Did you know?

Nearby Clarens is the Ash River, renowned for being one of the best white-water rafting locations in South Africa

It’s an easy three- to four-hour drive from Johannesburg, Durban or Bloemfontein.

Here a community of artists has claimed the historic sandstone buildings, set against a mountain backdrop, as their own. The scenic outlook and the town’s many art galleries, antique shops and cosy restaurants have put Clarens on the map.

The town has also developed something of a reputation as an adventure centre, offering the best white-water rafting in the country on the nearby Ash River. Visitors can experience the outdoors on horseback, by hiking or even by abseiling down the sandstone cliffs characteristic of this area.

A further drawcard is that Clarens is only about 20km from the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, which gets its name from the rock formations that take on a special hue in the light of the setting sun.