Rosendal

Tiny (really tiny), pretty, and full of artists – like it’s much larger ‘sister town’ of Clarens, the small rural village of Rosendal in the Free State offers vast plains, sandstone mountains (snow-capped in winter) and stunning scenery, quiet village life, arts, crafts and outdoor activities.

Rosendal is situated 43km north of Ficksburg in the foothills of the Witteberg Range, part of the Maluti, or Drakensberg Mountain Range.

Rosendal really is small – there is one tarred road, and the only petrol station is at the village co-op, closed on Saturdays after 1pm and on Sundays. The area around Rosendal is characterised by open foothill and mountain vistas, farms and fields of sunflowers and cosmos.

Rosendal attractions include horseriding , hiking trails, mountain-biking, fly-fishing, game viewing and other outdoors activities at Moolmanshoek, the Mosamane Hiking Trail, the Rosendal Theatre, various Art galleries  and ‘village shops’ selling hand-crafted goods from embroidered bedspreads to furniture, and antiques.

Rosendal is also not far from the pretty sight-seeing towns of Clarens, Ficksburg and Fouriesburg and the beautiful Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

Getting there: Rosendal is situated on the R70. From Johannesburg take the R59 south, exiting after 59km toward Kroonstad and Deneysville, but turning right after a couple of kilometres on to the R82 – stay on this road fro 1km only, turning left on to the R57. Continue on this road for 53.5km, then take another left on to the R34. After just over 1km, turn right on to the R725. Stay on this road for a further 65.2km, turn left to stay on the R725, then right after a further 1.7km to go on to the R707. After 57km on the R707, turn right on to the R70. Rosendal is a further 34km.