Embark on a journey to discover the soul of South Africa as you explore the “MOST AMAZING CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH AFRICA.” While the country’s bustling metropolises hold global renown, it is within the quaint villages and towns scattered across the expansive karoo countryside that the rich tapestry of history and culture truly comes to life.
Various Europeans and the native people of South Africa collaborated to create a plethora of picturesque settlements, some of which are famous for their stunning natural surroundings and others for the remnants of the country’s colonial history.
These towns’ inhabitants have always been distinguished by their proximity to natural features including farmland, national parks, vineyards, open wilderness, mountains, and the majestic Atlantic Ocean, which serves as both a background and an integral part of the local culture. This list features a few of South Africa’s most endearing and picturesque small towns.
16. Nieu-Bethesda
While Nieu-founding Bethesda’s in 1875 in Eastern Cape province makes it a historic town, the town’s most well-known feature is The Owl Museum.
Helen Martins, a reclusive outsider artist, founded it in the home she inherited from her parents and started adorning it with sculptures of owls and other animals after finding inspiration in the Bible and poetry. In accordance with her last desires, the home is still available to guests as a nice alternative to hiking or wine tasting.
15. Clarens
It was named after the Swiss town of the same name, where a significant Boer politician and president of the Transvaal Republic (from 1952 to 1900) lived in self-exile; Clarens, in the Free State province, dates back to the early 20th century.
The village has a picture-perfect backdrop in the beautiful countryside thanks to its location between the Rooiberg mountain range to the west and the purple and blue Maluti mountains to the southeast. Due to the abundance of dinosaur fossils found in the area, Clarens is an excellent location from which to study the dinosaurs and the Earth’s geology from millions of years ago.
14. Paternoster
Street Scene with Art Gallery, Restaurant, and Gift Shop in Clarens, South Africa. Image source: Grobler du Preez/Shutterstock.com
Paternoster, in the Western Cape, is one of the oldest fishing villages in South Africa, famed for its lobsters and its picturesque, surf-friendly coastline.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of water sports such as snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, and kiteboarding. The nearby Cape Columbine is home to the world’s last manually operated lighthouse.
MOST AMAZING CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH AFRICA: Hogsback
The small village of Hogsback in the Amathole Mountains of the Eastern Cape province is well located for exploring the surrounding area, including forests, mountain trails, and rivers that have stunning waterfalls and excellent trout fishing.
As a result of the abundance of routes that go through the forests and up into the hills, this is a favorite spot for hikers and other nature enthusiasts. Since J.R.R. Tolkien was born in South Africa, it is interesting that the author may have drawn inspiration for Middle Earth from the landscape around Hogsback, namely “Mirkwood.” Whether or not this really happened, it’s easy to see in your mind’s eye.
12. Montagu
Montagu was established in 1851 on the property Uitvlugt and is now known as a picture-perfect residential community known for its picturesque Dutch Reformed Church and the Montagu Museum, which was established in 1907 and is a National Monument.
It can be found in the Western Cape, and its location at the base of the Langeberg Mountains gives it an especially picturesque appearance. Many hikers and rock climbers flock to this area because of its spectacular rock formations.
11. Cullinan
Cullinan, in Gauteng province, is a beautiful place to explore because of its old sandstone cottages, many of which now house restaurants and stores.
Tours of the town’s mines and the surrounding mining region honor diamond mogul Sir Thomas Cullinan (after whom the biggest diamond ever discovered is named). More daring tourists like exploring the rough landscape that surrounds Cullinan.
MOST AMAZING CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH AFRICA: Genadendal
Genadendal, which literally translates to “Valley of Grace” in Afrikaans, is a picturesque town in the Riviersonderend Mountains that is just 90 minutes away from Cape Town. Founded in 1738, the Moravian Mission Station is the oldest mission station in South Africa and is the reason the town got its name, Baviaanskloof.
Visit the historic square and mission and take a trip back in time, reads a sign outside the village, so spend some time exploring this quaint corner of South Africa.
9. Clanwilliam
Beautiful scenery surrounds this Western Cape town in the Olifants River Valley, home to the Clanwilliam and Bulshoek dams. Clanwilliam is a small town of about 7,600 people with roots going back to the 1660s, when Dutch settlers found elephants along the banks of the Olifants River and gave it the name Olifants.
