Fouriesburg - weddings, hiking and a gateway to snow in Lesotho

11 June 2022
By Staff Writer

SHARE TO

Fouriesburg is a small town in the Free State near the Caledonspoort Border Post between South Africa and Lesotho. The town is three and a half hours from Johannesburg and three hours from Bloemfontein and is one of the gateway towns to reaching snow in Lesotho, although Fouriesburg itself gets snow from time to time as well.

It might be easy to think of it as just a place to fill up with petrol before crossing the border, until you realise that the region is actually a wonderful destination in itself, and an excellent base for trips to Lesotho in winter and throughout the year.

Other than having some wonderful accommodation establishments tucked between the mountains outside the town, the area also features some wonderful hiking at the Meiringskloof Nature Reserve as well as on the properties of many of the accommodation and function venues (we’ve marked a few of our advertisers on the map and have posted a few photographs below the map).

While the town itself doesn’t see ground level snow that often (the photo above is from 2012 but it has snowed a few times since then), with the border post just ten minutes away it’s an ideal place to be based for day trips into Lesotho to reach the snow at higher elevations.

Besides the proximity to Lesotho, Fouriesburg has established itself as a popular area for weddings with some wonderful venues in locations that provide for spectacular backdrops for wedding photos.

Fouriesburg is also a short drive from the busy tourist hub of Clarens, which is near the beautiful Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

The Caledonspoort Border Post is open 7 days a week between 6am and 10pm, so don’t forget to bring your passport (and for the kids) if you’re staying in Fouriesburg. As far as we know, unabridged birth certificates are still needed for children to cross the border.

For those crossing the border in their own vehicle it's important to carry your registration papers, and if it's not your own vehicle you'll need a letter of authority from the owner. Rental car companies will give you a letter to cross the border and some charge a fee, so ask them when you book the car.

As always be safe when driving to snow, and always check conditions right before you leave. Lesotho can get extremely cold sometimes, so be sure to carry enough food, water and blankets in the vehicle in case you get stuck in the snow. Also be sure to charge your devices because the batteries drain quickly in the cold.

Here are some venues that we recommend around Fouriesburg:

Affi Lande
Mafube Mountain Retreat
Nature's Loft
Wyndford Holiday Farm

Contact us on whatsapp 081 561 4213 to advertise your establishment, brand or service with SnowReportSA – one of SA largest media channels. Advertising clients are highlighted on feature articles where appropriate.

SHARE TO