Marquard, Eastern Free State

Marquard is a small and very pretty little town in the Eastern Free State Highlands, in the past often overlooked in travel guides in favour of bigger neighbouring towns, but now on the map thanks to its award as the Free State’s Tourism Town of the Year in the South African Volksblad Tourism Awards in 2009.

Touted as the town ‘Where Time Stand Still’ Marquard is known for the friendliness and welcoming attitude of the locals, as well as for the beauty of the Eastern Free State countryside in which it is ensconced. Marquard is very small, with few tarred roads, little traffic, and local families who have lived here for generations.

Originally built up around cattle farming, the beef industry is still a staple economic factor, but the increase in outdoor activities tourism over the past few decades is really what has put Marquard on the map.

Activities in the area include mountain biking, 4 x 4 trails, hiking and horse-riding, game viewing, fly-fishing, abseiling and rock climbing. These activities were all available on the privately owned Korrannaberg Conservancy surrounding Marquard, but since the recent closure of the Conservancy, and until we receive new info, it’s mostly a case of stopping at one of the shops in town and asking a local where you can find a good mtb or 4×4 track and getting permission from the relevant farm owner.

The Korannaberg Hiking Trail was a well known trail, but all is not lost with its closure – the 2 day Kampeelkop Trail on the other side of Marquard is also a popular trail.

Besides the above, Polo is ‘big in Marquard’ at the Sparta Polo Club, which hosts the annual Free State Polo Championships.

Getting there: Take the R30 north from Bloemfontein to the N1 off-ramp. Turn right on to the N1 toward Windburg. At Windburg, take the off-ramp for the N5/R708 and turn right on to the R708 to Marquard.