What's the most interesting small town you've visited in South Africa?

Graaf Reneit - only place i seen where every petrol station in the town had a queue going into the street - it was while doing a road trip to the garden route in december
 
Richmond in Karoo

Very small and in need of some TLC but man are the people friendly!

There's a really nice restaurant, Vetmuis Plaaskombuis, that sells some amazing traditional chow!
 
Marloth Park. Knew nothing about this little suburb until I heard of it recently when planning a Kruger trip. Stayed there at the end of March and fell in love with it. Its located in a loop of the crocodile river along the southern Kruger park fence. Its in its own nature reserve so game comes into your back yard while you are there. There are walking trails along the river so its easy to look into Kruger. From Marloth and in the suburb itself we say a ton of birds and game including Rhino, Hippo, wide variety of antelope, Giraffe, warthog, etc. There is a facebook group called Marloth Park sightings that is great to see if you want an idea of how it is there. A few smallish shops but not a big distance from the nearest town for bigger shopping and about an hour if I recall from Nelspruit. Close to two Kruger gates for day trips. Will definitely be returning. As it is full of Air BnB and lekkerslaap accommodation the cost is a fraction of what you pay at Kruger for much better facilities in general. Great concept. Not sure if it qualifies as a town or not but felt like one. It just happens to be inside its own little nature reserve. Speed limits are taken seriously though so stick to the rules.
 
Oviston, Eastern Cape:

As I recall there are no shops to speak of in the town. The nearest town for supplies is 10km away. It is on the southern shores of the Gariep Dam. We have had family that retired there. Very quiet, beautiful views over the dam. Gets frigging cold in winter and hot in summer.

Not a lot of rain as it is considered to be in the Karoo. It is adjacent to a nature reserve with mainly antelope (not many), ostrich and smaller birds. I love the quiet, tranquil atmosphere. People are warm and friendly.
 
McGregor, Western Cape

20km from Robertson. Pleasant cycle on a mountain bike to McGregor and back when I stayed in Robertson. It has been at least 20 years since I was last there. My memories, though, are really good. Arty town, we stopped in at one of the coffee shops for a wee bit. As I recall, there is a winery there too.
 
Cius said:
Marloth Park. Knew nothing about this little suburb until I heard of it recently when planning a Kruger trip. Stayed there at the end of March and fell in love with it. Its located in a loop of the crocodile river along the southern Kruger park fence. Its in its own nature reserve so game comes into your back yard while you are there. There are walking trails along the river so its easy to look into Kruger. From Marloth and in the suburb itself we say a ton of birds and game including Rhino, Hippo, wide variety of antelope, Giraffe, warthog, etc. There is a facebook group called Marloth Park sightings that is great to see if you want an idea of how it is there. A few smallish shops but not a big distance from the nearest town for bigger shopping and about an hour if I recall from Nelspruit. Close to two Kruger gates for day trips. Will definitely be returning. As it is full of Air BnB and lekkerslaap accommodation the cost is a fraction of what you pay at Kruger for much better facilities in general. Great concept. Not sure if it qualifies as a town or not but felt like one. It just happens to be inside its own little nature reserve. Speed limits are taken seriously though so stick to the rules.
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I'd say it qualifies. Never stayed there. Good colleague of mine goes back every year for a breakaway from GP. They absolutely love the experience.

Closer to the Crocodile Bridge Gate than the Malelane Gate, but because of its position you it makes entry to different parts of the park handy. The roads to both gates is in good condition.

Not too far from Komatipoort, which has good shopping too and lovely restaurants.
 
Riemvasmaak - several natural hotspring rock pools, in the mountain.
 
Cius said:
Marloth Park. Knew nothing about this little suburb until I heard of it recently when planning a Kruger trip. Stayed there at the end of March and fell in love with it. Its located in a loop of the crocodile river along the southern Kruger park fence. Its in its own nature reserve so game comes into your back yard while you are there. There are walking trails along the river so its easy to look into Kruger. From Marloth and in the suburb itself we say a ton of birds and game including Rhino, Hippo, wide variety of antelope, Giraffe, warthog, etc. There is a facebook group called Marloth Park sightings that is great to see if you want an idea of how it is there. A few smallish shops but not a big distance from the nearest town for bigger shopping and about an hour if I recall from Nelspruit. Close to two Kruger gates for day trips. Will definitely be returning. As it is full of Air BnB and lekkerslaap accommodation the cost is a fraction of what you pay at Kruger for much better facilities in general. Great concept. Not sure if it qualifies as a town or not but felt like one. It just happens to be inside its own little nature reserve. Speed limits are taken seriously though so stick to the rules.
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Visit there often

Sadly at risk if that open cast mining nonsense happens
 
dualmeister said:
Spent 6 months there while in the army.
It's not so much fun in summer when temps are in the 40's :laugh:
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I somehow recall something SADF related, of which Riemvasmaak was the first?!? But I can't remember the specifics.
 
Kodi said:
I somehow recall something SADF related, of which Riemvasmaak was the first?!? But I can't remember the specifics.
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was historically utilized by the South African Defence Force (SADF) as a live-fire bombing and missile range between 1975 and 1994. The military used the region's rugged canyon terrain for air-to-ground rocket testing and aircraft exercises.
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We had to building retaining walls in the sun using rocks that had been lying in the sun all day and mixing cement.
NOT fun times :laugh:
 
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