South Africa’s 10 most charming towns Posted by Anita Froneman on 22 November 2019 Not everyone is keen on the big city life. Tourists flock in their thousands to the well-known capitals like Durban and Cape Town. Sometimes, though, getting off the beaten path ends up being the time of your life. A travel website, Travelmag recently interviewed more than 100 writers, travel bloggers, photographers and other professionals who have spent time in South Africa to pick the ‘most charming’ small towns in the country. All destinations with populations of less than 500,000 were considered in the survey and hence, most of them are are not well-known which adds to the charm. We picked our top 10 from the results: 1. Sutherland, Northern Cape This small little town in the heart of the Roggeveld region in the Karoo is known for its observatory and a marvel to many South Africans who are not familiar with snow. Here, it can get extremely cold during winter times. View this post on Instagram The first picture was June. Don’t let the sun fool you, I was freezing 😁 The second picture is the situation right now ❄️🌨️ ⛄ A month difference 🤭 #Sutherland #SALT #freezingair #snow #snowflakes #snowqueen #sutherlandobservatory #boots #winter #winterbaby A post shared by Crystal August-Reynecke (@_crystalaugust) on Jul 25, 2019 at 10:42am PDT 2. Riebeek-Kasteel, Western Cape Drenched in old-time beauty, this lesser-known settlement is only an hour’s drive form the Mother City and one of the oldest towns in the country. Also read: 23 things to do in Riebeek-Kasteel View this post on Instagram I fell in love with the beautiful town of Riebeeck Kasteel and the greater Swartland. #riebeekkasteel #swartland A post shared by Alfred Thorpe (@vuurtoring) on Dec 7, 2018 at 7:47am PST 3. Nottingham Road, Kwazulu-Natal This well-known Midlands road is a must on any traveller’s list. Especially popular for trout-fishing, it’s a nature lover’s paradise. Interestingly, it’s also home to one of the 6 paranormal pitstops in SA. View this post on Instagram 1 Harrison Green East, Gowrie Village, Nottingham Road, KZN Midlands, South Africa, Africa, The World. That’s where we are mmmmkay ✌️ . . #flammerougecyclecafe #gowrievillage #nottinghamroad #kznmidlands #midlandsmeander #coffeeshop #localcafe #coffee #bikefriendlycafe #cyclecafe #terbodore #terbodorecoffee #weekendvibes #butfirstcoffee A post shared by Flamme Rouge (@flammerougecyclecafe) on Sep 23, 2018 at 9:18pm PDT 4. Hogsback, Eastern Cape A hiker’s haven, Hogsback is a hideout not to be overlooked. Fauna and flora abound, as do waterfalls and mountains. Did you know that it is home to the oldest forest in South Africa? View this post on Instagram The Madonna and Child waterfall near Hogsback – a 4km walk from the village (through indigenous forest) brings you to this bit of wonderland, or a longer route via the Big Tree can be taken for a proper day-hike. With a little bit of imagination, an outcrop of rock on the face of the falls helps to form the shape of the “Mother and Child”. 📸 @outsidechad #hikemzantsi #hikingsouthafrica #hogsback #amatola #easterncape #madonnaandchildwaterfall A post shared by Hiking South Africa (@hiking.southafrica) on Apr 21, 2019 at 11:02pm PDT 5. Franschhoek, Western Cape This Boland town is a wine lover’s paradise, but that’s not all. Centuries-old vineyards and Cape Dutch architecture make it a picture-worthy holiday spot. Hikers and cyclists can be spotted in the lush green fields surrounding the town centre. View this post on Instagram Sunny skies ☀️ and magnificent views 👀 over the Franschhoek Wine Valley! A post shared by Franschhoek Wine Valley (@franschhoek_sa) on Oct 22, 2019 at 3:16am PDT 6. Clarens, Free State Located in east Free State, this sleepy town has an artsy flair and has been called the Stellenbosch of the inland. Situated at the foothills of the Maluti mountains, this countryside town reminds us of Lesotho. View this post on Instagram