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Thabo Mofutsanyana, this is the Eastern Free State. “Tlo Bone”… come and see!
 Thabo Mofutsanyana… where fly fishermen can cast a lure, where artist and poets can live in harmony, and where hikers and nature lovers can breathe fresh crisp mountain air.
 Nestled in the shade of the Maluti Mountains range, between the Orange River in the south & the Vaal River in the north, are soft undulating hills covered with lush green carpets & beautiful, even rare, vleis & pans.
 Here the Sotho people lived in relative tranquility grazing their cattle & drinking their “jwala” before the settlers conquered the land.
 Here the many battle sites & memorials, all that remain of fierce battles fought over many centuries, rest in the golden sun amongst ripening cornfields. Magical, mystical places hold secrets time has forgotten.
 History painted on rock faces tells the stories of a land of plenty. Fossilized footprints tell of prehistoric creatures browsing along the inland lakes & rivers that were then still in their infancy.
 Majestic mountains with sandstone cliffs, fertile valleys of crops that stretch as far as the eye can see, fields of cosmos & the golden yellow hues of sunflowers, are just a few of the enchanting sights that are waiting to greet you.
 Battle sites & memorials left from bygone wars, ancient fossil footprints from a prehistoric era, a wealth of arts & crafts & the renowned Golden Gate National Park make this region an exceptional destination to explore.
The Eastern Free State will lure you back time and time again to enjoy the majestic mountain scenery.
 Almost out of place in the gentle topography of the Free State, the better part of the eastern section of the province is starkly rugged & mountainous. The Drakensberg & Maluti ranges peer over the Free State on the left & Lesotho on the right like schoolmasters.
 Separated by sandstone walls, the Basotho, people of the peaks, have defended themselves against invaders for centuries, refusing to step down from their lofty strongholds. The caves & slopes along Caledon River, which rises in the Maluti Mountains, became hideaways, ramparts, lairs & battlefields.
 The towns of the Eastern Free State display a notable rustic character, with for instance a town such as Clarens with its Swiss-like appearance & concentration of artists having truly a charm to be found nowhere else.
 The commercial centre of the region is Bethlehem, with an attractive array of sandstone buildings throughout the town. Harrismith on the N3 between Gauteng & Kwazulu-Natal is also a key industrial centre. In Qwa-Qwa further to the west, Phuthadtitjhaba houses a modern industrial area managed by the Free State Development Corporation.
 It is evident to the beholder why the region holds that magical allure. Whether it be trout fishing, attending the Cherry Festival or simply relishing the magnificence of the area by visiting any of the towns, you are certain to reach only one conclusion: This is soul country.
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