Clarens – The Jewel of the Free State

By Bev Hermanson

*The Titanic overlooking the town of Clarens*

Situated at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, Clarens is a vibrant little town filled with restaurants, art galleries, boutiques and guest houses.

Its core retail and entertainment offerings are clustered around a central park and, if you’re a first time visitor, you’d easily be able to spend an entire weekend exploring all the quaint stores.

On the other hand, if your family prefers to be more active, there are plenty of diversions to keep you entertained.

DINOSAUR TOURS

The geology of the area surrounding Clarens is fascinating and if you opt to go on a Dinosaur Tour, the guides will give you a detailed explanation of how the mountains were formed as well as show you evidence of prehistoric life that had existed there millions of years ago.

SAN ROCK ART

Clarens is also conveniently close to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park where you’ll be able to see San rock art paintings in the numerous caves situated amongst the cliffs and outcrops.

Other activities on offer in the park are:

Hiking
Wildlife viewing
Bird watching
Horse-riding
Abseiling
And visiting a Basotho Cultural Village.

MORE ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA

Further activities within reach of Clarens include:

Flyfishing
White Water Rafting
Zip Lining
Rock Climbing
Hot Air Ballooning
Archery
Quad Biking
Mountain Biking
Trail Runs.

In winter, when it’s snowing, skiing and snow boarding are also popular.

*The book store is housed in a modern zinc building*

DID YOU KNOW?

The area around Clarens was once a desert.
The fossilised dinosaur eggs found in the area are from the Triassic Period that happened between 195 and 220 million years ago.
The high-altitude alpine grasslands are covered in more than 60 different types of grass and, in the 1800s, there were so many different types of herbivores grazing on the grasslands, it looked like a sea of animals.
Clarens was founded in 1912, the same year that the Titanic Ocean Liner sank in the icy waters of the Arctic Circle.
The town was named after Clarens, a village in Switzerland where Paul Kruger, leader of the Boers and former President of the South African Republic died while in exile.

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

*A store packed full of vintage clothes and accessories*

One thing I can say about the townsfolk of Clarens is that their ‘service culture’ is outstanding. They’re not too ‘in your face’ but they are available and willing whenever you need assistance.

It seems that the whole town is committed to getting together to give their visitors the best experience while they are there.

*Vintage jewellery from the Jewel of the Free State*

Long weekends and school breaks, such as the Easter holidays, are particularly busy. And then there are the festivals and special events that they plan, such as their:

Craft Beer Festival
Double 90 Cycle Challenge
Clarens Art Festival
Amohela Mountain Bike Challenge
Quilt Festival
Titanic Trail Run, and the
Iona Cherry Crop Celebration.

It’s certainly heartwarming to see that, despite the dismal state of the SA economy, this small town is bucking the trend and welcoming locals and tourists to ‘get away from it all’ and enjoy their hospitality.