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

I don't know what qualifies for a small town anymore, but I have been to some interesting places in the Northern Cape and the North West. These are all places where it is more about the people than anything else. As a kid I spent a lot of time in L'Agulhas and there is surprisingly a lot to do if you are someone for the outside. Garies is another.

Places such as Calvinia are large for where it is located. Nieuwoudtville is definitely worth a visit.
 
Some of you guys have strange definitions of "small town", but I guess if you only live from metro to metro your towns are big but your world is small.

I try to do a big road trip (5k plus kms) at least once a year. Some of the ones that I liked most, in no particular order:
Loxton
Suiderstrand (probably falls under Agulhas)
Elim
Coffee bay (a few years ago, I heard crime is getting out of hand now)
Haga Haga
Clarens
Fouriesburg
Edit: Oh and Prins Albert, obviously
 
MisterFiftySomething said:
Some of you guys have strange definitions of "small town", but I guess if you only live from metro to metro your towns are big but your world is small.

I try to do a big road trip (5k plus kms) at least once a year. Some of the ones that I liked most, in no particular order:
Loxton
Suiderstrand (probably falls under Agulhas)
Elim
Coffee bay (a few years ago, I heard crime is getting out of hand now)
Haga Haga
Clarens
Fouriesburg
Edit: Oh and Prins Albert, obviously
Click to expand...
Prins Albert is a gem of a town. It is ATM part of the shortest route between Beaufort West and George/Mossel Bay........

But
But
But

You have to traverse the Swartberg Pass. Pass is fine if you're driving the vehicle. Cause you're concentrating only on the narrow gravel road you're on.

So you don't look down. Down at times can be anything up to 1500 meters up...... and nothing except you, the vehicle your in, the narrow gravel road and lots of height.

Also the driver had not driven this "road" before.

Never again. I'm too old for this ****.
 
gogga_ said:
Prins Albert is a gem of a town. It is ATM part of the shortest route between Beaufort West and George/Mossel Bay........

But
But
But

You have to traverse the Swartberg Pass. Pass is fine if you're driving the vehicle. Cause you're concentrating only on the narrow gravel road you're on.

So you don't look down. Down at times can be anything up to 1500 meters up...... and nothing except you, the vehicle your in, the narrow gravel road and lots of height.

Also the driver had not driven this "road" before.

Never again. I'm too old for this ****.
Click to expand...
I actually enjoyed driving Swartberg pass and I have a severe fear of heights. My biggest worry was how I would handle oncoming traffic at some spots, but I was lucky in that regard.
Anyway.
Driving from Oudshoorn to Prince Albert, just after the top of the pass the road makes a long, right-hand turn. Stopping at a lookout I noticed an old car wreck at the bottom of the cliff. Did you see that? Was a bit of a wake-up call that the pass is not your friend.
 
Nerfherder said:
Back in the day Kleinzee was a restricted area and you had to get permission to go within 60km of it. We visited friends there while they were working on the mine. It was idyllic and kids played on the street, zero crime and everyone knew each other.
I'm not sure what is happening there now but it looks like you can just go there, not sure who even lives there now.

Its very remote but I know someone was trying to turn it into an exclusive estate... which I hope they do, last I heard it was becoming very run down.

EDIT: Plenty of other Northern Cape towns I want to check out... the more isolated the better.
Click to expand...
Kleinzee was a great spot back in the day. Often passed through there when I was a diver upcoast. Place is shot now. The last time I passed through, the illegal miners (called diggers in the NC), had started lifting roads, gardens, and apparently insides of houses etc, to mine diamonds.

Seems a common theme in this thread is how some of these places have changed post '94. I have fond memories of Zeerust and Groot Marico. Both are dumps now.
 
Shanolene links said:
  • Clarens
  • Dullstroom
  • Nieu-Bethesda
  • Prince Albert
  • Greyton
  • Barrydale
  • Howick
  • Underberg
Click to expand...

Clarens is a must visit again soon. Beautiful shops, places to eat and enjoy. Clarens Brewery was our favourite for the good food.

Howick is quaint, tranquil and beautiful. I am biased for spending so much time there. Lovely spot for a stay or stop in your journey through the Midlands.

Underberg is another beautiful stop. Gorgeous views and town. So many places to stay around the town.
 
gogga_ said:
Prins Albert is a gem of a town. It is ATM part of the shortest route between Beaufort West and George/Mossel Bay........

But
But
But

You have to traverse the Swartberg Pass. Pass is fine if you're driving the vehicle. Cause you're concentrating only on the narrow gravel road you're on.

So you don't look down. Down at times can be anything up to 1500 meters up...... and nothing except you, the vehicle your in, the narrow gravel road and lots of height.

Also the driver had not driven this "road" before.

Never again. I'm too old for this ****.
Click to expand...

Was it snowing?

Because this sounds very flakey.
 
Barrydale is probably my easy favourite and one of those places I could see myself actually living in.

What’s funny is that for years I had gone there but only ever saw the main road on breakfast runs or passing through onto another destination.

Then last year I actually stayed over in the town on the way back from a long trip and fell in love having spent some real time there.
 
Rhodes is probably my favourite, with Prince Albert a close 2nd.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Barrydale is probably my easy favourite and one of those places I could see myself actually living in.

What’s funny is that for years I had gone there but only ever saw the main road on breakfast runs or passing through onto another destination.

Then last year I actually stayed over in the town on the way back from a long trip and fell in love having spent some real time there.
Click to expand...

Barrydale is a firm favourite for me.
 
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