Free State – Hike Light, Explore Deep
The Free State expresses itself in space and colour; huge skies (mostly blue but loving the odd thunderstorm) yellow grasslands and red cliffs. The eastern Free State, around the Maluti foothills and Golden Gate Highlands area, is a hub for slackpacking. Here the flat interior starts giving way to sandstone cliffs, grassy mountains and valleys. Golden Gate is famous for its golden rock faces, especially when the late afternoon sun gets involved.
Apart from an environment that lends itself to walking, there’s another fascinating layer to this place-a sense of sharing the space with people from the past- the rich stories around the San and their art, as well as hunting for treasure left by ancient creatures-fossilized dinosaur eggs. There’s also Basotho culture to encounter, their thick colourful blankets hinting at high mountain weather.
Slackpacking works well in this part of the province because you can combine hiking days with comfortable accommodation in nearby towns (one of the cutest and most quirky being Clarens), farms or lodges. The routes vary from fairly gentle countryside walks to proper mountain days.
Winter can be cold, especially at night, while summer afternoons can bring heat and thunderstorms. Pack accordingly. The light backpack may be a luxury, but you still need to be very mindful about what you pack in it.
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