Five underrated 'dorps' worth the long drive
Some of the Karoo’s most memorable towns are far from the highways, rewarding travellers with history and hospitality. Bethulie, Williston, Fraserburg, Calvinia and Loeriesfontein prove that the longest drives often deliver the richest stories.
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Naomi Roebert
Naomi Roebert
Long distance travel is part of the Karoo experience, and famous stops have certainly earned their reputations. But there are plenty of quieter towns that reward those willing to veer off the main routes.
For anyone plotting their next Karoo travel escape, these five dorps offer a sense of history and hospitality that will draw you near.
Bethulie and its river crossings
Perched on the Orange River, Bethulie carries a frontier atmosphere both weathered and dignified. Military relics from the South African War and one of the country’s oldest bridges anchor the town in history.
Surrounding farms frame wide water views that contrast sharply with the drier plains to the south, which gives Bethulie a distinctive edge among interior settlements.
Bethulie suits visitors seeking stories without spectacle, along with a peaceful overnight stop that deepens any cross-country journey.
Williston and literary echoes
Deep in sheep country, Williston surprises with a cultural heft that belies its size. Writers, historians and church archivists have long been drawn to its rich past while its night skies attract astronomers.
Streets lined with low houses open onto amber plains, and the town rewards slow wandering. Here you will find coffee shops that double as informal museums; you might wander through graveyards that reveal family sagas and stop at farm stalls that sell rusks baked for travellers who stayed longer than planned.
Williston embodies the spirit of underrated towns that reveal themselves only after you've arrived.
Fraserburg and fossil country
Few places feel as remote as Fraserburg, a town surrounded by geological formations from prehistoric worlds. Fossil finds in the surrounding veld have attracted scientists for decades, although daily life continues at a slow pace.
Visitors come for the silence first, then stay for conversations and a sense of perspective that resets urban minds.
Fraserburg works beautifully for travellers craving isolation without isolationism, where guesthouse hosts still wave from across the street and shopkeepers remember yesterday’s purchases.
Calvinia and the Hantam gateway
Calvinia anchors the Hantam region, making it a natural base for flower season adventures and winter fireside escapes. Sheep farming remains the backbone of local life while heritage buildings maintain the town’s long agricultural lineage.
Spring brings photographers chasing bursts of colour across nearby plains while colder months draw travellers who relish frost-edged mornings and crackling logs. Calvinia balances comfort with authenticity, offering solid lodging options without losing the slow pulse that defines rural travel.
Loeriesfontein and wide-open detours
Loeriesfontein is often bypassed by motorists chasing larger centres but rewards a detour with stark beauty and old fashioned hospitality. Surrounding salt pans shimmer in the summer heat while windmills make silhouettes against bruised sunsets.
Guest farms serve hearty dinners and conversations meander from lamb prices to last year’s rainfall totals. Loeriesfontein suits gravel road explorers assembling a classic South African road trip route that favours atmosphere.
Why these dorps matter
These five towns present a portrait of the interior without clichés. Each reflects different aspects of Karoo life, from river crossings and literary legacies to fossil beds and flower routes.
For the Karoo Times reader, they speak to the pride that sustains small towns through dry spells and economic swings. Long drives lead to old stories told in new ways, making them worth the detour.
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Naomi Roebert
Naomi Roebert
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