Exploring the eastern Free State

The eastern Free State packs a surprising amount into a relatively small part of the country. Open grasslands stretch towards the Maluti Mountains, sandstone formations dominate sections of the route and towns such as Clarens make the area an easy choice for a road trip.

Clarens lies about 20 kilometres from Golden Gate Highlands National Park and can be reached in roughly three to four hours from Johannesburg, Durban or Bloemfontein, depending on the route and traffic. That puts both the town and the national park within reach of travellers looking for a long weekend without spending most of it on the road.

Start in Clarens

Clarens is known for its galleries, craft shops, sandstone buildings and restaurants, with much of the activity centred around the town square. The centre is small enough to explore on foot and there are plenty of places to settle in for breakfast, lunch or coffee between browsing the shops and galleries.

There is also plenty to do outside town. The nearby Ash River is known for white-water rafting, while hiking and horse riding are among the other outdoor activities available in the area. It means a weekend does not have to be planned around one kind of traveller. A few hours outdoors and a long lunch in town can quite easily fit into the same day.

Take the R712 to Golden Gate

The R712 from Clarens takes travellers into Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. Sandstone formations and highland grasslands dominate the landscape, with Brandwag Buttress one of the park’s most recognisable landmarks.

The park also offers hiking and scenic drives, as well as opportunities to see wildlife. Golden Gate has another side that is easy to overlook when the sandstone cliffs are getting all the attention. The park is also significant for its cultural and palaeontological heritage. The sandstone itself changes noticeably during the day.

Morning light and shadow give the formations a very different appearance from late afternoon, when the rock takes on the golden and orange tones for which the park was named. Allow a little extra time when driving through the park. The distances are not particularly daunting, but stopping at viewpoints can add considerably to the journey.

Add some history

The Basotho Cultural Village near Golden Gate offers visitors an introduction to Basotho history, architecture and traditions. SANParks also offers cultural, museum and herbal trail experiences at the village. It is worth including if the trip is going to extend beyond sightseeing.

The history of the people who have lived in this landscape is as much a part of the eastern Free State as the sandstone formations that dominate so many photographs of it. Clarens and Golden Gate work particularly well together because there is no need for an elaborate itinerary. Spend some time in town, take the R712 through the national park, visit the cultural village and allow enough time to stop along the way. For a long weekend, that is already a pretty good road trip.

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