Whether you’re escaping the noisy city or the hustle and bustle of your everyday life, here are 12 South African towns worth considering for a relaxing getaway stay.
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1. Clarens, Free State
There’s nothing more relaxing than being in ‘a free state’, and what better place than in Clarens, the ‘jewel’ of the Free State. Located in the foothills of the Maloti Mountains, this valley offers its vast, golden expanse for peaceful reflection.
2. Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape
Found along the Namaqua Flower Route in the Northern Cape’s Bokkeveld, Nieuwoudtville offers total immersion with nature and many opportunities to stop and smell the fynbos. When in bloom, many a flower garden and nature reserve are worth travelling for. There’s a waterfall too!
3. Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape
This Little Karoo dorp has no shortage of relaxing nooks and quiet, wide streets to amble down on a mid-morning stroll, taking in the famous Cape Dutch architecture of the fourth-oldest town in South Africa. Surrounded almost entirely by a national park, head up Mountain Drive to visit the Valley of Desolation within the Camdeboo National Park for a relaxing, albeit breathtaking, view of the 100-million year old dolerite rock formations and the Camdeboo plains.
4. Cape St Francis, Eastern Cape
Another Eastern Cape getaway that promises some waterside relaxation, Cape St Francis can offer plenty of vibe without as much of the busyness of the likes of nearby Plett or Jeffreys Bay.
5. Great Brak River, Western Cape
Also known as Groot Brakrivier, this small coastal village near Mossel Bay surrounds the lagoon formed by the river of the same name. The secluded feel of your ocean views can make it feel as though you are in your own resort town, but you’re not too far from many other gorgeous Garden Route attractions.
6. Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
Dullstroom, renowned as a prime trout-fishing getaway destination, is a must on this list. With a host of recreational attractions and things to do and enjoy in nature, the town itself also boasts a touch of timeless charm too.
7. Hartbeespoort, North-West
A favourite of Joburgers, Harties on the eastern banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam offers an escape from the city that doesn’t require too much padkos. Whether you’re on the water or peering out across the dam, you’re bound to find some peace of mind.
8. Tulbagh, Western Cape
Sometimes just driving to and from Tulbagh through its Cape wine valley is peace enough. Find a cosy cottage or book your stay at farm guesthouse for a peaceful escape to the country. There are a number of wine estates worth a visit nearby if you’re in the mood for a country lunch or wine-tasting jaunt.
9. Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
In the Umzimkulu River Valley, the pretty and lush Underberg is largely a farming district, with no shortage of green vistas to stare back at you in the resounding Southern Drakensberg expanse.
10. St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal
St Lucia may be teeming with wildlife and activities, but if you really want, you can just kick back and take it all in, with the buzz of life around you and endless waterside views of the coast and lakes in this town within a UNESCO World Heritage site – the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The quirky hippos aren’t half bad either.
11. Magoebaskloof, Limpopo
Another great escape for the Joburg crowd, and well worth the travel for Saffers in other provinces, the lush and misty Magoebaskloof offers a forested haven for those in need of a big, otherworldly nature fix.
12. Upington, Northern Cape
While Upington is not by any means a quiet town, its location and surrounds in the ‘Green Kalahari’ make it a rather unusual Northern Cape escape compared to its drier neighbours which don’t have the Orange River passing through. There’s plenty to explore in this town with a lot of history and many peaceful spots to sit back and ponder it.
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