by EvanAlmost every Cape Town itinerary reads the same way: Table Mountain, the cable car, the V&A Waterfront, maybe a quick spin out to Cape Point. Those are classics for a reason. But if you’ve already ticked them off, or you simply want a trip that doesn’t look like everyone else’s camera roll, this guide is for you. We’ve pulled together genuinely unusual things to do in Cape Town. Experiences that locals quietly love and most visitors never hear about, each one explained by why it stands out, who it suits, and how to actually plan it.
This isn’t another recycled list of the same five “secret” spots of where to go. It’s a route you can build into a half-day or full-day out, with a relaxed lunch stop along the way so you’re not running on empty by mid-afternoon.
1. The Abandoned Zoo Ruins Above Rhodes Memorial
Tucked into the pine forest behind Rhodes Memorial are the crumbling remains of the old Groote Schuur zoo. Stone lion enclosures, slowly being reclaimed by moss and tree roots. It’s eerie, atmospheric, completely free, and almost no commercial tour will ever mention it. That’s exactly what makes it one of the more unusual things to do in Cape Town if you like your sightseeing with a bit of mystery and are looking for ‘activities to do near me’.
- Why it stands out: It feels like stumbling onto a forgotten film set, minutes from the city.
- Who it suits: Curious explorers, photographers and history lovers.
- How to plan it: Park at the Rhodes Memorial lot, follow the short uphill path into the trees behind the monument, and go in daylight with company. Pair it with the sweeping view from the memorial itself before you head down.
2. Newlands Forest’s Hidden Waterfall and Contour Paths
A few minutes away lies anotherone of the unusual things to do in Cape Town. Newlands Forest is a pocket of genuine indigenous woodland inside the city – cool, green, and far quieter than the manicured paths of Kirstenbosch next door. Follow the right trail and you’ll reach a modest waterfall that runs hard after winter rain.
- Why it stands out: Real forest and a waterfall, without committing to a full mountain summit.
- Who it suits: Walkers, families, and anyone who wants nature without the crowds.
- How to plan it: Choose between the gentle contour paths and the steeper climbs; aim for late autumn through spring for the best water flow, and bring proper shoes, as the lower paths can get muddy. This is the moment in your day to slow right down, and one of the simplest things to do to trade the tourist crush for something that feels like your own private discovery.
3. Free Diving the Kelp Forests
You’ve probably seen the kelp forests on screen in My Octopus Teacher, and yes, you can actually swim in them. Guided operators along the False Bay and Atlantic coasts take small groups snorkelling and free diving through the golden kelp, often alongside curious seals and the occasional octopus.
- Why it stands out: It’s one of the rare wildlife experiences that lives up to the documentary.
- Who it suits: Adventurous, reasonably confident swimmers who don’t mind cold water.
- How to plan it: Book ahead with a reputable guided operator, be honest about your swimming fitness, and prepare for a proper wetsuit. The Atlantic side in particular is bracing year-round. Among the more memorable unusual things to do in Cape Town, this one rewards a little courage.
4. Sandboarding the Atlantis Dunes
About 45 minutes north of the city, the Atlantis dunes rise up in great pale waves of sand, and most visitors have no idea they exist. Strap on a board and slide down them, then trudge back up and do it again.
- Why it stands out: An adrenaline hit in a landscape that looks nothing like the rest of your trip.
- Who it suits: Thrill-seekers and groups looking for something active.
- How to plan it: Go with a licensed operator, block out half a day, and check what’s included: boards, wax and transfers usually are.
5. Tidal-Pool Hopping and a Coastal Foraging Walk
The False Bay coast is dotted with sheltered tidal pools; Dalebrook and St James are local favourites, where you can swim in calm, clear seawater without battling the surf. Pair a dip with a guided coastal foraging experience and you’ve got a hands-on, deeply local half-day.
- Why it stands out: Wild swimming plus edible-shoreline knowledge from someone who knows the coast intimately.
- Who it suits: Slow-travel types, foodies and families.
- How to plan it: Check the tide tables before you go, pick a pool that suits your group’s confidence, and book a foraging guide in advance. Of all the unusual things to do in Cape Town, this is the one that quietly turns into the highlight for a lot of people; it’s a real contender for the ‘most interesting places to visit near me’ if you’re staying along the southern coastline.
6. The Noon Gun and a Bo-Kaap Lunch
High on Signal Hill, a cannon has been fired at noon every day for well over a century. One of the oldest living daily traditions anywhere in the world. Time your climb to hear it go off, then wind down into the brightly painted streets of the Bo-Kaap for a Cape Malay lunch you genuinely can’t get anywhere else.
- Why it stands out: Living history and a food culture rolled into one short, vivid outing.
- Who it suits: Culture and history fans, and anyone who eats with curiosity.
- How to plan it: Arrive on Signal Hill with time to spare before noon (the walk up from the Bo-Kaap is short but steep), then book a table at one of the neighbourhood’s Cape Malay kitchens. It’s an easy favourite to flag when friends ask about fun places to see near me in the City Bowl.
7. Couple Things to do in Cape Town for a Different Kind of Date
If you’re travelling as a couple, several of these experiences reframe beautifully through a romantic lens. A sunset kelp paddle, a private wine-blending session, or stargazing somewhere well away from the city lights all make for a date that doesn’t feel like every other one. These are couple things to do in Cape Town that lean intimate and low-key rather than crowded and obvious.
What ties them together is atmosphere over spectacle. Many of the best activities work precisely because they’re quiet — an anniversary, a milestone, or a memorable first date all land better away from the tour-bus rhythm. Build one of these into the route above and you’ve got something that feels genuinely yours, which is the whole point of seeking out unusual things to do in Cape Town in the first place.
8. Quirky Things to do for Fun With Friends for Unusual Things to Do in Cape Town
When you want low effort and high payoff, the city delivers. Catch a film under the stars at a drive-in cinema, settle in for a township jazz supper club, or browse a weekend night market for street food and live music. These are easy, sociable things to do for fun when the group can’t agree on anything more ambitious; no booking marathon, no early start, just a good night out.
9. Unusual Things to Do in Cape Town: Where Foresters Arms fits into the day
Here’s the practical bit that ties the Southern Suburbs cluster together. After the zoo ruins above Rhodes Memorial and a wander through Newlands Forest, you’re only a few minutes from Foresters Arms, known to everyone simply as Forries. It’s the obvious place to land for a relaxed lunch or an end-of-day drink in the garden.
We’ll keep it honest: Forries isn’t trying to be a bucket-list “destination”, and that’s exactly our charm. It’s a comfortable, well-located Newlands institution and has been around since 1852. Family-friendly, dog-friendly, and easy to settle into for a couple of hours without ceremony. After a morning of forest paths and forgotten ruins, it’s the natural regroup point: order something hearty, sit in the garden with a refreshing drink, and plan the rest of your day. Pencil it in as the midpoint of the route above and the whole day flows better.
Book Your Table Today
Cape Town rewards travellers who step one layer past the obvious. The headline sights are wonderful, but the city’s real character lives in its forgotten ruins, cold kelp forests, quiet forest waterfalls and century-old traditions. Build a route from a few of these unusual things to do in Cape Town, slot in a relaxed lunch at Forries to stay fuelled, and you’ll come away with a trip that feels like genuine Cape Town hidden gems and not a copy of everyone else’s. Now the only thing left to decide is which one you start with. Book your table today by using our Dineplan site or giving us a call on 021 689 5949.
