Where We Be
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| Golden Gate Highlands National Park is only fifteen minutes away from Clarens |
| Clarens, South Africa |
A Lonely Planet Top 25 list for South Africa first
turns us onto the idea of visiting Clarens. We'd
never heard of it before -- and perhaps you
haven't either. So let us introduce you to this
small town perched in the Drakensberg Moun-
tains near Lesotho's northern border. It's a bit
off the beaten path but worth it. The town itself
is quaint, with a mountain feel, an artsy vibe,
and excellent lodging and restaurant options.
Located four hours south of Joburg, Clarens is
one of those "Ahhh" sorts of places where you
can enjoy a slower pace of life, breathe in the
clean air, soak in mountain views on a hike, and
do a little gift shopping at one of its many arts
and crafts shops. Golden Gate Highlands NP is
right next door. It offers excellent scenery and
hiking options, plus the chance to add a few
new animals to your lifetime list. There are no
Big 5 predators here -- but then again, would
you really want to go hiking here if there were?
turns us onto the idea of visiting Clarens. We'd
never heard of it before -- and perhaps you
haven't either. So let us introduce you to this
small town perched in the Drakensberg Moun-
tains near Lesotho's northern border. It's a bit
off the beaten path but worth it. The town itself
is quaint, with a mountain feel, an artsy vibe,
and excellent lodging and restaurant options.
Located four hours south of Joburg, Clarens is
one of those "Ahhh" sorts of places where you
can enjoy a slower pace of life, breathe in the
clean air, soak in mountain views on a hike, and
do a little gift shopping at one of its many arts
and crafts shops. Golden Gate Highlands NP is
right next door. It offers excellent scenery and
hiking options, plus the chance to add a few
new animals to your lifetime list. There are no
Big 5 predators here -- but then again, would
you really want to go hiking here if there were?
| At Patcham Place B&B, we love the sun streaming into our room, the balcony with views, the welcome decanter of sherry, the chocolates, the heated floors, and the reliable wifi |
| The food options are terrific for such a small town -- during our three days here, we visit the Posthouse, the Highlander, and Bocca di Lupo |
| Art galleries and craft shops are practically synonymous with Clarens |
| On our second day, we visit Golden Gate Highlands National Park |
| This is not a Big 5 park -- you'll mostly see antelope and baboon here -- but we do see two animals that are new to us: the black wildebeest (left -- rare but endemic here) and the red hartebeest (right) |
| The Oribi Loop includes a vulture hide where carcasses are sometimes left for endangered vultures to eat, but the carcasses are picked clean when we visit |
| The colorful sandstone cliffs are quite impressive |
| We recommend a visit here for the scenery alone |
| Oh, and the delicious breakfasts! |
| We spend our first day getting to know Clarens itself. Even we enjoy browsing its quaint shops, and we're not usually shoppers. |
| The path (halfway up a mountainside) offers fine views back over town |
| On our third day, we get to know Clarens a little better with a hike through the town's nature reserve |
| Eventually we reach the town's reservoir |
| Golden Gate Hotel sits inside the park but is perhaps a little too removed from the conveniences of town for our taste |
| This map of Golden Gate Highlands shows the R712, the main paved route through the park. The narrowly paved Blesbok Loop and Oribi Loop offer the best chances to see wildlife. |
| A green commons nestles at the center of town |
| On the way back, we pass some lovely homes, including this "castle" covered with ivy |
| What you'll see for certain at Golden Gate Highlands is excellent scenery |