5 remote Western Cape towns where you can truly switch off

The South African

a day ago

Sometimes you need more than a break – you need to vanish for a bit. No notifications. No traffic. Just open skies, dirt roads, and the sound of wind in the trees. The Western Cape is full of tiny, off-the-grid towns where you can do exactly that. Here are five of the best places to disappear this long weekend…
Best for: Time travel, ghost stories, and gin on the stoep
Matjiesfontein looks like a movie set – and feels like you've slipped back a hundred years. This one-street town in the Karoo is home to the historic Lord Milner Hotel, old railway relics, and stories that cling to the air like Karoo dust. Walk the street. Read a book. Watch the sun disappear behind the hills.
Why switch off here? No mall, no Uber, no stress. Just you, the stars, and maybe a haunting or two. Wupperthal, Western Cape. Image: wikimedia commons
Best for: Deep silence, leather Vellies, and red rock landscapes
Tucked into the Cederberg mountains, Wuppertal is a missionary village that time forgot. With donkey carts, sandstone homes, and a historic church built in 1830, this place strips things down to the essentials. The drive in is half the experience – gravel, winding passes, and cliff-edge views.
Why switch off here? Cell signal is patchy. The quiet is total. And if you listen carefully, the wind sounds like it's got something ancient to say.
Best for: Salt pans, silence, and soul-level solitude
Papendorp is a barely-there fishing village near the Olifants River mouth. It's quiet – seriously quiet. The kind of place where the loudest thing is a bird or the crunch of your boots on sand. Come to this Western Cape town if you want total stillness, unspoiled views, and the smell of salt in the air.
Why switch off here? There's hardly any infrastructure – and that's the appeal. Nature is in charge here. Elands Bay. Image: wikimedia commons
Best for: Surf, seafood, and zero pretension
If you want a beach town without the buzz, Elands Bay delivers. It's a surfer's hideout with peeling left-hand breaks, fresh crayfish, and not much else. Think rustic self-catering cottages, ocean views, and sand in your shoes. It's not fancy, and that's the charm.
Why switch off here? There's only one way in and out, the WiFi's unreliable, and the sunsets will ruin you for city life.
Best for: Karoo charm, old-school hospitality, and star-drenched skies
Okay, Prince Albert's a bit more polished than the others, but it still counts. Nestled at the foot of the Swartberg Pass, this town blends good food, rich history, and that endless Karoo horizon. Grab a bottle of local wine, visit the ghost walk, or explore nearby nature reserves.
Why switch off here? You can log off without roughing it – perfect if you want off-grid vibes with good coffee.
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