Whichever way you approach Clarens, the drive is beautiful. The R712 through Golden Gate Highlands National Park might be the most beautiful (where else does a public road cut through a conservation area, with the Drakensberg towering over you in golden hues?), but the route via Bethlehem from the north, through Naauwpoort Nek to the base of Rooiberg, is also wonderful: The pink cliffs hug the town closely, and to the south the purple curves of the Maluti Mountains reach into the sky.
Clarens was named after another mountainous place. In 1904, former president Paul Kruger spent his last months in exile in the village of Clarens in Switzerland. The settlement in South Africa was named in 1912 to commemorate the role Kruger played during the Basotho wars (1858-1868).
Those wars were mainly fought over land. Today, the only thing the residents of this small town fight over is a parking spot near the town square over a long weekend, especially if there's some sort of race happening.
This morning, about a thousand cyclists are riding the Cycle Lab Maluti Double 90. The town is abuzz and cyclists zip past. The weather forecast predicted buckets of rain and some of them look cold and miserable in their Lycra outfits.
Clarens has natural scenery and outdoor activities in abundance, but when the mountains are shrouded in cloud, there are also restaurants, shops, and art galleries to keep you busy.
Arts and crafts - and cats
At Clarens Inn & Backpackers, I grab a pamphlet for the Clarens Art Route. (The map is also available from many other shops in town.) The route's motto is "Art the heART of Clarens" and it includes 16 galleries.
This story is from the June/July 2022 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June/July 2022 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
TAKE A HIKE
Harkerville's mini Otter
Sweet & juicy!
This issue's recipes all include lush seasonal fruit like nectarines, plums and apricots. Enjoy!
Big mountain magic
On a clear day, as you approach the Cathedral Peak Hotel, it happens involuntarily: You start to grin. You'll be standing up there soon, gazing over this valley, and the scuttling of ground-level life will seem irrelevant. Join us on a five-day adventure into the heart of the high Drakensberg
Your next weekend away
A self-catering house in the Tankwa, a campsite next to the Orange River, a guest farm near the Drakensberg... Toast Coetzer travelled a lot last year: Here are six of his favourite places to stay if you're planning a road trip or weekend escape.
A life through binoculars
If the name Hugh Chittenden sounds familiar, it's probably because you see it every time you use your Roberts Bird Guide he's one of the co-authors. He lives in Mtunzini on the KZN coast and birding is as much part of his day as a cup of coffee.
Wanderlust in the park
All great cities have great parks, writes Dara Kell: spaces where you can exhale and slough off the stress and grime of urban life.
The Kalahari remembers
The Kalahari is a place of magic and heartache, where drought is an ever-present threat. Drive a loop from Upington to the Kuruman River and discover soulful landscapes, brilliant skies and resilient people who never give up.
Take a Hike
Hug a baobab in the Bushveld
