4 towns in SA that feel like you're in the Italian lake district

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Italy’s lake district – Como, Garda, Maggiore – is famous for its mountain views, tranquil waters, and picturesque towns. But you don’t have to cross continents to find similar charm. South Africa has its own towns that echo the same peaceful beauty, with a local twist. Here are four places that might just fool you into thinking you’ve woken up on the shores of Lake Como…

1. Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa

Feels like: Lake Maggiore meets small-town charm

Knysna isn’t technically a lake town – it wraps around a vast estuary – but the feeling is the same. The glassy lagoon, ringed by forested hills and cut off from the sea by dramatic cliffs, feels like something out of northern Italy. Add in cosy cafés, boutique guesthouses, and sailboats drifting in the bay, and you’ve got all the ingredients of an Italian escape, minus the passport.

2. Kaapsehoop, Mpumalanga

Feels like: A misty escape on Lake Como’s quieter shores

Tucked in the highlands near Barberton, Kaapsehoop sits near mountain-fed lakes and offers misty mornings, wild horses, and cobbled lanes. There’s a slow, romantic pace here – much like the quiet back villages of Lombardy. Come for the trout fishing, stay for the storybook setting.

3. Sedgefield, Western Cape

Feels like: Garda’s peaceful southern edge

Set between George and Knysna, Sedgefield is surrounded by lagoons and lakes backed by dune forests. It’s sleepy in the best way – ideal for paddleboarding, birdwatching, and long lunches with a view. It has that same off-the-beaten-path feel you get in Italy’s less touristy lakeside towns.

4. Underberg and Lake Naverone, KwaZulu-Natal

Feels like: Alpine lake villages in the Italian Dolomites

Tucked into the Drakensberg mountains, Lake Naverone is an artificial body of water surrounded by chalet-style cabins. The snowy peaks in winter, rolling green hills in summer, and glassy water year-round give it a distinctly European alpine-lake feel. Underberg adds rustic charm and easy access to hiking, fly-fishing, and horseback trails.