| What: Museum of Illusions Where: 10 Kloof Street, Cape Town Ticket prices: R250. No charge under 3s. R200 for 4-12 and over 60s. Family tickets (2 x adults and 2 x children) – R770. Prices as per June 2025 Bookings: https://moicapetown.co.za/ ‘ Opening hours: Mon-Wed 9am to 7pm. Thursday to Saturday- 9am to 9pm and Sundays and public holidays, 9am to 7pm |
The Museum of illusions is here in the Mother City. We attended the opening of the MOI in Cape Town, last weekend (opening weekend June 30-31, June 1, 2025) and it was heaps of fun. This is a wonderful addition to Cape Town – perfect for a family outing (no unaccompanied kids, by the way), date night and social gatherings. The MOI is open every day. Note the 9pm closing time from Saturdays-Sundays. Perhaps in summer, they will close later but still 9pm is a decent closing time for a museum in Cape Town.
There over 60 attractions – a few were not ready when we visited. We played with unbridled joy and glee in the immersive installations. I did it all – except the Vortex Tunnel which gives you vertigo if your eyes are open – although it is all an illusion. Maybe, next time, I will be braver. The staff – the Illusion Experts – are terrific – explaining and guiding visitors. Importantly, they are happy to take pics so one has keepsakes to take home. I was super impressed with their knowledge and their assistance. This museum is all about touching and experiencing and the Illusion Experts were constantly wiping surfaces with sanitiser, which was great to see.
It was lovely to meet Mark Collie, the owner of the South African franchise of the MOI. He opened the successful MOI in Johannesburg at the Zone in Rosebank in July 2024. Collie who has a background in tech, is the grandson of the legendary hypnotist, Max Collie. The MOI is very theatrical – so clearly magic and illusion runs in the family.
How much time to play in the MOI? I would say at least 45 minutes but we were there an hour and I could have stayed longer. One books time slots, online, to ensure that the venue is not over crowded. The Museum of illusions is a fab destination to rekindle one’s inner child.
✳ Mark Collie – owner of Museum of Illusions (South Africa) at the opening of the MOI in Cape Town, June 30, 2025. Pic: Robyn Cohen/TheCapeRobyn.
