Eastern Cape - Lesotho - Eastern Free State

Focusing on the majestic mountains and the interesting cultures of the people who inhabit them, the Maloti Route provides travellers with an unparalleled opportunity to experience a diversity of cultures including Basotho, English, Xhosa and Afrikaans. It provides an opportunity to contrast the two countries, which have very different histories, but are so intertwined geographically and culturally as to be committed to each other for the benefit of the entire region.

The Maloti Route is a truly idyllic meander through awe inspiring natural beauty and picturesque mountains - where you can visit friendly villages and towns, follow where dinosaurs prowled and left footprints, enjoy arts and crafts of the highest quality, fly fish, visit renowned rock art sites or just soak up the breathtaking scenery. For the more adventurous there are ski slopes, horse trails and 4×4 and hiking trails. Accommodation along the route includes graded hotels, luxury lodges, self-catering cottages and homely B&B's.

Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape is the second largest of South Africa's provinces. It is the cradle of South Africa's leadership, being the birthplace of Nelson Mandela and the traditional home to many politicians. The province is mostly undeveloped and is mostly unspoilt and unique. The Eastern Cape is home to the world famous Addo Elephant Park and the private Shamwari Game Reserve, both home to the Big Five. Addo boasts six of the possible seven biomes, meaning it hosts a very wide range of plant and wildlife. The towns and villages are intimate and the people still follow traditional lives. Unpolluted mountain streams, draining into the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, are also home to the rainbow and brown trout. The rare Lammergeyer Vulture soars aloft. In winter, you can ski at South Africa's only ski resort, Ben Macdui Mountain.

Eastern Free State

Just a few of the enchanting treats that await you…

• The warm hues of sandstone cliffs that have weathered over the years to resemble fantastical figures like "Queen Victoria seated on her throne". Find these at Fouriesburg and Mushroom Rock near Clarens.
• Fertile croplands and fields of golden sunflowers and pink & white cosmos that stretch as fas as the eye can see.
• The Golden Gate National Park, a true highland habitat and home to a variety of game and bird life, including the rare Bearded Vulture.
• Battle sites dating back to the Anglo Boer War, ox wagon spoor carved in sandstone at Zastron, ancient fossil footprints and Bushman paintings are just a few of the interesting glimpses one can catch of a bygone era.
• The Sterkfontein Dam with its 103 kms of shoreline is the ideal playground for a myriad of water sports and fishing.
• Abseiling, hiking trails, birding, 4×4 trails, mountain and rock climbing, cycling, hot air balling, clay pigeon shooting and fly fishing
• The annual Cherry Festival held at Ficksburg and the Mielie Festival at Reitz Bethlehem hosts a hot air balloon and air show and is the start of the OFM Classic Cycle Race, but there is so much more………..