Ladybrand, Thabo Mofutsanyana
The pretty town of Ladybrand, sometimes spoken of as a sleepy border town, is surrounded by the undulating hills of the eastern Free State, almost midway between the towns of Hobhouse and Ficksburg virtually on the edge of the border with Lesotho. For this reason, and the fact that many of its residents commute daily to Maseru, Ladybrand is often lovingly referred to as the 'capital' of Lesotho, and is considered its gateway.
Ladybrand also lies in the Caledon Valley, believed to have been man's stomping ground for tens of thousands of years, where the likes of Rose Cottage Cave, a Middle Paleolithic cave on the Platberg, roughly 3 kilometres east of Ladybrand, dates back more than 50 000 years. This area is also one of the world's prime rock art regions, where the 'first people' of this country, the San, left thousands of paintings on rock about their lives - an inspiration to artists today. Over 300 sites occur in and around Ladybrand and Tandjiesberg is one of 12 rock art national heritage sites in South Africa.
Ladybrand lies on the Maloti Drakensberg Route, a route that straddles the borders of South Africa and Lesotho including parts of the Eastern Cape, Eastern Free State and the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg. It passes through the towns of Ladybrand, Hobhouse, Wepener, Vanstadensrus and Zastron, and the route features the beautiful Maluti Mountains and a series of mountain passes. It includes highlights such as sleeping in a mud hut, the Basotho Cultural Village, scenery beyond description, the Eye of Zastron and camping at Egmont Dam.
Travellers' Reviews
2 Reviews from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.
Verified review
I have seen both the pharmacy exhibit in Mystic Seaport, USA and that of Norwood Coaker in his pharmacy in Ladybrand. Ladybrand is far superior because of its personal touch. Created (I believe) by Horace Coaker, my husband's uncle, it would be hard to surpass the Ladybrand one. We visited it in December 1986. What a terrific thing Horace Coaker created !!!!!!!
Barbara I. Coaker (North Olmsted, OH USA)
Verified review
Although I selected the year 2008 there were no earlier years available: I visited Ladybrand in December 1996. It is a lovely town. One of the reasons for our visit (my husband William and I accompanied by his cousin Rosemary C. Basson) was to visit the small museum dedicated to William's grandfather, Norwood Coaker, who founded Coaker Pharmecuticals now a part of Protea and Julienne Cosmetics. Norwood's pharmacy is a fascinating place. A life-size wax figure of Norwood in his establishment, I'm told is an excellent likeness. It "personalizes" the museum in a dramatic way that could only be accomplished by specific detailed knowledge of what the shop was really like. The only museum I've seen in the USA that comes close is a pharmacy reproduction in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut. The Ladybrand Norwood Coaker pharmacy is quite superior because of the personal connection but also because it has greater attention to detail. Kudos to the Coaker descendent who created and funded it!!
Barbara I. Coaker (North Olmsted, Ohio, USA)
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Casa Romana B&B
Casa Romana B&B offers accommodation in Ladybrand at the foot of the Maluti Mountains in the eastern Free State. The town is best known for its b...
Citystay Ladybrand
Set in Ladybrand in the Free State region with Etadi Wellness Centre nearby is Citystay Ladybrand accommodation. Located in a quiet upmarket neig...
Ladybrand Heritage House
Ladybrand Heritage House hosts en-suite bedrooms with scenic views of the Maluti Mountains and The Stables at the foot of Platberg. Accommodation...
Ladybrand Guest House
Ladybrand Guest House is a wonderful place to come and escape the stress of everyday life. All units are offered on a bed and breakfast basis. Ro...
Things to do in the area
The Cabin Farmstall & Deli
Travelling through the beautiful province of the Free State? Make a note to stop at The Cabin farm stall which is found 5kms from Clocolan.The Ca...
Sow a Seed Nursery
Ladybrand is a very small town, nestled away in the Eastern Free State Province of South Africa. It enjoys utter peace and tranquillity, as it li...
Noteworthy attractions
Golden Gate National Park
Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north-eastern Free State lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The park d...
Sterkfontein Dam Reserve
Rugged, steep krantzes silhouetted against the skyline, mountain slopes snugly covered with a grass blanket, deep lushly vegetated kloofs and a c...
Clarens Golf Estate
The par 71 golf course, designed and constructed by Golf Data, is bound to excite every level of golfer. All 18 holes meander along and across th...
Basotho Cultural Village
A visit to the Basotho Cultural Village which nestles at the foot of huge sandstone mountains, will give you a deeper insight into the lifestyle ...
Bethlehem Golf Club
The Bethlehem Golf Course is a Par 71 (W69), 18 hole golf course located in the lovely town of Bethlehem in the Free State. Facilities at Bethleh...
Harrismith Country Club
The Harrismith Country Club is a wonderfully kept course in the humble town of Harrismith. The golf course, famously known for being the third ol...
Mount Everest Game Reserve
The privately owned Mount Everest Game Reserve is set in a particularly scenic part of the Free State close to the town of Harrismith and, despit...
Clarens Village Conservancy
The Clarens Village Conservancy (CVC) is a group of people, homeowners and businesses who together look after the town's natural resources - land...
Normandien Pass
The Normandien Pass links Memel in the Free State with Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal. The pass is gravel that by all accounts has seen better days, ...
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