Drakensberg Nature Reserves
- Royal Natal
- Cathedral Peak
- Mnweni
- Monks Cowl
- Injasuti
- Giants Castle
- Highmoor
- Kamberg
- Lotheni
- Vergelegen
- Sani Pass
- Cobham
- Bushmans Nek

Drakensberg Attractions
- Bushman Rock Art
- Hiking Trails
- Hot air ballooning
- Horse trails
- Helicopter & Microlight flights
- Restaurants
- Arts & Crafts
- Drakensberg Boys Choir
- Canopy Tours
- Midlands Meander
- Fly Fishing
- Game Viewing
- Golf
- White Water rafting
- Birding
- Quad Biking
- 4x4 Offroad trails
- Battlefield Tours
- Wine Tasting
- Museums
- Bicycle tours
- Abseiling
- Wellness & Spas

Drakensberg Towns
- Bergville
- Ladysmith
- Winterton
- Estcourt
- Mooi River
- Weenen
- Underberg
- Himeville
- Rosetta
- Nottingham Road
- Balgowan
- Howick
- Lidgetton
- Currys Post
- Karkloof
- Lions River
- Fort Nottingham
- Hilton
- Dargle

Drakensberg Accommodation

Drakensberg Links

Clarens - Northern Drakensberg

Clarens goes as the Jewel of the Eastern Free State

Clarens is situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains in close proximity to the Golden Gate National Park and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Clarens is an Artists haven with many well known artists either living in or frequenting the village on a regular basis with many art galleries scattered around the village square.

Clarens Information

The tranquil village ambience combined with scenic views and a mild climate makes Clarens the ideal weekend getaway for city dwellers from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Durban. These cities are all approximately 300km from Clarens or a comfortable 3 to 4 hours drive away. In spite of its small permanent population Clarens has a wide variety of accommodation to choose from which is listed on this web site ranging from bed and breakfast establishments to country inns and guest farms. There are also excellent restaurants situated around the village square to choose from. Some of the best fly fishing opportunities in South Africa can be found in the Clarens area as well as many other outdoor activities such as hiking and for the more adventurous, abseiling and white water rafting.

Scenery and Places of interest in Clarens

• Titanic Rock - overlooking the entrance to Clarens
• Clarens Museum on the square
• Mushroom Rock - about 3km out of Clarens on the Fouriesburg Road
• Surrender Hill - a historic Anglo Boer site about 10 km on the Fouriesburg Road
• Golden Gate National Park for walking and bird viewing - beautiful scenery
• Qwa Qwa National Park and Basotho Cultural village - game and bird viewing.
• Bushmen paintings at Kiara Lodge (only known bushman painting of a dassie) and Schaapplaats farm, a 20min walk. Enquire at the Info Centre.
• Fertility caves - Fouriesburg road
• Dinosaur trails - speak to Gideon Groenewald at Sues Zoo in Market Street.

Clarens Resturants

• Clementines and the Clarens Music Appreciation Society
  Telephone: (058) 256 1616
• The Highlander Adventurer and Pub
  Specialises in organic food and also use herbs from own monastic herb garden
  Telephone: (058) 256 1912
• Clarens Bakery and Saloon
  (058) 256 1406
• The Street Cafe
  Large Variety of Excellent Cuisine
  Telephone: (058) 256 1064
• The Post House
  Light Lunches
  Telephone: (058) 256 1534
• The Tourist Trap
  Out of this world pancakes
• Maluti Mountain Lodge
  Telephone: (058) 256 1422
• Lord Roberts Restaurant & Armoury Pub
  Variety of restaurants to suit your taste
  On the road to Golden Gate National Park
  Telephone: (058) 256 1324
• The Grouse and Claret
  Traditional English family pub
  Goode Foode Fayre Pub Menu

