Swellendam

Swellendam sits below the Langeberg on the N2, roughly halfway between Cape Town and the start of the Garden Route, and it is one of the oldest towns in the country. That position makes it a natural overnight stop as well as a destination: Bontebok National Park is on the edge of town, Marloth Nature Reserve climbs the mountain behind it, and the roads north over the mountains and south towards De Hoop both start here.

Accommodation reflects the town's age and its farmland. There are guesthouses in restored historic houses along and behind the main street, country places on the farms below the Langeberg, and self-catering cottages scattered through both. The town is small enough that the in-town addresses are walkable to the museum, the church and the restaurants.

Choosing is mostly about whether you are stopping or staying. For a single night breaking a long drive, an address near the main street keeps everything within reach and gets you back on the N2 quickly. For longer, the farm and mountain properties give the setting that makes the town worth more than one night, at the cost of a short drive for meals.