Mossel Bay, South Africa

Capital City

With a population of just 59,031, Mossel Bay is a sleepy harbor town on South Africa's Garden Route. The economy relies heavily on tourism, fishing, and a gas-to-liquids refinery, though the discovery of offshore natural gas fields in the 1960s has brought marked development. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the town merged with several neighboring villages in 2000 to form the current Mossel Bay Local Municipality. On the plus side, the climate is mild year-round thanks to the Agulhas Current and Outeniqua Mountains, with an average of 320 sunny days. Overall, Mossel Bay offers a quiet, slow-paced lifestyle for retirees and outdoor enthusiasts, but may not appeal to those seeking an urban center.