Rustler's Valley: the hike

The outlines of mountains were hinted at in the growing light of a new morning, and then there they stood, playful and confident, and with them the familiar scenery of the eastern Free State. We had been aware of the gathering mountains as we journeyed towards Rustler’s Valley farm the previous evening but had arrived at the farm in the darkness.

Jappie Lephatsi and his team in the reception of EarthRise Mountain Lodge reception had welcomed us, offered us supper while we confirmed the agenda for the following day. Now on the Wednesday [12 June] we stood contemplating the scenery before us. We were going to do a hike before breakfast, and then be given a tour of the farm and the various activities that make up Naledi Village co-operative.

Hospitality and tourism is a big draw card for this area of the country, and several farms offer accommodation and leisure/tourist activities. An obvious value-add, we thought, as we welcomed the prospect of this outing and the country air.

Not far from here lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, a major tourist attraction in this province and worth a drive through by anyone interested in the country. After the relatively flat grasslands and occasional hill in the rest of the province, the geographical features of mountains and sandstone in the eastern and north-eastern Free State are a delight.

The silence and presence found at the end of this trail, enclosed by rocks, verdant vegetation and a stream of water dropping  down from the sky, calls you to spend more time here. Today, however, there were things to do and see, and after spending as much time here as we could possibly afford, we turned back.