The Free State: Rosendal Whispered, Ficksburg Chatted, Bethlehem Embraced

jeeksparties8
4 days ago
2 min read

Hiking at Mosamane Guest Farm

So yes, it’s me again - the chronic over-romanticizer of every Small Town SA has ever sprinkled across the map.

This time, my hiking weekend took me to Mosamane Guest Farm, a self-catering, eco-friendly hideaway tucked into the foothills of the Maluti Mountains near Rosendal in the Free State.

An absolutely stunning farm with all the essentials for a hiking weekend: clean rooms, well-equipped kitchens, and communal spaces perfect for collapsing after pretending to be outdoorsy.

The hike? Long. Challenging. Gorgeous.

Like, rude-level gorgeous.

The Ionia Cherry Festival

After the hike, we made our way to the Ionia Cherry Festival in Ficksburg.

Because when the universe lines up your hike with a cherry festival, you can't not.

I’d heard about it for years but honestly had no clue what “it” actually was.

In my mind, I was ready for whimsical orchards, cherry-picking baskets and me in a straw hat living my best farm life.

Maybe even a tasteful frolic.

Apparently… no.

Yes, it was packed, it was vibey (helped dramatically by the looming Springboks game), and I’m genuinely glad we went.

But it was more "crowded festival" energy, and less "a storybook frolic through the enchanted orchards" as I had pictured.

So will I personally be back? Ehhhh.

Let’s just say, I arrived ready to pick cherries.

I left having looked at cherries.

Many cherries.

So many cherries.

For the festive crowd - the drinks, the live band, the Bokke energy - it looked like an awesome time.

For me, a mere observer of cherries and chaos, the cost-to-experience ratio?

Let’s call it “ambitious.”

A Surprise Gem: The Roadside Diner Outside Bethlehem

The next morning, on the way home, we stumbled upon the most adorable Roadside Diner just outside Bethlehem.

One of those blink-and-you-miss-it places that looks unassuming from the road but instantly hugs your soul the second you step inside.

The kind of place that ticks every Small Town box with enthusiasm.

Quaint décor, staff who smile like they mean it, and that unmistakable owner-run sincerity you simply cannot fake.

The food? Comforting in a way that borders on spiritual. The kind of delicious that restores your faith in road trips, small towns, and maybe humanity in general.

Too dramatic? I refuse to take it back.