Gabi Zietsman

Double, double, toil and trouble… Halloween isn’t just for the trick-or-treating streets of American suburbs and Hollywood haunted house exhibitions. While not nearly as big an event on the South African calendar, the spooky holiday has grown in some popularity on the entertainment scene in a few of the country’s cities, not excluding ye olde Mother City.  If you’re on the hunt for thrills this horrifying season, make a return to cinema with the annual South African Horrorfest at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks - the Labia Theatre. Running the show for more than two decades, festival organiser and co-founder Paul Blom has put in a lot of work over the years to grow one of South Africa’s most niche film festivals, despite the lack of mainstream interest in the genre. “I think Halloween is big enough here, but it will never get that big – we forget that South Africa is still pretty conservative and many people still believe it's an evil, satanic thing,” explains a cheeky Blom. “When we had, I think it was about the fourth festival, that we had some tannie wrote a letter to Die Burger [newspaper] and complained that, ‘We don't need this Satanic festival in South Africa’. There are still lots of people who are deluded about certain things, and I guess you can't do much about that, but it's not like they'll come to the Horrorfest anyway, so it doesn't really matter.” ALSO SEE: One of the world's most beautiful cinemas is right here in Cape Town The last i

Strobe lights, sweaty mosh pits, and fire vocals - sometimes there’s nothing like banging live music to get the blood pumping. Cape Town’s glitz and glamour might seem filled with DJs and groove, but it also boasts a strong alternative rock scene that caters to both young and old. From bars and festivals to breweries, you’ll be able to rock out to your favourite genre with local bands, cover bands, alt karaoke or international acts. If you’re not sure where to start stomping with your Converse, here’s a round-up from one rocker to another of the grungiest spots to wear your spikes to. ALSO READ: The best wine bars in Cape Town Sign up to Time Out Cape Town's free newsletter for expert recommendations on new things to do, see, eat and drink in the Mother City. You can also follow Time Out Cape Town on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok! TIME OUT RECOMMENDS: 😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town🍷 The best wine farms in and around Cape Town🍕 The best pizza in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town

Want to party with the students, hippies and Southern Suburbians who prefer walking to their favourite bar? Cape Town’s Observatory is one of the most central neighbourhoods in the city, home to academics and activists and a big thrifting scene. I have lived a large part of my Cape Town life here, and once you’ve done that, it can be hard to leave. You’ll always be able to find a special or three, and while driving its small roads and confusing one-ways requires a deft hand and tiny car, on foot you can easily spend an entire day in Observatory - grab good coffee in the morning, browse the thrift stores, snack at a cafe for lunch, listen to old-school music or get a tattoo in the afternoon and start your evening with a draught beer before finding a pizza or Asian fusion cuisine to fill up the stomach. If you’re looking for a late night on the weekend, you’re bound to find a DJ or band to entertain you into the wee hours of the morning. That’s what Observatory is all about! Need more specifics? Here’s our roundup of what not to miss, from a big Obz fan. Thrifting must-do’s From the start of Lower Main all the way to Milton Road, you will find the biggest cluster of thrift shops in the whole city. From classics to a mix of old and new, a proper thrift session requires some time to fully dive into the massive collections of many stores. It’s all about seeing beyond the hanger, and styling is everything. Time Out Tip: Take some hand sanitiser as it can get dusty fast, and wear cl

Paddling out into the deep blue, catching some barrels, is not just good for physical health, but also builds a sense of community with fellow surfers.   For UCT film/sciences third-year student Seb Lanz, it is very much a family affair. “All my cousins surf, so all family holidays were always surfing-related. If I wanted to hang out with my cousins, I had to surf.” The former surf coach had a board in his hand since he was young, but started taking it more seriously when he moved from Stellenbosch to Cape Town at 16, and hasn’t left the water since. For Seb, Cape Town is one of the most underestimated surf destinations in the world. “A lot of publications will put out like ‘the top cities to surf in’ but no one mentions Cape Town. "Because of the shape of the peninsula and the whole city’s coastline, it's blowing wind offshore somewhere pretty much every single day of the year and we are nicely far south, so we get a lot of consistent swell. “Most places will have like a solid surf season and you either surf during these months or these months. But in Cape Town, you can pretty much surf somewhere in the city 365 days of the year – if you know where to go.” Like most hardened surfers, Seb didn’t want to spill all his secret spots, but gave the lowdown on some of his favourite Cape Town waves from Melkbosstrand to False Bay, for beginners and saltier seadogs. Time Out Tip: Picking the right spot on the right day means checking forecasts and scouting locations. Seb’s top r

Thinking of diving Cape Town’s icy waters, but don’t know where to start? We chatted to local and wildlife filmmaker Jeandre Gerding, a lover of nature - so much so that his entire career revolves around it. As a cinematographer and filmmaker, Jeandre has filmed various wildlife and impact projects for the likes of National Geographic, BBC, Apple TV and Disney+, as well as local shows. A merman in spirit, he’s an avid diver and advocate for Cape Town’s marine world. “There are casual scuba divers who live in Cape Town and have never dived its shores,” laments Jeandre, noting that the cold water tends to scare people off, missing out on some of the best dive spots in the world. Cape Town has a “ridiculous amount of biodiversity”- new species are discovered almost every year. We also have one of the most pristine kelp forests in the world, vitally important not just for protecting our coastline from waves but also providing food and shelter to thousands of animals. For diving, what makes our shores even more special, according to Jeandre, is that you don’t need a boat for some of the best diving spots - easily accessible from the shore. However, you will still need boats for some spots that are hard to hike to with heavy scuba gear, or wrecks and pinnacles that are a little further out to sea. Much of the city’s shoreline forms part of a Marine Protected Area (MPA), which contributes to the pristine biodiversity of the region. Time Out Tip: As of May 2024, scuba divers no longe

Many might think that gamers prefer to stay indoors, snuggled up with their consoles, staying up through the night, glued to their screens and hiss at anything to do with the outside world. However, you would be hard-pressed to find a more social group that loves to get together with other players and immerse themselves in real-life gaming.  And how much better is life with a little bit of magic? Add a sprinkle of adventure and puzzles to your next Cape Town exploit - both physically and mentally stimulating. Just make sure you bring along people who are just as pumped up for challenge as you!    RECOMMENDED: 😋 The best indoor activities for kids in Cape Town🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town

Looking for easier Cape Town hikes through green forests and past rivers that are easier on the knees than tackling Table Mountain? You’ve come to the right place. Table Mountain has always hogged the spotlight when it comes to hikes and trails in Cape Town - rugged terrain, gorgeous views and the smell of fynbos that really makes you feel like you’re out in the urban wild.  But along with its high altitudes come sore knees, heaving lungs and the necessary free time to make the most out of the hike. If you’re looking for easier access to an afternoon walk that’s flat and even enough for kids and dogs to enjoy, head through the parks and greenbelts of Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs for that hit of nature - without having to dust off the hiking boots. Here are the top picks from a local with a bad knee and a love for greenery - and within suburbia, it’s easy to grab an Uber from the end-point of your walk back to where your car is parked, perfect for any lazy hiker.  Just to note: Most of the routes are also popular with horses, and cyclists are only allowed on the designated routes. Also be wary of muddy walks during the rainy season.