N9
Colesburg to George

1. Aberdeen

A Village of Tall Churches & Gargoyles There are thirty-eight towns and cities across the world named Aberdeen, our town in the Eastern Cape, between Graaff-Reniet and the Garden Route, is most certainly unique to the rest. Aberdeen offers one 'history for the mind and peace for the soul'. Aberdeen is a treasure trove of architectural delights where Victorian ostrich baron palaces can be found alongside typical Karoo and modern 20th century homes. Property prices in the small town are very reasonable, and this has enabled many newer residents to be able to repair and restore their homes to their former glory. Aberdeen is a declared architectural conservation town and is a storehouse…

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2. Avontuur

3. Camdeboo National Park

Vue de Graaf Reinet depuis le point de vue du parc national de Camdeboo

Camdeboo National Park is situated on the outskirts of Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The park stretches over 19 405 hectares and practically surrounds the town of Graaff-Reinet. The Nqweba Dam is found within the park and when full covers approximately 1 000 hectares. The largest section of the park lies at the foothills of the Sneeuberg Mountains. The Camdeboo Park has unbelievably scenic beauty and provides its visitors with an insight into the unique landscape of the Karoo. The Karoo is arid, semi-desert country and therefore the plant composition is influenced by the rainfall. Three classes of vegetation that can be found here are shrubland, dwarf shrubland and…

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4. Colesberg

The quaint town of Colesberg, between Hanover and Springfontein, lies within a typical Karoo landscape of clear skies and small koppies (hills) with the most well-known Coleskop Hill on the horizon. The Coleskop Hill was formally known as “Toverberg” (Magic Mountain) which seemed more appropriate and was so named because, for the traveler, it is visible from 40 km, but as you travel towards it, it never appears to get any closer. Colesberg is only 220 km from Bloemfontein and is the perfect stopover when travelling between Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Karoo is famous for its wide open spaces and healthy climate so if you find yourself staying overnight there are a few outdoor…

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5. George

George is situated in the Western Cape, South Africa. Located at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, George finds itself as a perfect stopover from which to explore the Garden Route. It has reformed itself from an industrial town to that of a tourist hotspot and is often referred to as the “Golf Capital of the Garden Route”, not surprising as it is home to two of the Top Ten golf course in the country, plus many more appealing courses throughout the area. It lies in close proximity to other popular tourist towns such as Wilderness, Sedgefield and Knysna. George is a place of exquisite natural beauty, surrounded by mountains, forests, lakes and the ocean on your doorstep.…

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6. Graaff-Reinet

Vue de Graaf Reinet depuis la vallée de la désolation

Gem of the Karoo Graaff-Reinet is situated in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is the oldest town in the Eastern Cape and the fourth oldest in South Africa after Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Swellendam. The town lies surrounded by the Camdeboo National Park in a bend of the Sundays River and in the shadow of the Sneeuberg Mountains. Although the town is found in the heart of the Karoo, with flat sandy plains and incredibly hot summers, the Camdeboo Park breaks this sandy monotony with towering mountains and rich greenness. The area boasts many outdoor activities such as paragliding, horse riding, trout fishing, hiking trails, microlight flying and game viewing. Graaff-Reinet is home to…

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7. Middelburg (EC)

Venue for the Karoo Mighty Men Conference (KMMC) Middelburg in the Eastern Cape is situated halfway between both, Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth. The R56 Route is the shortest road trip between these provinces making the small Karoo towns popular stopover locations for travellers. Lying in the heart of the Great Karoo, surrounded by mountains, Middelburg is unique yet similar to the average Karoo town. It lies in the centre of a circle formed by five other similar Karoo towns, all approximately 100 km from Middleburg. The five surrounding towns, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Steynsberg, Colesberg, Richmond and Hanover, are all towns well worth a quick visit.…

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8. Noupoort

Noupoort is situated between the Upper Karoo and the Karoo Heartland, approximately 55 km south of Colesberg. The small town lies nestled in the foothills of the Compassberg Mountains between Hanover and the Eastern Cape border. Born out of the need for a railway station, approximately 85 trains a day used to pass through the town, made Noupoort no holiday resort. Day and night the trains rumbled though the place, including the heavy ore trains, each more than a kilometre in length and hauled by five linked diesel electric locomotives. Noupoort today, is still used as a traction change-over facility from diesel to electric locomotives on the Noupoort-Bloemfontein line. The railway junction town of Noupoort is a singularly bleak place, bitterly cold in winter and blazing hot in summer, and…

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9. Uniondale

Little Karoo's best kept secret Uniondale is a small farming town in the beautiful Klein (Little) Karoo, about 80 km from Knysna and a mere hour drive from George. It lies along the scenic Route 62 and just over the mountains from the Garden Route. This little town, quite surprisingly, offers travellers more than expected and visitors are delighted with the wide, open spaces, diversity, stunning scenery, magical flora and many historical buildings which includes several national monuments. There are no less than six Anglo Boer War forts – one of which has been restored to its original state and is well worth a visit. Uniondale boasts more than 300 kms of dirt roads surrounding the town which makes it a perfect destination for mountain biking and cycling enthusiasts. More than 4,000…

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10. Victoria Bay

Garden Route Gem Victoria Bay lies just 5 minutes off the N2, almost hidden, between George and Wilderness. Known as Vic Bay to the locals it is one of the smallest Bays along the Garden Route and without a doubt one of its little gems! Victoria Bay is a small resort, basically a cove, compiled of little cottages clustered around the waterfront – undoubtably also one of the most beautiful Bays along the Garden Route. The homes and holiday cottages are so close to the shoreline you can probably spot the whales and dolphins from your bedroom! Vic Bay's waterfront is home to one of the most famous beaches in the vicinity for safe swimming. Its gently sloping beach leads to safe waters and…

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11. Willowmore

Western Gateway to the Baviaanskloof The little Karoo town of Willowmore, conveniently situated on the N9 between the interior and the coast is considered as the western gateway to the Baviaanskloof. Besides being a convenient stopover point, it is a worthwhile destination in its own right, offering the visitor numerous places of interest and exceptionally friendly people. With a crime free, safe and secure environment and a pleasant winter climate you have found the ideal winter holiday destination. History Willowmore, first named Willow-Moore, gets its name from the farm, The Willows, on which it was built in 1864 as a trading centre and its original owner, William Moore. In 1874 a…

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