Staff Writer
Cheapflights asked South Africa’s most influential bloggers to name their favourite hidden gems from across South Africa, ranging from scenic nature reserves to sleepy little towns – you can choose your own. Bear in mind, these off-the-beaten-track places won’t stay a secret for long…
Recommended by Dawn Jorgensen – @DawnJorgensen
Darling, in the Western Cape
The Darling of the Swartberg is found an hour’s drive north of Cape Town. Darling is a quaint and progressive village, home to the famous Evita Se Perron theatre, Darling Brew’s craft beers, a few art galleries, book shops, restaurants, museums, inspiring community projects and walking trails into the surrounding nature known for its wild flowers. You won’t want to leave.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
Pongola Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal
Pongola Game Reserve, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, is where I fell in love with elephants. Located alongside Lake Jozini and surrounded by the Lebombo Mountains, the reserve is home to the gorgeous White Elephant Lodge. Offering safari drives, sunset cruises and elephant monitoring activities, it is also home to the Space for Elephants programme, which ensure the reintroduction of orphan elephants into the reserve.
Nearest airport: King Shaka.
Matjiesfontein, along the N1
Set two-and-a-half hours north of Cape Town on the N1 highway that joins the Cape and Johannesburg, Matjiesfontein is more of a hamlet than a town. Home to a hotel that will make you feel like you stepped back in time, a railway station and a number of fascinating museums, this is a must-visit if you are in the area. I visit every year, each time making a new discovery. Walk out to the hill (koppie) across the tracks, where more than 10 000 English soldiers were stationed during the Anglo-Boer War.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
Recommended by Kim Gray – @kimgray
Akasha Mountain Retreat
My favourite hidden gem. If it is out-of-this-world scenery and a little R&R you’re looking for, you can’t beat Akasha Mountain Retreat. It will revive your soul. The beautiful courtyard entertainment area will have you feel like you’re sitting in Morocco. Watch out for the wild horses, and enjoy a kayak on the river. Chris and Elena are the most gracious hosts too.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
Gelukkie, in Paternoster
If you’re looking for an intimate wedding or party venue, Gelukkie is the place.
A short drive from the beach and town centre, you will feel instantly relaxed and secluded in a little sanctuary. Banquet under the stars in an enclosed private courtyard.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
Recommended by Sarah Khan – @BySarahKhan
Mo & Rose, in Robertson
This is an absolutely stunning sanctuary, with chic contemporary design and lovely views over a cactus garden.
Nearest airport: Cape Town
Le Petit Karoo Ranch, in Oudtshoorn
Le Petit Karoo Ranch is a quirky little place to stay in Oudtshoorn, a collection of lovely tented suites with outdoor baths, set high atop a hill with spectacular Karoo views.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
The Owl House, in Nieu Bethesda
The Owl House is just a completely otherworldly place straight out of a surrealist painting – it has to be seen to be believed.
Nearest airport: East London.
Recommended by Andrew Brauteseth – @guy_with_camera
Sedgefield
The Garden Route is a favourite drive for South Africans and international visitors, and Plettenberg Bay and Knysna are some of its most picturesque destinations. One of my favourite stops along the way is Sedgefield. It is surrounded by dense natural forests and meandering beaches dotted with some of the coastline’s most epic surf spots.
Nearest airport: George.
Elgin Valley
Elgin Valley is one of the most undermarketed wine areas of the Western Cape. It hosts some of South Africa’s award-winning wine estates, adrenalin-inducing mountain bike tracks and remote getaway cabins which are all tucked away in a natural paradise. With the valley being slightly less polished than nearby Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, it retains a rustic farm community charm.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
McGregor
McGregor feels like it is built on rose quartz. Something about arriving in this town just makes you feel good. Among heritage buildings and a local history percolating with myth and spook stories, you will find a donkey sanctuary and a restful escape.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
Recommended by Sarah Duff – @SarahDuff
Northern Kruger
The northern section of Kruger National Park is the least-visited part of the park as most people prefer the south for its accessibility and wildlife density. The north, on the other hand, may have less big game, but it contains three quarters of the park’s diversity in just one percent of its area. What you will find is an amazing variety of birds, trees and plants, herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as beautiful landscapes – valleys of giant baobabs, fever tree forests and dramatic gorges – all without the crowds.
Nearest airport: Skukuza.
Northern Cape
Our biggest and least populated province is also our most under-rated. If you love big, open spaces, spectacular desert landscapes, night skies awash with stars and carpets of wildflowers in spring, the Northern Cape should be on your list. I love it for the barren beauty of the Richtersveld, canoeing on the Orange River and a wonderful guest farm called Papkuilsfontein, near Nieuwoudtville, which is all about Karoo hospitality at its best.
Nearest airport: Upington.
Recommended by Melanie van Zyl – @Melanie_vanZyl
Leshiba Wilderness, in Soutpansberg
There are plenty of accommodation options at this incredible spot of lush bushveld beauty. You can hike and bike around the gorgeous mountainous property and the Soutpansberg area is a biodiversity hot spot, home to more tree species – 350 species of flora – than any other ecosystem in South Africa, including Kruger. It’s also a spiritual spot, home to the Venda culture. It is an absolute sanctuary. Read more about Soutpansberg.
Nearest airport: Polokwane.
Papkuilsfontein, Northern Cape
The wide open spaces of the sparse Karoo never fail to stir my soul, and the authentic farm feel of Papkuilsfontein is incredible. There are several self-catering options on the farm, but do yourself a favour and order the home-cooked Karoo feast and eat it by a candlelight, it makes for a getaway you will remember and recommend to everyone.
Nearest airport: Upington.
