Contrary to popular belief, the Eastern Freestate is NOT flat. No, it is nestled at the beginning of the Drakensberg- , Maluti- and Rooiberg mountains. So, be prepared to be amazed.
Take the N3 from Gauteng to Durban and turn off at Villiers. Then past Frankfort and Reitz, and merely 2 and a half hours later, you enter the "bread house". Some of the most beautiful and fertile farms in our country are situated in this lovely area.
The town offers a variety of restaurants, places of interest, businesses and guesthouses. Bethlehem, being the last big town on the way to popular Clarens, is booming and you will be amazed at all the amenities and facilities in the town.
So, after doing my shopping for the day (meaning buying some medicine to fight this flu), I set out for La Motte B&B. Situated a mere 5kms out of town just before the turnoff to Clarens, it lies at the foot of a hill overlooking a beautiful valley.Centrally situated - 20 minutes drive to Clarens; 35 minutes drive to Golden Gate National Park; 5 minutes from Bethlehem; 90 minutes from Ficksburg; 45 minutes from Fouriesburg, 60 minutes to Rosendal. I was able to enjoy the splendour of the Eastern Freestate without having to sit behind my steering wheel the whole weekend.
This rustic cottage, built with local sandstone in 1900, in a beautiful tranquil setting, sleeps 5 people. It has 2 bedrooms, full bathroom, lounge/dining area. And the breakfasts they serve are fit for a king. Lou and Francine offers a warm and hearty welcome and really made my weekend a memorable stay.
Some of the facilities on offer :- Can also be booked for self catering visits. Barbecue facility. Safe
parking. TV. Swimming pool available. Laundry done by pre-arrangement.For any activities such as hiking, horse riding, mountain walks, game farms, art routes, quad bike tours, white water rafting, trout fishing, visits to working farms in the area, archaeological and dinosaur fossil sites, restaurants -- Lou and Francine will help you plan and book.
Well, as with all good things the weekend came to an early end and I had to get back to the hustle of city life, but I plan to go back within a month or two to further explore the region.
To read more about Bethlehem, click here: bethlehem information
