SOUTH AFRICA
Laingsburg: A story shaped by water
Distance off route: 2 minutes
Laingsburg’ s identity was forever changed by the devastating 1981 flood that tore through the town. Today, the Flood Museum tells one of the Karoo’ s most sobering and compelling stories, offering context to a place that might otherwise be rushed past.
What to see and do:
• The Flood Museum
• Anglo-Boer War blockhouses
• Stark desert landscapes ideal for photography
Where to eat: Simple local cafés near the main road.
Worth an overnight? No. This is a powerful cultural stop that fits neatly into a travel day.
Where to eat: Karoo Deli or a local guesthouse restaurant
Worth an overnight? Absolutely. The Apollo Theatre alone makes an evening stay worthwhile.
Colesberg: A historic halfway haven
Distance off route: 5 minutes
Colesberg is the classic halfway town that many travellers overlook. Slow down and you will find old inns, Cape Georgian architecture, churches and deep ties to South Africa’ s horse stud heritage.
What to see and do:
• Colesberg-Kemper Museum
• Horse-breeding country landscapes
• Victorian and Georgian buildings
Victoria West: Art deco in the Karoo
Distance off route: 30 minutes
Victoria West is a quiet, elegant surprise. Wide Karoo streets, historic buildings and an unexpected Art Deco cinema create a sense of theatre in an otherwise understated town.
What to see and do:
• The historic Apollo Theatre, a national heritage site
• Victoria West Nature Reserve
• Victoria West Museum
Where to eat: Bordeaux or Die Plattelander, both reliable and serving hearty fare.
Worth an overnight? Yes. Kuilfontein Stable Cottages is a fabulous option – kuilfontein. co. za
The N1 was built for speed, but travel was meant for discovery. Turning off the highway gives small towns a chance to shine, keeps independent businesses alive and reminds you that the Karoo holds more stories than any roadside sign can capture.
Great detours make great road trips. These five are worth every extra kilometre.
80 | WINTER 2026 • rovesa. co. za