Hairy and macabre at Canal Walk- the spiders, not you

Spiders weighing as much as half a hamburger and hairy like a Persian kitten after an altercation with some Wahl hair clippers. Go to the Cape Union Mart "pod" store located in a large building outside the main Canal Walk shopping centre, Century City along the N1 just outside Cape Town. Upstairs next to the sleeping bags are the spider display cases- each one housing a large and relaxed arachnid. There's a Brazilian Red Kneed Tarantula and another with an almost luminescent shimmer in its fur. And about another 80 legs worth of viewing. You'll be giving them pet names like Tickles, Sting, Princess Daisy and The Praline before you know it.

Spare yourself 15 minutes away from the shopping treadmill and go and visit the spiders at the outdoor gear shop; its like a little educational rain forest adventure in retail land.