Clarens ❤️#freestate #clarens #goodbyewildcoast #hellomountains #hikingtime #mountains #nature #exploresouthafrica #discoversouthafrica #welovetoexplore #adventurefamily #travel #adventure #roadtrip2019 #southafrica #travel #vacation #elternzeit #parentalleave #familytime #explorefreestate #mountainlovers A post shared by Spokazi Stühle (@spokazifica) on Nov 12, 2019 at 8:48pm PST 7. Barberton, Mpumalanga The original ‘Gold Rush’ town in the 1800s, this little town is popular for its mild winters and lively summers. The numerous 4×4 trails and mountain climbing opportunities attract adventurous travellers from all over. View this post on Instagram Thank you Sitanani Landscapes @albert.j.venter … You’ve done a great job at Barberton’s entrance! The Barberton daisies add that special feel to the garden… As if they convey a special welcome message by themselves!!! Barberton daisies available from Barberton Daisy Growers @ Barberton Garden Centre #barbertongardencentre #barbertonmpumalanga #barbertondaisies #gerberajamesonii #waterwiseplants #plantlovers #gardenlovers #succulents #succulentlove #succulentaddict #succulentlandscape A post shared by elna van niekerk (@barberton_garden_centre) on Jun 7, 2019 at 8:46pm PDT 8. Betty’s Bay, Western Cape Situated on the Overberg coast, this little retirement village doubles as a lovely holiday destination. Breathtaking views from the botanical garden and a laid-back atmosphere are but a few of its features, along with the friendly penguins you can visit in the nature reserve. View this post on Instagram 🐧 Let’s celebrate the wonderful world of penguins! Today is #PenguinAwarenessDay! 🐧 Endemic to the coastal areas of southern Africa, the African penguin, (also known as the jackass penguin,) can be spotted at a number of places in the Western Cape, including on Bolders Beach, Betty’s Bay and Robben Island. Take a look at today’s Story to learn more as we take you on a guided tour of Boulders Beach… 📷 All photos by @mrcalv. #MeetSouthAfrica A post shared by South African Tourism (@visitsouthafrica_uk) on Jan 20, 2019 at 12:09am PST 9. Hermanus, Western Cape The whale watching capital of SA, holiday-goers have an ongoing love-affair with this coastal town. Pristine beaches and award-winning restaurants are among the attractions it has to offer. View this post on Instagram Living within nature. That’s how we should be doing it. #CapeTown #Clouds #CloudPorn #SkyPorn #Colours #Photography #SunirPhotography #Travel #Traveller #Tourist #Africa #ThisIsAfrica #Holiday #City #Sea #WesternCape #Ocean #Hermanus #Rocks #Coast #Whales #WhaleCoast #RockPool #Nature #Family #Friends #Hike #Explore #SouthAfrica #SA A post shared by sunir (@sunir_goven) on Nov 21, 2019 at 12:56pm PST 10. Kimberley, Northern Cape Known for the 19th century diamond mines, Kimberley is great for historians and curious passers-by alike. In fact, the Big Hole is the largest man-made excavation in the world! View this post on Instagram 💎 From mid-July 1871 to 1914 up to 50,000 miners dug the hole with picks and shovels, yielding 2,720 kilograms (6,000 lb; 13,600,000 carats) of diamonds. The Big Hole has a surface of 17 hectares (42 acres) and is 463 metres (1,519 ft) wide. (Wiki) A post shared by Elopement Photographer & Guide (@shanmarishehaj) on May 3, 2018 at 6:52am PDT Image: Instagram/Franschhoeksa You may also like Related Posts Luxury Gatsby-style train ride to launch in Europe 4 December 2019 Almost 100 years after the roaring '20s, a luxury train will be offering a not-to-be-missed... read more How to behave on a nudist beach in SA 25 November 2019 Unbeknownst to many, South Africa has five nudist beaches. Admittedly, some of them are more... read more A handful of world’s best beaches 15 November 2019 What makes a beach 'the best'? Some might say cleanliness, others feel it needs a... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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