Sable Hide, Kruger National Park
Come nightfall, this bird hide can be rented as a wild, off-the-grid bush camp with no electricity or luxuries. Elephants are known to slurp from the water just metres away from the hide, and you will be sure to hear hyenas howling as you tuck in for the night.
Nearest airport: Skukuza.
Recommended by Beatrice Chan – @lachicnomad
Franschhoek
For the sophisticated and discerning travellers with a love of good food and wine, Franschhoek is the place to visit. Nestled in a valley, and surrounded by spectacular mountains, the region is rich with wine estates and some of the finest cuisine for the pleasure of your palate.
It is no wonder top chefs and exquisite hotels abound there.I love Franschhoek because it provides me with a relaxing atmosphere and much beauty for my eyes. I always leave feeling invigorated, refreshed and inspired.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
Swellendam
Swellendam is a picturesque town, ideal to experience country life at its best. Part of the Overberg region, it lies at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, and is conveniently located close to other quaint towns and villages. I love Swellendam for its rich heritage, culture and the sense of community that is almost palpable among the locals, who are friendly and welcoming.
There is a variety of excellent accommodation as well as good restaurants, including the award-winning, 16-seater Italian restaurant La Sosta.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
Plettenberg Bay
Originally named as Bahia Formosa by the early Portuguese explorers, Plettenberg Bay is not to be missed while driving along the Garden Route. It is a very small town, yet there is so much you can do and experience there. There are many activities one can do, ranging from water sports, fishing, the Elephant Sanctuary, bird watching, wine tasting and polo. Home to beautiful beaches and lagoons, its mild climate makes it great to visit all year round.
Nearest airport: Plettenberg Bay.
Recommended by Vaughan and Lauren Manuel McShane – @thetravelmanuel
Bulungula
A truly surreal off-the-grid spot along the Wild Coast. The journey over hills and through dirt roads far from the main highway is so worth it, even if you don’t have a 4x4. You’ll stay in a hut overlooking the meeting of a river with the ocean, enjoy freshly made pancakes on the beach at sunrise, and savour the sun setting over the hills as farmers herd their sheep and cattle home.
Nearest airport: East London.
Hogsback
While Hogsback is not hidden, it is beautifully tucked away within the Amatola Mountains, and blanketed with dense forest and more waterfalls than you can count. Go mountain biking on trails through the evergreen, stand atop waterfalls, and hike in one of the greenest places in South Africa.
Nearest airport: East London.
The Beach Camp, at the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve
Everyone goes to Paternoster on the West Coast, but not many people know about the gem that lies close by with the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve. Unplug in A-frame tents right on the beach and spend your nights stargazing beside the fire and your mornings walking right out into the cool ocean. There’s no electricity, but gas-heated showers are offered. Pure bliss.
Nearest airport: Cape Town.
Recommended by Anje Rautenbach – @AnjeRautenbach
De Hoop
To visit De Hoop is to go off the beaten path of the N2. It is a place where you can immerse yourself in nature, get active, relax and have a digital detox – all at the same time. PS: It is a hot spot for whale watching.
Nearest airport: Cape Town, George.
Gamtoos
The whole Gamtoos Valley is quite underrated, with all of its natural beauty, history and Khoisan culture. Nothing beats a Gamtoos sunset and a walk on a beach, where there is basically no one in sight.
Nearest airport: Port Elizabeth.
Bethulie
Bethulie is one of those small towns in the Free State that will surprise you in the most unexpected way – once you’ve experienced a sunset on the DH Steyn Bridge, you’ll return again and again. Bethulie also boasts history, talented local poets and singers, and nature-based activities.
Nearest airport: Bloemfontein.
Recommended Colleen Blaine – @colblaine
Kaapschehoop – Mpumalanga
This tiny little Highveld escarpment town is the perfect place for a long weekend. Full of charming paved roads, leafy avenues and broekie-lace stoeps, it has that yet-to-be-discovered feel about it. There is a focus on eco- and nature-related activities, with numerous hikes and horse trails – but a handful of delightful eateries and plenty of accommodation options make it a great little getaway destination. If anything, just go and eat pancakes all weekend.
Nearest airport: Nelspruit.
Breede River Valley, in the Western Cape
While already a fairly well-known and visited area which is famous for wine tasting, I have included it in my list of hidden gems for this year purely because it has become one of South Africa’s premier and award-winning olive oil-producing regions.
Aside from the magnificent scenery along the Breede River, towns such as Worcester, McGregor, Montagu and Robertson all play host to some of South Africa’s leading olive oil producers such as Rio Largo, Olyfberg and Willow Creek. It is also South Africa’s leading race horse breeding area.
Nearest airport: Cape Town, George.
Karoo National Park in the Western Cape
This underrated national park deserves a lot more attention than it gets. It has an award-winning campsite (think seriously luscious grass and broad shady trees), uninterrupted scenery, plenty of wildlife (some of the Big 5) and a few gorgeous Karoo koppies that you can hike up and spend a few hours gazing out over the endless views.
Nearest airport: George.
Recommended by Meruschka Govender – @MzansiGirl
Wild Coast
Visit the Wild Coast for its scenic beauty, rugged cliffs, quiet beaches, warm people and Xhosa culture. It is an off-the-beaten-track destination where time goes slowly. My favourite place to unwind is Bulungula Lodge, a small eco-lodge in a remote village. The lodge is community-owned and there’s no cellphone signal, so it is the perfect place for a digital detox. There’s spectacular hiking; one of my favourite hikes is the two-day Coffee Bay Bulungula hike, passing Hole in Wall, a rocky archway made up of shale and sandstone – a site not to be missed.
Nearest airport: Margate.