5 Peculiar spots in South Africa that are definitely worth the trip

We've paid a lot of attention to popular and mainstream holiday destinations both at home and abroad. South Africa is known for its scenic views, extraordinary safaris and luxury game drives as well as sophisticated wine routes and historical collectables to help you check off your travel bucket list. 

But much like every country, it's not so much the touristy destinations but the strange and wondrous, off the beaten trail locations that add to our quirky culture and define our individualism as a nation. We take a closer look at five of these peculiar yet memorable spots that you should pay a visit to the next time you're on the scene. 

Orlando Towers - Soweto - GP

Soweto represents so much of our culture that history buffs and tourists the world over make a point to visit its most interesting attractions from Nelson Mandela's childhood home to the Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial.

One such attraction that pays tribute to the town's coal mining history is the iconic Soweto Towers. This vibrant and colourful redesign of two coal boilers built just after the 2nd World War now serves as an amusement site where thrill-seekers get the opportunity to bungee jump, abseil, pendulum swing, or rap jump down these famous twin towers.

The Soweto Towers is owned and managed by extreme sports enthusiast Nico Myburg and an experienced team of professionals who are there to guide and manage the safety of all their visitors.

Book with them today: Soweto Towers

Horse Labyrinth, Magaliesberg - GP

Equestrian lovers should consider adding this stop to their list. Here at the Horse Labyrinth,  it's all about healing and growing through the use of what they term "horse therapy". As such, developing an understanding of the relationship between horse and rider as well as being the best horse owner you can be.

Founded in 2004 when two friends came together to discuss the various pitfalls of the horse show world, the centre is a family-friendly environment that provides a much-needed space for training, education, and healing therapy conducted with horses they provide, or with your own. The facility itself is home to a vast curving path known as the labyrinth which provides a calm and soothing trail through the serene countryside perfect for soul searching and mental healing.

Visit them today: Horse Labyrinth 

The Owl House, Nieu-Bethesda - EC

The Karoo is a semi-arid desert that stretches through both the Western and Eastern Cape and is home to the most peculiar destinations in the country. From space observers to quant artistic towns defined by individual stories, this neck of the world is the capital of both strange and wonderful.

One such destination is the tiny village of Nieu-Bethesda located on the route between Middleton and Graaf Reinet. Blink once and you'll miss it, but spend a day there and you'll never forget it. Helen Martins is a name known throughout the Klein Karoo thanks to her and her assistant's years of dedication to sculpting and creating the famous Owl House.

The Owl House itself is built from the ground up using incredible concrete and glass sculptures, many of which resemble this intelligent and often misunderstood nocturnal bird. The home itself has become more of a museum where Helen spent much of her life secluded away from town, converting her home into a magical kingdom of concrete and glass reflecting the natural light at different times of the day. Helen is no longer with us today but her home was declared a provincial national monument in her honour in 1991.

Visit the Owl House on your next trip down Route 62.

The Cat Statue, Aberdeen - EC

Following in the spirit of the Karoo bearing South Africa's most weird and wonderful, the tumbleweed town of Aberdeen in the Eastern Cape is next on our list. Aberdeen is the sort of area that almost feels as though it never left the 1800s. Old, filled with history and attracts some of the strangest characters around.

While the town's main attraction is structured around a grand old cathedral, it's the people that live there that defines the town's character. Located on Meintjies Street is the famous cat orphanage owned and run by the famous Cat-Women of the Karoo, Petronella Lynz and her daughter. The feline orphanage acts as a haven for hundreds of stray cats which are quite a common sight in this town.

In honour of their commitment, a giant statue of a cat stands outside the Aberdeen Heritage and Archive museum. The statue itself is housed in a giant metal cage so that it doesn't get stolen. If you're a cat lover, this is worth a stop.

Visit the Cat Statue in Aberdeen

The biggest Chair in Africa

Located along the famous wine route of the Western Cape is the iconic town of Robertson in the picturesque Breede River Valley. Known for its outstanding wine selection, the Rooiberg Winery unveiled a peculiar attraction in 2013.

Dubbed 'the biggest chair in Africa, this highly acclaimed winery has now made itself an unmissable tourist attraction thanks to the construction of a giant red chair with a seat raised 4.5 metres off the ground. The idea was to create a fun environment for customers to enjoy their wine while being treated to daily concerts with the natural backdrop of the valley to cap it all off.

This landmark was launched alongside a delectable range of wines under the Red Chair brand which defines its character. These include Sauvignon Blanc De-Lite, a low alcohol option, and a delicious coffee pinotage.

Visit RooiBerg Winery.

Read our previous article here: https://www.hamiltons.co.za/news/the-commotion-of-moving-tips-to-managing-stress-and-time/ 

Contact Hamiltons Property Portfolio for all your buying or selling requirements:

Johannesburg (Head Office): 011 463 0155

Cape Town: 021 418-0328 

Garden Route: 044 050 3295

Eastern Cape: 076 927 7787

Or email to reception@hamiltons.co.za 

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