Good vibes only

Montagu in the Little Karoo has a bit of everything: spectacular natural scenery, beautiful old buildings, good restaurants… It also makes everyone feel welcome, whether they’re a hiker, mountain biker, rock climber, history buff or foodie.

If you drive into town along Route 62 from the Cape Town side and cruise down Long Street, you’ll notice the well-maintained houses and manicured gardens first. Stately Cape Dutch farmsteads stand among vineyards and orchards. The Victorian houses in Church Street tell of a British influence. Sheep and horses graze, and water murmurs in irrigation canals.

Streams from Donkerkloof and Badskloof in the Langeberg to the north feed the irrigation dam in the middle of town. During the breeding season, this dam is the avian equivalent of Heathrow airport as all manner of bird species come to land. Ibis are particularly abundant –