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Cape Union Mart Adventure Centre

Don't buy your safari gear stateside—instead, hit this dockside emporium, the biggest branch of Cape Town's institution for all things outdoorsy. Here, you can put prospective purchases to the test in simulated adventure conditions: try out waterproof gear under a shower in the “Rain Chamber” or compare flashlights in the pitch-black “Torch Testing Cave” and jackets in the -2° F “Environmental Chamber.” Anything you'd take to the bush or a mountain peak is within these four walls, from all-terrain hats to tents to Garmin GPS systems to high-quality, locally made K-Way fleeces and jackets.

Insider Tip: Of the two Cape Union Marts in the waterfront area (there's a smaller branch in the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre), this one has the best variety—plus proximity to crispy fish and chips at the neighboring Quay 4 Restaurant.