Clarens is situated in a picturesque valley, surrounded by mountains. 3 to 4 hours drive from JHB, DBN and Bloem.A creative town with numerous arts & crafts, pubs, restaurants and cafes.
CLARENS MAG the towns popular online info site! is on Facebook and Twitter Join us there for the latest information and events from Clarens.
Accommodation:
Clarens has a variety of accommodation.
For a full list of the B+B, Guest House, Self Catering and family run hotels "click here". We have found that it is better to deal directly with your hosts and have provided their contact details including links to their websites, in an easy to flip through magazine on the Clarens Accommodation MAG of Clarens MAG. Clarens News and Clarens MAG supports the small hospitality industry as they are better value and have 'good old' country hospitality.
Restaurants:
Offer a variety of cuisine. Italian at Vitos Restaurante (on the Clarens Square), German Sausage Platters and Cheese Platters at The Clarens Brewery (Info Centre), and Pizza at Mosaic. The Highlander (Clarens Info Centre) has all the favourites and the service is good. For fresh country style breads and deli products visit the Willows Lifestyle Centre and The Millery Bakery.
Services: FNB, NEDBANK and ABSA ATMS located at the (?) Garage - just below the Clarens Square. Engen Garage at the bottom, parallel to the Golden Gate Road. The Old Stone Bottle Store CNR of Main & Van Zyl.
Activities:
Golf, swimming, horse back adventures, abseiling, white water rafting, hiking and more. Visit Clarens Activities MAG for more information and reviews. There are two main adventure operators: Outrageous Adventures and Clarens Xtreme.
Shopping: Arts, crafts and curios, homemade peserves, wine, freshly baked bread, gourmet cheese's. These are just some of the country products that Clarens has to offer.
Espresso Cafes:
Visit Clarens Cafes MAG for more information and reviews
Art Galleries:
Dotted around the village. Artist from all over South Africa come to Clarens for its inspiring scenery, dramatic landscapes, old sandstone farm houses, poplar trees that turn yellow in Autumn, clouds that glow with colour, and rock formations sculpted by natures elements.
Festivals and Events:
Clarens Craft Beer Festival
The Cherry Festival in Ficksburg (Third week of November),
Asparagus Festival in Fouriesburg (1st weekend of September) which has now become part of the Fouriesburg Spring Fair,
CLARENS VISUAL ARTS FESTIVAL 7, 8, 9 Oct 2011
Steel Wings Rally in Clarens (November),
Vintage tractor fair in Clocolan (first weekend of March),
Surrender Hill Marathon (March),
Art Exhibitions throughout the year.
For the latest events and weekend specials visit the Events page.
Made in Clarens products can be found at:
The Leatherman (leather products), The Clarens Brewery (beers and ciders), The Millery Bakery (home made bread, pastries) + they serve freshly roasted coffee, The Cherry Company has cherry products from the area, Bossie Knives (handmade knives). Various street artists have their goods displayed on the square on weekends. And don't forget that many of the works of art are created in Clarens.
Clarens History:
Frontier farms, ox-wagons and The Anglo Boer war, Bushman rock art, Dinosaur Fossils, Cannibals, hidden treasure, and many more interesting stories. Read some of them on the Clarens History MAG. Stephen Dunkley's book Clarens Chronicles, is now on sale at The Bibliophile bookstore in Clarens.