Jan Disselsvlei was originally named so when the first farm was established there in 1732, but the town’s name was changed in the early 1800s when British immigrants settled there. Clanwilliam is well known now for its attractive architecture, such as the Dutch Reformed Church (1864), its rooibos tea, and the excellent hiking in the surrounding hills.
8. Greyton
As you walk through this quaint South African town, you may come across a stray donkey or cow, adding to the town’s rural appeal. The town was founded in 1854 as an agricultural village, like many others around the country, and has since developed into the peaceful and charming community it is today.
When the heat becomes too severe, you can cool down at one of the town’s many pleasant restaurants or cafés; its unique blend of colonial history and 21st-century conveniences draws tourists from all over South Africa.
MOST AMAZING CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH AFRICA: Graaff-Reinet
Graaff-Reinet, in the Eastern Cape, is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, and it’s worth a visit just to see the town’s many historic structures. Residential buildings, especially on Parsonage Street and Somerset Street, are whitewashed and scream to be photographed, making this a rather big town compared to many of the others we have highlighted.
The Dutch Reformed Church, constructed in the latter half of the nineteenth century, is a striking landmark.
6. Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay, sometimes known as “J-Bay,” is a town on the coast of the Eastern Cape province that has become famous as a premier surfing destination in all of South Africa.
The town’s hippie community in the ’60s and ’70s gave rise to a surf museum, complete with exhibitions and surfboard displays, that traces not only the history of the sport but the development of surfing in the town itself. Today, J-Bay is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country, so surfers should definitely check it out!
5. Pilgrim’s Rest
As the second town in South Africa (after Mac-Mac) to draw prospectors seeking their fortune in 1873, this one is a must-visit for anybody interested in learning more about the gold rush. Pilgrim’s Rest, in the province of Mpumalanga, has retained much of its old-world charm because of this.
It’s mostly a museum, but it also has some unusual attractions, such as the bar of the Royal Hotel, which was formerly a church in Cape Town and was relocated here.
MOST AMAZING CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH AFRICA: Prince Albert
Prince Albert, the future city, was established in 1762 on the outskirts of the Great Karoo, an unfathomably large wilderness region similar to Australia’s Outback. As a result of its lengthy history, the city is filled with beautiful specimens of Cape Dutch, Karoo, and Victorian architecture; 13 of these structures have been declared National Monuments.
Excellent dining options, interesting museums, and the world-famous Art Deco Showroom theater can all be found here. It’s not long to the breathtaking Swartberg Pass, a route that has been cutting through those mountains since 1881.
3. Hermanus
The wine, whales, and beaches of this Western Cape town are all well-known. Walker Bay is a protected region where up to 70 whales can be seen at once, and the most popular beaches in town are Volklip Beach and the vast Grotto Beach, which front the bay.
A large number of whales visit Walker Bay every year during the months of August and September, making it one of the Top Ten Whale-Watching Locations in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund. This, in addition to the breathtaking views along the shore, makes Hermanus a fantastic vacation destination.
2. Tulbagh
Historic Charm: Church Street in Tulbagh, South Africa
Tulbagh’s old town (it was formed in 1699) is a genuine destination for people interested in being surrounded by historical architecture; since it was home to a sizable population of both Huguenots and Dutch immigrants, the town has a wide range of architectural styles.
It’s easy to overlook this town because of the majestic mountains in the background, but the fact that it’s located in a wine-producing area only adds to its allure.
MOST AMAZING CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH AFRICA: Franschhoek
Although Franschhoek is best known for its centuries-old vineyards, it is the town’s preserved Cape Dutch architecture that really makes it stand out as a must-see destination. The town is one of the oldest in South Africa, and its name comes from the Dutch phrase “Fransche Hoek,” which translates to “French Corner,” since so many French Huguenots fled to the area in 1688 to escape religious persecution in Europe.
Beautiful architecture can be seen all across town, and visitors can also explore vineyards and museums dedicated to the region’s French and Dutch colonial past.
Plan your trip with ontravelx and get ready for a journey full of breathtaking sights and priceless memories.
