This 283 Hectare guest farm is situated in the picturesque Eastern Free State: for sale

The Afri-Ski leisure resort high in the Maluti Mountains is a comfortable 1.5 hour drive via the new Oxbow Lodge. 

Katse dam can be reached in 3.5 hours.

After about forty metres, take a sharp left across the stream bed.  Continue following the white markers along what is basically a contour path, the high cliff to your left is known as Titanic for obvious reasons. 

You will come to a fence with a wire gate continue ahead in a northerly direction following the white markers.  The path veers to the left uphill and then enters the indigenous forest area crossing two stream beds. Continue following the white markers until you turn left into a leafy kraal area underneath the cliff.  Turn right at the back of the kraal and walk around to the picnic spot which gives you a magnificent panoramic view of the Maluti mountains and the Eastern Free State and of course our farm.

If you are really clever get the family to come up the farm track in the SUV to meet you at the Picnic Spot with a bottle of wine and a couple of chairs.  Behind you to the north is the rock formation called The Sheep.  If you look carefully at the western side of the formation you will see the ears, mouth and eyes of a sheep.  After a well deserved rest either continue down the farm track on foot or hitch a ride with the family back to the Lodge.  

This walk is just right for a stroll before breakfast or in the late afternoon when you linger at the Picnic Spot and enjoy the magnificent view and the sun going down.  The complete walk takes about one hour.

2.  The Rock Art walk. 

Take the route as for the Picnic Spot up to the fence and wire gate.  After going through the gate turn sharp left and follow the yellow markers.  You now go almost straight up to the cliff face in a westerly direction.  

On the way you will see many examples of 'concretions' that can almost be mistaken for fossils.  They are in fact concentrations of minerals that were injected between the sediments and have weathered at a different rate to the host rocks.  They appear as nodules protruding from the rocks. 

When close to the cliff face veer to the right and go for about thirty metres until you see the resting place of the animals.  Look up about seven feet from the ground and you should see the one clear example of rock art.  If you look at some of the scattered boulders under the cliff you will see strange markings that look like maps.  Under one of the large rocks you will see an igneous rock that is shaped as a grinding bowl with the grinding rock still in it.  Who used this grinding bowl, who knows?  

Go back along the path the way you came for about thirty metres and then go up to the right still following the yellow markers.  Go through the fence and on to the large rock which serves as a lookout point.  Continue following the yellow markers until you get onto a relatively flat piece of ground where there is the cliff on your right and a large rock formation on your left both contain what appears to be crystalline sandstone which is unusual and formed from high tectonic stresses applied to the sedimentary rocks.  

Also on the flat area are three kraals made out of stone from a time gone by.  From the flat area follow the yellow markers and make a steep descent back to Malutizicht Lodge with Titanic to your right.  This walk takes about one and a half hours allowing plenty of time for taking in the magnificent scenery.

3.  Baboonskop Walk.

This is not a circular walk but a there and back.  It takes you to the cliff top to the south west of the lodge clearly visible from the yard outside the swimming pool area.  From the swimming pool area go south under the car ports and up past Evelyn's rondavels.  Just before the dam turn sharp left and then follow the yellow markers.  Continue south to a look out point where you will see the old television aerial pipe.  Then go up to your right and make for the barbed boundary fence.

Go over the style into our neighbour's farm, do not worry, he has given his permission to cross his land.  Through the fence follow the contour path and into the natural forest and then begin a steep ascent up to the cliff.  Going up this steep portion you will see evidence of construction of a pathway in times gone by.  Continue with the yellow markers until you emerge onto Baboonskop lookout where you can look down on the dam and Malutizicht Lodge.  

To the north you will see Titanic and The Sheep.  You will see plenty of potholes that almost always contain water on Baboonskop lookout.  You will also observe the many Protea trees in the area immediately above the lookout.  Once you have taken in the magnificent view retrace your steps back to the lodge.  This walk is also about one and a half hours but does get quite steep when ascending to the lookout point.

The Eastern Free State is perfect for the mountain biker, with miles of farm and quiet district roads or if you prefer more difficult mountain tracks are available.  The district roads in the near vicinity are perfect for young children and the family ride. For the birder there is abundant bird life to keep you busy around the rock faces and the 3 dams on the farm. Around April each year the Cosmos is in full bloom and makes a truly wonderful sight throughout the Eastern Free State. A Cosmos festival, with all manner of entertainment and exhibitions, is hosted by the nearby Sandstone Estate to coincide with this spectacular scenery.

The town of Clarens is a popular tourist attraction in the area offering golf and fishing and the opportunity to paint or visit the many art galleries in the town.

In November the world famous Cherry Festival is held in the Ficksburg area to coincide with the harvesting of the cherries. A very full program of entertainment is provided along with the cherry liqueur to keep you busy for the week.

Golf, Bowls, squash and horse riding are available in Ficksburg.