Free State's booming tourist town: Thousands of tourists flock Clarens

The quaint little country town of Clarens in Free State is rapidly becoming one of SA's favourite tourist destinations.

The popular Free State town Clarens was named after the Swiss village of Clarens where Paul Kruger spent his last days in voluntary exile. Founded in 1912, Clarens is situated 20km from Golden Gate, 40km from Bethlehem and borders the northern most point of Lesotho.

The town is conveniently located three hours from Johannesburg and Bloemfontein and four hours from Durban. 

Known for its spectacular sandstone mountains and wonderful climate, Clarens is an inspiration. When not exploring the beautiful countryside, visitors can enjoy the many fine art galleries, shops and restaurants. Clarens also offers a wide range of outdoor and sporting activities ranging from the Clarens Golf Club to some of the finest trout and fly-fishing in the country. 

Other activities include river rafting, abseiling, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, 4x4 trails, tennis, squash and bowls.

In a further effort to cater for a growing demand for homes, a new 303ha development, the Clarens Mountain and Trout Estate, has been launched. Ninety well-positioned sites of approximately 1400m' each are now being exclusively marketed by Pam Golding Properties' international division, at prices ranging from R350000 to R690 000.

With 360 degrees views of the mountains and into the valley overlooking Clarens, the development is situated beneath the rolling foothills of Mount Horeb, just 36km from the Golden Gate National Park and Boer Heritage sites.

(Source: Business Day / Suzanne Frost / 19 August 2005)