Flyfishing in Clarens

• Groenhoek Guest Farm
  Three Beautiful dams set 13km from Clarens towards Golden Gate, stocked with Rainbow Trout
• Craigrossie Trout Lodges
  Two well stocked dams of 3 hectares and 5 hectares set only 8km from Clarens. These waters are stocked with Rainbow and Brown Trout. Strictly catch and release!
• De Molen
  7 Km of pristine river on the little Caledon River. Set only 8km from Clarens in the Clarens Valley. A qualified River Guide is on hand to show you the wonders of a small stream. Strictly, catch and release!
• Lake Clarens
  A productive dam set at the entrance to Clarens. This, dam is, well stocked with Rainbow, brown and golden trout. Strictly, catch and release!
  The Police Station Kms of un-spoilt River Frontage. Catch and release and barbless Hooks.
• Zaaihoek Trout dam
  A beautiful 8 hectare dam with an impressive depth of 12 meters. Well stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Fish of over 3kg are regularly caught. A qualified Fishing ranger will help you select a fly and also properly release your fish. Strictly catch and release! A second dam is available for bass and blue gill. Zaaihoek offers rod, Kick boats and float tubes for hire.
• St Fort Country Manor
  A lovely dam near the house stocked with Rainbow, Brown and Golden trout and river frontage on the Small Caledon River. A qualified river guide will help you catch the trout. Strictly catch and release.
• Koeberg Guest House
  A few kms of pristine small stream trout fishing for rainbow brown trout within the Clarens Valley.

Clarens Arts & Crafts

• Cinderella Castle - Built from beer bottles
• Clarens Cottage – Gifts, curious and arts
• Clarens Trading House – Traditional African trading post
• Clarens Weavers – Ethnic weaving carpets and wall hangings
• Country Bumpkin – Exclusive little gift shop
• Country Living Gallery
• Di Mezza & De Jager - Blankets and tradition
• Dyckman Gallery - Leading South African still life artist
• Enslin Vorster Gallery – Landscape art and pottery
• Ouwerf Gallery
• Ralph Sentraal Oos Kooperasie - You name it and they have it.
• Robroach – Suppliers of real mountain sandstone.
• Rooikat – Handmade knives and pottery
• Something Else – gift shop and gallery, pottery, leatherwork and more
• Sue’s Zoo – Dinosaur Den, dinosaur trails, toys and books.
• Tayla Kids – children’s clothing from Tayla.
• The Posthouse – Country store and restaurant
• The Small Room – Twice as Nice Cat Roons, Candles, ethnic art and upholstery
• Twin Oaks Galley – Weaver’s Nest Gallery
• Clarens scenery in pastels and oils.
• Wood & Whimpsy
• Lookout Rock - On the Kloof Trail, view the Maluti Mountains
• Mushroom Rock - About 3 km on the Fouriesburg road
• Titanic Rock - Overlooking the entrance to Clarens

Clarens Activities

• 4 x 4 Routes Bokpoort Holiday & Game Farm, Rebellie Game Farm
• Bird Watching The majestic Black Eagle, the magnificent Lammergeyer (Bearded Vulture) and smaller pigeons soaring and tumbling in the blue sky is sheer pleasure to observe, while numerous water fowl can be seen in the many ponds, pans and dams.
• Fishing Bass at Kloof Dam, fly fishing at Townlands Dam and Bokpoort
• Greywing Partridge Shooting – Qwa Qwa
• Hiking – Bokpoort Trails, Kloof Hike, Lesoba Hiking Trail, Rebellie Game Farm
• Rhebok Hiking Trail Golden Gate Highlands National Park – 2 days and 1 night, maximum of 18 persons per group. Advance booking essential. Hikers to provide all own necessities.
• Scilla Walk – An hour long amble
• Horse Riding At Schaapplaats, Bokpoort, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Qwa Qwa
• Mountain Biking / Cycling Bokpoort Mountain Bike Trail
• Sport Bowls, fly fishing, golf, squash, tennis