South Africa Guide
Free State
The Highlands Route
Hugging the Lesotho border for 280km from Phuthadijhaba (Witsieshoek) in the north to Wepener, beyond Ladybrand, in the south, the tarred Highlands Route offers one of South Africa's most scenic drives, taking you past massive rock formations streaked with red and ochre, cherry orchards and sandstone farming towns. Wedged into a corner between Lesotho and northern KwaZulu-Natal, Phuthadijhaba is the gateway to theSentinel, the easiest route onto the Drakensberg Escarpment, the roof of southern Africa. Not far to the west is the highlight of the region, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, encompassing wide-open mountain country. The park is an easy three- to four-hour drive from Johannesburg, which means you could easily use it as a first- or last-night stop if you're arriving or leaving from Johannesburg and don't want to spend the night in the city. Nearby, the Basotho Cultural Village is worth visiting to gain some insight into Basotho traditions. The closest village to the Golden Gate is Clarens, a centre for arts and crafts and the most attractive of all the villages along the route, while to its west is the mountain retreat of Rustler's Valley, South Africa's New Age honeypot, which attracted young ravers and ageing hippies to its regular music festivals until it burned down in September 2007.