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Free State - Clarens |  |
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In the eastern part of Free State Province, close to the Lesotho border Arguably the most attractive village in the whole of South Africa, Clarens nestles in the uplands embraced by the strikingly eroded rock formations of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park to the east and the massive heights of the Maluti Mountains to the south. The place was named, appropriately, after the town in Switzerland (where Paul Kruger, the 'father of Afrikanerdom', lived in exile and where he died in 1902). Weeping willow trees line the stream that meanders through the village, the rich greens and golds of Lombardy poplars are everywhere, and the landscapes on all sides are majestic. The town's entrance is guarded by a gigantic domed structure, reminiscent of an ocean-going ship and known as The Titanic. Clarens is home to a surprising number of artists of various kinds, creative folk - painters, sculptors, potters, writers and photographers - who have been drawn to the place by the tranquility and the scenic splendor it offers. Many of the houses are beautiful, filled with fine furniture, fine art and fine craftwork; some contain galleries and are open to visitors; the hospitality of the locals is legendary. Main Street offers art-craft-gift shops and an old-style general dealer's (a rarity in this modern world of supermarkets and Internet shopping); some of the Basotho tapestries on sale in and around town are quite lovely. There's live music at weekends in President Square, the town centre.
Outdoor Attractions The scenery of the surrounding area is quite breathtaking. There are numerous possible walks and rambles. One of the finest viewpoints is the Ash River Outfall, about 8 kilometres along the Bethlehem road. Some excellent Bushman rock-art can be seen on Schaapplaats farm to the north. Dinosaur tracks are also on view (get directions from Sue's Zoo in Market Street). For the rest, there are 4x4 trails, bass and fly-fishing on dam and river, horseback-riding excursions (notably on the two charming farms, Schaaplaats and Bokpoort); partridge shooting (in the Qwaqwa park, see below) and a golf course. Golden Gate Highlands National Park Located just to the east, this sanctuary contains a wealth of dramatically sculpted sandstone peaks, ridges, cliffs, caves and bizarrely shaped massifs. The colours as well as the shapes are quite remarkable: sandstone and iron oxides have combined to produce a marvelous array of hues - reds, yellows an golden browns that are almost luminous in the rays of the setting sun. This is essentially a scenic destination, but it does have its wildlife, including zebra, antelope and some fine birds of prey. For visitors, there are two rest-camps (self-catering chalets) and a large campsite; restaurants, a bar, shop, information centre, and a network of foot and auto trails. Qwaqwa National Park This huge, mountainous, largely unspoilt area lies to the south-east, on the provincial border with KwaZulu-Natal and once part of the miniscule 'national state' of Qwa Qwa. The area forms part of the Maluti Mountains-northern Drakensberg complex. The wildlife includes black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, zebra, baboons and a number of rare birds, among them the bearded vulture (or lammergeier), Cape griffon, wattled crane and bald ibis. Patches of natural forest, protea bushes and tree ferns grace the predominantly grassy slopes; the scenery is stunning. Within the park is a Basutho cultural village, a kind of 'living museum' of traditional Sotho lifestyles, crafts and cuisine. There's also some intriguing Bushman rock-art to be seen. On offer: hiking and horseback trails and camping sites.
Bethlehem lies just across the Golden Gate Highlands park to the north; Harrismith is on the main highway to the east. |
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CLARENS Western Cape
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