Travellers succumb to the calling of the Karoo

THE KAROO covers four provinces – the Free State and all three Cape provinces.

This means road travellers going from north to south must pass through it, often breaking up their journey by sleeping over in one of the Karoo’s towns, which is where they fall in love with it and want to come back to live.

Leading destinations include Prince Albert, Graaff-Reinet and Cradock and even smaller towns – the “speciality destinations” like Rhodes, Nieu Bethesda and Loxton.

Wayne Rubidge, Pam Golding Properties area principal in the Karoo, says popular properties are ones built in the classic Karoo style and either larger Victorians or the simple lock-up-and-go Karoo flat-roof cottages.

For many people who move for lifestyle reasons, a guest house or a business component are often on their shopping list.

Prices vary substantially, depending mostly on the size of the town and the facilities available, such as schools.

“Each town has its own culture and offerings for visitors or travellers from all over South Africa,” says Rubidge.

“Buyers at the top end of the market are mostly successful businesspeople or families who come from the bigger metropoles, where a lifestyle change is high on the list of reasons for investing.”