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15 things to do in Clarens in the Free State

11/1/2023

Things to do in Clarens in the Free State - bookshop

By Roxanne Reid
The eastern part of South Africa’s Free State province, lying along the Maluti mountains, is a place for all seasons. Enjoy afternoon thundershowers in summer and see it transformed into a snowy wonderland in winter. In autumn, trees and grasses form a mosaic of red and copper. Here’s my pick of 15 things to do in Clarens.

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World Heritage Sites in South Africa and why to visit them

8/6/2022

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By Roxanne Reid
[Updated July 2024]
Some places have exceptional universal value, whether in terms of their cultural or natural significance. Giving them protection status is a way to foster their preservation for generations to come. On the tip of Africa is a country rich in places that deserve such safeguards. Here are 12 sites that have been inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa.

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Why to visit the Royal Hotel, Bethulie, Free State

10/4/2019

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By Roxanne Reid
It’s like falling down Alice’s rabbit hole to a wacky world where there’s no front door, walls are made of books, friendly ghosts walk the passages, and you’ll meet a character just as intriguing as the March Hare. Find out why to visit the Royal Hotel, Bethulie, Free State.

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Golden Gate Highlands National Park: the ultimate guide

6/3/2019

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By Roxanne Reid
The sun casts a golden glow along the sandstone buttresses in the foothills of the Maluti mountains, giving rise to the name of the Free State’s only national park – Golden Gate Highlands. About a three-hour drive from Johannesburg or Bloemfontein, it’s home to grasslands, mammals like eland and oribi, and the rare bearded vulture. Discover more about Golden Gate Highlands National Park in this ultimate guide.

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Maliba Lodge, Lesotho – a romantic and honeymoon getaway

8/1/2019

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Romantic mountain getaway and honeymoon destination, Lesotho

By Roxanne Reid
Lesotho is an inspiring destination full of soaring mountains and rushing waterfalls. I love it for its scenery and people, its fascinating history (think Moshoeshoe’s visionary leadership) and its Basotho culture (think ponies, blankets and conical hats). Now there’s another reason: a romantic and honeymoon getaway at Maliba Lodge, Lesotho.

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Road trip in and around South Africa's national parks

17/11/2015

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By Roxanne Reid
‘This is a delicious book. It evokes things we love about the country around us. It conjures up places that soothe the soul. Its huge fault is that ... well, people are going to read it. And then where will all our best-kept secrets be?’ So said author and TV presenter Denis Beckett in his foreword of A Walk in the Park, which takes readers on a road trip in and around South Africa's national parks. Now an updated 2nd edition e-book has been published.

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De Stallen self-catering in Bloemfontein

21/5/2015

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By Roxanne Reid
If you live in one of South Africa’s biggest cities, it’s a fair bet you have family or friends in another part of the country, so the chances of you road tripping through Bloemfontein in the Free State are quite high. On a recent trip back to Cape Town from a family wedding in KZN, we lucked out when we discovered De Stallen self-catering in Bloemfontein.

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Food, culture and fresh air in 5 South African cities

25/11/2014

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Soon it's going to be the summer holidays and we’ll all be looking for fun stuff to do around South Africa. I asked five travel bloggers to share their favourite things to do along the themes of food, culture and fresh air in 5 South African cities. Here’s what they picked in the cities they know best.

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Travel is about people too

10/11/2011

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By Roxanne Reid
‘True travel doesn’t just involve visiting a place and seeing its monuments; it involves getting to know its inhabitants.’ So wrote traveller, photographer and documentary film maker Nick Danzinger.

After a trip to the old QwaQwa area of the Free State, South Africa, I couldn’t agree more.

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Where people come together in Phuthaditjhaba

28/7/2010

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By Roxanne Reid
We’ve come to Phuthaditjhaba in the high mountains near the border with Lesotho in what used to be called Qwa-Qwa. Nowadays, it’s part of the Free State. We’re here to run a free eye clinic for Reach4Sight, but it turns out to be an eye opener for us too.

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