Phuthaditjhaba

Lying in the foothills of the dramatic Drakensberg and Maluti Mountains on the banks of the Free State’s Elands River, Phuthaditjhaba is a Sotho town meaning ‘meeting place of nations or tribes'. A wealth of magnificent hikes and biking routes provide awe-inspiring vistas of the sky-scraping white-tipped peaks, including the half-hike, half-climb Sentinel Peak Trail and the Maluti Cave Hike. The latter includes wonderful waterholes to swim in, Thabana-Tshowana Dam and its glorious water birds, and caves filled with ancient rock art. For further exploration of the region’s culture, head to the Basotho Cultural Village with a tour guide to meet the chief, who will offer you a traditional beer as a token of hospitality should you be welcome, after which you may play customary games, see dances and eat the local food.