Sometimes the best kind of trip to take in South Africa is the one where you do as little as possible. No bucket lists, no crowds, no itineraries, just a slow rhythm, salty air, and the kind of silence that resets your soul.
South Africa’s coastline isn’t just about famous surf spots or resort towns. Nestled between the hype and the highways are tiny villages that have mastered the art of peaceful nothingness.
Here are five coastal villages in South Africa where nothing happens, and that’s exactly the point…
1. Scarborough, Western Cape, South Africa
Just south of Cape Town, past Kommetjie and over the mountain, lies Scarborough, a pocket of raw beauty pressed up against the Atlantic. There’s no commercial strip, no nightlife, no stress. This coastal village is surrounded by a nature reserve and feels like the last civilised outpost before the wilderness takes over.
Locals here live for the surf, the sunsets, and long walks on empty beaches. Don’t expect to “do” much. Grab a coffee from the local deli, watch the wind roll in over the sea, and realise how much noise you’ve been carrying inside.
2. Jacobsbaai, West Coast
Jacobsbaai is a fisherman’s coastal village disguised as a dream. Located between Vredenburg and Saldanha Bay, it feels untouched by the clock. The architecture sticks to a strict West Coast style: low, white cottages with blue trim and thick stone walls.
What do people do here? They walk. They fish. And they stare at the horizon. In spring, the fields explode with wildflowers, and in winter, the mist turns everything cinematic. There’s no rush because there’s nowhere else to be.
3. Koekenaap, Namaqualand Coast, South Africa
Koekenaap isn’t technically on the beach; it’s about 10km inland, but it’s part of a rugged coastal zone near Strandfontein and Doringbaai where space stretches endlessly. This is Namaqualand country: dry, dramatic, and staggeringly still.
Tourism barely registers here. That’s its magic. You come for the silence, the dusty roads, the lighthouse at Doringbaai, and the wines from nearby Fryer’s Cove. If you need nightlife, go somewhere else. If you need to breathe, stay a while.
4. Vermaaklikheid, Garden Route
Even most South Africans haven’t heard of Vermaaklikheid. It’s hidden inland from the coastal village of Still Bay, down dirt roads that seem to go nowhere, until you reach a village wrapped in bush, birdsong, and complete calm. The name means “entertainment,” but it’s a sly joke: there’s none. And that’s the point.
A handful of homes and cottages line the Duivenhoks River, where time slows to the pace of a paddle. It’s a place for sketching, reading, cooking over fire, and forgetting your phone exists. If you need action, look elsewhere. If you need peace, you’ve arrived.
5. Suiderstrand, Agulhas National Park
Tucked inside South Africa’s Agulhas National Park, Suiderstrand is literally at the bottom of Africa. There’s no mall, no gas station, and almost no signal. What it does have: dunes, rocks, shipwrecks, tidal pools, and the kind of raw coastal energy that clears your head whether you want it to or not.
The village is made up of a few scattered houses, some barely visible from the road. It’s the kind of place you rent for a week and end up staying a month, not because there’s a lot to do, but because you stop needing to do anything at all.
Have you visited any of these peaceful places in South Africa?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
