It’s easy to fall in love with the majesty of Namibia, or the wilderness of Kruger – but there’s more to travel than that. That’s why, in every issue, we write a guide about a little town in South Africa, and try to find out its secrets and its quirks. Here you’ll find every guide we’ve written over the last year (and a bit) – if you’re looking for a new adventure to enjoy in South Africa, you’ll definitely find inspiration here.
Betty’s Bay
A coastal path links the many tiny coves near Jock’s Bay; members of the local boat club have a serious trespassing problem on their slipway. Image by Teagan Cunniffe
What makes Betty’s Bay the perfect holiday destination? All you need to find the answer, says Adel Groenewald, is a pair of comfortable shoes.
Montagu
If you stand in the middle of the intersection of Long and Church Streets in Montagu, you can view each of the four main styles of architecture found in the pretty old village (but be alert – Long Street is the R62, with cars whizzing past on the way to and from Oudtshoorn).
Enchanting Montagu: small town form and function
Ghost hunting and other things to do in Montagu
Citrusdal
Locally grown oranges are for sale everywhere; the rustic interior of the Lovely Grapevine coffee shop. Photo by Melanie van Zyl.
Citrusdal is a thriving farming district by trade but has been dragged kicking and screaming into tourism. It’s well worth the trip because it has so much to offer: rooibos, natural hot springs, as well as the eponymous oranges.
Elands Bay
The Southern end of Elands Bay has only privately owned houses on partially tarred roads that eventually lead down to the beach. Photo by Adriaan Louw.
At first glance, there’s nothing to do in Elands Bay except surf and eat crayfish. Yet the same family caravans return to the beachfront campsite each summer. Clearly, doing very little is part of the appeal in this sleepy coastal town.
Glentana
While the sea is invitingly warm, the rip currents are strong and the possibility of sharks rather high, so swim at your own risk. Lifeguards are posted on Glentana’s main beach only in peak season. Photo by Jazz Kuschke.
Glentana is the first choice when George and Oudtshoorn locals go beach-walking. Jazz Kuschke found out why.
Groot Marico
The magic of the Marico. Photo by Teagan Cunniffe.
A hearty dorp of more than just dops: Oom Schalk Lourens made it famous, but Vuyi Qubeka finds more than mampoer and tall tales in Groot Marico.
Hermanus
Hermanus Old Harbour. Picture: Flickr Commons/ Robert Wallace
There’s nothing charming about progress, says Tyson Jopson. What happens when an old fishing village turned holiday hotspot embraces the business of watching whales go by?
Howick
At 120kmph, hurtling down the N3, it’s a case of blink and you’ll miss Howick. Paul Maughan-Brown took exit 103 for a few laid-back days with the locals.
Lake Jozini
The elephants of Lake Jozini used to inhabit the southern section of the Pongola Game Reserve, but during a drought in 2016, they crossed the Pongola River into the area below the Lebombo Mountains, where they’ve been ever since.
At the foot of the Lebombo mountains, just south of Swaziland, lies a destination that not only resembles Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba, but also rivals it in terms of activities and accommodation. Villiers Steyn and Tabby Mittins soaked up the sun on Lake Jozini.
Mossel Bay
Cape Town surfer Jake Elkington is a regular face at Inner Pool. Photo by Jazz Kuschke.
A temperate climate, deep historical roots and a well-developed tourist infrastructure make Mossel Bay far more than just the gateway to the Garden Route, says Jazz Kuschke.
Paarl
Paarl features adventure activities in abundance, among them several mountain-biking trails for beginners through experts. Photo by Teagan Cunniffe.
Paarl is frequently overlooked in favour of the refined salons of Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch’s leafy avenues of learning, with its gourmet eateries, sleek art galleries and please-see-me pavement cafés. It’s unfair to a beautiful town that retains its earthy, we-are-actually-here-to-make-good-wine feel, and has excellent restaurants, art galleries and coffee shops that hold their own anywhere. Fred Hatman concludes that Paarl really has it all – without being too pleased with itself.
20 amazing restaurants near Paarl
Warm up this winter with a visit to Paarl
Prince Albert
Long a thriving farming town and a gem on the Karoo tourist trail, Prince Albert is adding new community voices to its more familiar Victorian history.
Hoedspruit
Though still a mecca for would-be and hardened game rangers, Hoedspruit has boomed into one of South Africa’s fastest growing towns, under constant expansion and development. It hasn’t lost its sleepy Lowveld charm though, and there’s no shortage of things to do in around Hoedspruit.
10 things to do in and around Hoedspruit
Kaapsehoop
The quirky and quaint village of Kaapschehoop feels like an old storybook coming to life. The houses are all different colours, there’s a blue passion wagon that you pass as you drive in, and wild horses that practically own the place.
Spend 48 hours exploring Kaapschehoop, Mpumalanga
Southbroom
Southbroom’s long, clean beaches are perfect for early evening walks with the kids. Photo by Tyson Jopson.
Take a trip to Southbroom, a village tucked between two rivers on KZN’s South Coast that has conservation and recreation as its top priorities.
Stanford
The local fynbos more than holds its own in the Cape Floral Kingdom. Photo by Teagan Cunniffe.
There’s something in the air in Stanford. Amongst the mix of quaint Victorian houses and stooping Strandveld cottages, Fred Hatman discovered that there’s a quite intangible Stanford thing that sucks you in.
Umhlanga
Sunset in Umhlanga. Photo by Adel Groenewald.
A small town with a big heart, Umhlanga, on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast, is a spot for everyone to enjoy almost year-round sunshine.
Wakkerstroom
Like most towns the NG Kerk takes centre stage in Wakkerstroom.
Wakkerstroom is a village with no traffic lights for at least 30 kilometres in any direction. And that’s the way the locals like it.
Guide to Wakkerstroom
Got a suggestion for a little town we haven’t visited yet? Leave it in the comments!
