Montagu is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, about 180 kilometres (110 mi) east of Cape Town in the western Little Karoo, known for its hot mineral springs and scenic mountains.  It was founded on the farm “Uitvlugt” in 1851, but was cut off from the main trek routes due to the seemingly impenetrable nature of Cogmans Kloof. It wasn’t until Thomas Bain built the pass and the tunnel in 1873 that trade began to develop in the area. It is named after former secretary of the Cape Colony, John Montagu. Montagu is also an agricultural centre, where orchards and vineyards are in production and local herbs are grown. The farming area, ‘Koo’, lies north of the town and is famous for the quality of its apples, pears, apricots and peaches. Nearby rock formations make it one of the country’s major rock climbing venues. The 1266m high Bloupunt peak overlooks the village and offers several hiking trails, as well as kloofing and mountain biking trails further afield. Montagu is very close to the Robertson Wine Valley, and is most easily reached via the Route 62 scenic route.

Route 62 is favoured by self-drive travellers seeking a more attractive alternative to the N2 highway between Cape Town and George, the town regarded as the start of the Garden Route. Route 62 lends itself well to self-drive holidays because of the excellent road conditions, the number of accommodation offerings along the route and the diversity of attractions you’ll encounter along your drive. It is also home to the longest wine route in the country. The easily accessible towns, nestled along the valleys, all offer ample opportunity for discovery: wineries, game reserves, tribal art, cultural tours, museums and, for the more adventurous, hiking and mountain bike trails, rock climbing, 4×4 routes, canoeing, horse riding, ostrich riding, fishing and caving.

To help you plan your stay, we have compiled a list of restaurants in and around town.