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Outdoor adventure in the mountains
Fouriesburg, Free State
Fouriesburg offers outstanding horse trails.
© Lucinda Hooley
Did you know?
About 30 000 people live in Fouriesburg and the neighbouring township of Mashaeng.
'If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure in the mountains, you will not run out of things to do in this area,' says Fouriesburg resident Lucinda Hooley, who has an excellent knowledge of the region.
Hooley moved to the small town in the Free State province 10 years ago when she was looking for a place in the country with beautiful scenery but not too much tourist glitz.
'There are superb hikes and horse trails, or you can simply sit under a tree and take in the scenery,' she says.
For those interested in horse trails, there are excellent options: Shumba Valley Farm, operated by Di Armour, and Ventersburg Stables, operated by Fritz Kerkhoff, offer choices from 1-hour rides to trails lasting several days.
Hikers have several routes from which to choose, ranging from 2km paths to hikes taking several days, including a trail to see dinosaur footprints at the Mafube Mountain Retreat.
Fouriesburg is about 30km from the popular town of Clarens, and many visitors enjoy the drive through the mountains to spend the day in Clarens or the nearby Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
Winter is a particularly popular time in Fouriesburg, when the surrounding Maluti, Rooiberg and Witteberg mountains are covered in snow.
Cherry season, in November, is also popular, when Fouriesburg and nearby Ficksburg offer visitors the opportunity to see a working cherry farm, where they can walk through the orchards, ride on tractors and pick their own cherries.
The food and accommodation in and around Fouriesburg is an adventure in itself. Visitors can stay at a guest farm, working farm, in 1 of the nature reserves or in one of the B&Bs in town.
A novelty in town is Issy’s Supermarket, one of the last remaining old-style general dealers where you buy anything from a bag of maize to a bicycle.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Fouriesburg Info
Email: info@fouriesburginfo.co.za
The Fouriesburg Country Inn
Email: fburginn@worldonline.co.za
Tel: +27 (0)58 223 0207
Lucinda Hooley (resident with an excellent knowledge of the area)
Tel: +27 (0)58 223 0429
Cell: +27 (0)58 223 0429
Email: Lucinda@bluemoon.co.za
How to get here
Fouriesburg is an easy 330km drive from Johannesburg.
Around the area
Take the 30km drive on the R711 from Fouriesburg to Clarens for a wonderfully scenic drive. The Caledonspoort border post between South Africa and Lesotho is 10km from Fouriesburg if you would like to visit Lesotho.
Tours to do
You'll find a choice of trails on horseback and on foot in the area.
Get around
It's best to drive your own vehicle, or explore the area on foot or on horseback.
Length of stay
At least 2-3 days.
What to pack
Outdoor gear.
Where to stay
Visit the Fouriesburg Info website for a choice of accommodation in and around the town.
What to eat
The town has a couple of restaurants and many of the accommodation options offer meals. Try eisbein and spare ribs at Die Plaas Stoep Pub and Grill; try the steaks at The Windmill; or enjoy a buffet at the Fouriesburg Country Inn, which also has a wine cellar.
Best buys
A range of gifts and crafts are on offer at Matsoho Arts and Crafts in Fouriesburg.