Cities expand, roads grow busier and new technology seems to find its way into every corner of life.
Yet scattered across the country are places that have chosen not to chase progress in the same way. Instead, history is preserved in the daily life of small communities. Visiting these destinations is like opening a door to the past.
Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga
High in the hills of Mpumalanga lies Pilgrim’s Rest, a living monument to South Africa’s gold rush. Wooden shopfronts with corrugated iron roofs still line the narrow streets, while enamel signs and tin ceilings speak of an age when fortune seekers filled the valley with hope and ambition. The Royal Hotel welcomes travellers in much the same way it did more than a century ago, offering hearty meals and a chance to sit in a space where prospectors once swapped stories. Exploring the town is like opening a sepia photograph and walking straight inside it.
adriaan venner scheepers/Unsplash
Matjiesfontein in the Karoo
Arriving in Matjiesfontein feels like stepping into another century. This tiny settlement in the Karoo is famous for its Victorian architecture and atmosphere. The grand Lord Milner Hotel stands as the centrepiece, its creaking staircases and long dining hall inviting visitors to imagine evenings filled with candlelight and conversation. Walking along the single main street reveals an old railway station, the Laird’s Arms pub, and a museum filled with curiosities from the Anglo-Boer War. Every detail reinforces the impression that time has politely chosen not to move on here.
Wupperthal in the Cederberg
Hidden deep within the Cederberg mountains is the mission village of Wupperthal, established in the early 1800s. Whitewashed cottages with thatched roofs still sit neatly against the valley backdrop. The community became known for its handcrafted veldskoen, and this tradition continues today. Although a devastating fire swept through the village in 2018, many homes and buildings have been carefully restored. The resilience of the community is visible in the rebuilt church and the slow revival of daily life. Visitors here are not overwhelmed with attractions. Instead, they are invited to slow down, to sit quietly, and to observe how tradition continues to guide the present.
Morné van Rooyen/Wikimedia Commons
Nieu-Bethesda in the Karoo
Nestled among the Sneeuberg mountains, Nieu-Bethesda is a village that has resisted most signs of modernity. There are no streetlights to interrupt the night skies, and no chain stores to break the quiet rhythm of its streets. Visitors wander on foot, pausing at art galleries, small coffee shops, and craft studios. The Owl House, created by the artist Helen Martins, is the most famous attraction. Its fantastical sculptures and unusual mosaics draw people from across the world. Yet the real charm lies in the town itself. Time feels slower here. Even the sound of footsteps on gravel has a different quality, softened by the vast silence of the Karoo.
Bathurst on the Sunshine Coast
On the Eastern Cape’s Sunshine Coast, Bathurst stands out as a place where history and eccentricity combine. Settlers from Britain first established the village in the 1820s, and some of their legacy remains visible today. The Pig and Whistle, South Africa’s oldest continuously licensed pub, still welcomes travellers with wooden floors that have seen countless boots pass over them. Around the corner, pottery studios and antique shops bring a creative energy to the otherwise quiet streets. The giant pineapple on the edge of town adds a quirky note, yet it does not feel out of place. Bathurst manages to balance nostalgia with a sense of humour, creating a destination that rewards both history lovers and casual wanderers.
In a fast-moving world, towns like these carry a particular significance. They remind us of how life once unfolded and how far we’ve come since those times.
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