2 Unusual things to do in Cape Town

Take a walk on the Boomslang

No, I have not lost my mind. I’m not asking anyone to go walk over snakes of any kind. The Boomslang is the stunning new tree canopy walkway at Kirstenbosch. Hidden away among the trees in the heart of the Arboretum, the Boomslang is worth the search! 

Walking up the curving bridge truly feels like strolling in an Enchanted Forest with the canopy of leaves overhead. The view walking up the walkway is spectacular… mesmerising to say the least. What could possibly be more fun than a 130-metre walkway, with a peak at 12 metres, slithering over and around the treetops? 

What makes this aptly named treetop walkway even more perfect is the fact that it’s nestled in one of the least visited parts of the botanical gardens. People mostly follow the wider and more popular paths, skipping past the more dense and 'foresty' parts, so this part of the garden is relatively quiet and tranquil.

The Boomslang is now open to the public and has already had a few visitors. The best part is, it’s wheelchair friendly and it’s free! All you have to pay is your admission the garden (as usual).

For more info on the boomslang and entrance to the garden, visit their website.

Cape Town's underground tunnel tour (Warning: not for the claustrophobic!)

Next time you visit the Castle of Good Hope, go for the tunnel tour that’ll take you below the surface of the Mother City centre.

Good Hope Adventures organises expeditions into the long-abandoned canal system, which channels fresh, running water from Table Mountain underneath the City Bowl, and out into the sea.

Though it sounds a bit unpleasant, I can assure you the storm water mixed with the mountain stream in the tunnel is clean and odourless – bring those Wellies if you don’t fancy wet feet! Wading through the ankle-deep water makes up part of the fun and remember to bring a torch to get the most out of your tunnel tour – don’t go on this tour if you faint at the sight of a cockroach – you are invading their home after all.

For more info or to book a tunnel tour, visit the Good Hope Adventures website.


Written by: Christine Kleyn