Kestell - South Africa
| The Kestell Golf Course offers 9 holes on a well maintained course. |
| The Basotho Cultural Village situated in the Qwa Qwa National Park is popular with both local and foreign vistors - beware the local brew - just a few sips is all it takes to make you feel light-headed (photos by Elaine Potgieter) |
| Winter wonderland garden (photos by Dean Foster) |
| Beautiful Sandstone homes on almost every corner |
| Serene mountain hikes, and great for mountain bike trails |
| Wonderous mountain views just down the road |
Things to do in and around Kestell .... |
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Around and About Directions to Kestell Take the N3 to Durban, just after Warden take the Oosthyse offramp and at the top of the offramp turn right towards Bethlehem. Watch out for the potholes on the side of the road (not too bad but could cause damage if you are driving at night!) Travel until you reach a four way intersection and turn left to Kestell. Kestell is a biker friendly village with excellent rides through to Fouriesburg, Clarens and Rosendal. The annual Bikers Toy Tun has grown to a National event which now includes Gauteng, Namibia, Limpopo, the Cape, KZN and towns like Bethlehem. Kestell is 40kms away. The annual Toy Run usually takes place in November with over 65,000 riders taking part country wide. The dirt roads and gentle koppies make ideal conditions for mountain bike fans. Hikers and bird-watchers will be enthralled by the countryside's offerings. The Golden Gate Trail is situated in the Golden Gate National Park, just down the road from Kestell. The trail is 28.1 kms long and is rated as moderate. It starts and finishes at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp and includes an overnight stay in the Ribbok Valley. Interesting sites include Ribbok Spruit & Waterfall, Lesotho View, Slagtersnek, Zuluhoek and the Langtoon Dam. For prices and to book you can contact the Golden Gate National Park +27 (058) 255 1000, or e-mail goldengate@sanparks.org, or visit their website www.sanparks.org, or write to P/bag X3, Clarens 9707
History buffs can soak up the nostalgia of old battle fields - most notably the Groenkop Battle site, only 20kms drive from the village, where General Christiaan de Wet destroyed a British column on the 25th December, 1901. There are a number of rock paintings, Boer War battlefields and archeological sites near the town.
Sight-seeing includes the scenic "Highland Route" of both the Drakensburg and Maluti Mountains. The Basotho Cultural Village located in the Qwa Qwa National Park offers guided tours and regularly hosts art exhibitions and stage performances at the Sandstone amphitheatre.
Yes, we might be small, but you can definately Geocache in Kestell and several of the surrounding areas.
Distances to nearest towns: Bethlehem - 47kms
Early in September the Mont-aux-Sources Challenge is run from the Mahai camp site in the Kwazulu-Natal National Park to the top of the Tugela Falls and down again (50 gruelling km). Kestell is conveniently near to the Sentinel Car Park and Witsieshoek Hotel for anyone who may want to watch the race Ficksburg's annual Cherry Festival takes place in November, and is 139 kms from Kestell vie the Golden gate, or 176kms via Bethlehem. Either way takes about 2 hours because the the speed restrictions in the Golden Gate. Stop by Kestell on your way down, travel via the Golden Gate and Clarens to Ficksburg. For more details see www.cherryfestival.co.za At the end of a busy day, enjoy the tranquillity of Kestell, or pop down to the Kestell Hotel's Pub. The local residents are friendly and welcoming - but be careful if you take up an offer for a game of darts or pool - unless you are really good, you can expect to be thoroughly beaten. Kestell can get very cold, so bring your winter woolies if you are visiting during the winter months. It occassionally snows, covering the village and mountains in a blanket of white. What could be more perfect ..... the peace and quiet of a tiny Free State village ... an open fire place .... snow covered mountains.
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