Cherry Festival and Clarens

The Cherry Festival and Clarens

Together with the festival, also enjoy the spectacular red sandstone mountains of Golden Gate and the Maluti mountain regions, as well as visiting the popular town of Clarens.

Clarens is a small town situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains in the Free State province of South Africa and nicknamed the “Jewel of the Eastern Free State”. It was established in 1912 and named after the town of Clarens in Switzerland where exiled Paul Kruger spent his last days.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park is located in Free State, South Africa, near the Lesotho border. It covers an area of 340 km². The park’s most notable features are its golden, ochre, and orange-hued, deeply eroded sandstone cliffs and outcrops, especially the Brandwag rock.

Henry, Annekie, Johan.

Day 1: 08h30. Distance for day: 400 km

We travel via Villiers, Frankfort, Reitz and Bethlehem to visit and view these quaint little towns. Lunch will be enjoyed in one of these towns. After lunch continue with the scenic drive. We visit the Ash River Fallout before arriving in the town of Clarens.  Here we then check into the Patcham Place Guesthouse, where we be staying over for the duration of the trip. After checking in at the guesthouse, it is time to relax or to start exploring the town on foot. Dinners will be at different restaurants in town.

Day 2: 08h30. Distance for the day: 200 km

Today is the best day to attend the Cherry festival, as it becomes very busy over the weekend itself.  We take the very scenic Highlands route towards Fickburg. The town nestles between the foot of the Imperani Mountain and the banks of the Caledon River, the border with Lesotho. The district is renowned for the breathtaking sandstone formations of the mountains here. Many of the older buildings in and around the town were built of sandstone. The Cherry Festival is the oldest crop festival in South Africa. It is estimated that there are 500 hectares of cherry trees in the Eastern Free State concentrated mainly in the Ficksburg, Clocolan and Fouriesburg area. There are approximately 250 trees per hectare and the average yield per hectare is 10 tons.

On arrival in Ficksburg, we first drive through the town to visit the main features and buildings in town, and enjoy a lovely cup of coffee. Thereafter guests have the opportunity to explore the festival area and town, and attend events as per the festival program. Enough time is allowed to explore the whole festival area.  At around 15h00, it is time to do a tour of a Cherry farm. We visit the cherry orchards at Ionia farm. This tour includes a tractor trip to the orchards on the farm for some picking, a tour of the packing shed, information on the cultivation and packing of cherries, plus a punnet to fill and take home. Jams, liqueur, wine, fresh cherries etc, will be on sale. The farm is on route back to Clarens, so the drive back home will be shorter than this morning.

Day 3: 09h00. Distance for the day: 100 km

It is time to focus on the natural beauty of the area. During the morning, we travel to Golden Gate National Park.  We travel through the park to view the wildlife and bird life, and interesting rock formations of the park. It is a real photographic delight. After spending quality time in the park we return towards Clarens. The town has a big variety of art galleries and craft shops, all within very close distance from the main square, and the guesthouse. Guest will have the afternoon to spend at leisure roaming the town and enjoy the real village life. The streets are very safe to walk around in.

Day 4:  09h00. Distance for the day: 400km

Guests will have a last opportunity to visit the many craft shops and galleries in Clarens.  We then start with the journey back towards the city. We will arrive back in the city of Johannesburg in the early to mid-afternoon.