all flights to Cape Town.

If you’re looking for cheap accommodation options in Cape Town, use my Booking discount code. For a luxurious yet budget-friendly alternative, use this link and get one night free in Radisson Cape Town.

For the best travel insurance deals, I’m always using SafetyWing and I personally recommend you try it!

How did you like this list of unusual things to do in Cape Town? Did you ever visit? If yes, what are your favorite things to do? If not, what would you do first if you visited Cape Town? Let us know in the comments!

Like it? Pin it.