ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Rosendal is pure heaven for the outdoor enthusiast and nature lovers and offers activities and things to do that can keep you as busy as you want to be.
HIKING
Mosamane Hiking Trail - 10km from Rosendal
A truly spectacular 9km hiking trail for the average to fit hiker.
Cost is R60 per person and you must pre-book at
082 901 8799 | henriettewakeford@gmail.com
In Town
The town itself is very safe to walk around in so enjoy a slow meander through the peaceful gravel streets of Rosendal
There are also often organised hikes on Saturdays on private farm land with pre-arranged permissions, so you can e-mail info@rosendaltown.co.za to get more information on these group excursions.
CYLCING
Rosendal is a very popular mountain biking destination with over 300km of gravel roads in the area.
The town also have an informal cycling club that welcomes all participants and skill levels. Routes vary every week and cover the regional and farm roads, with distances – ranging between 20 and 70km – depending on interest and conditions.
Benjamin’s is die "klub huis" en bied n gratis koffie aan na die rit.
.
Contact Debbie 083 294 5260 for various route options and GPX files if you would also like to do your own rides in your own time.
The lovely IMLA Guest Farm between Rosendal and Clocolan also offers up to 60km of dedicated MTB trails. www..imlafarm.co.za
Volg ook Rosendal Cycling op FACEBOOK vir fietsry nuus en roete inligting.
ROSENDAL TENNIS CLUB
The Rosendal Tennis Club invites all visitors to come and play on Saturday afternoons from 2pm o. Farmers, artists, other locals and visitors play very relaxed, non-competitive tennis on our well-maintained courts. We have a well-stocked bar, and sport events are shown on the big screen inside our rustic clubhouse. Braai facilities are available, and the locals will prove to be an entertaining source of information about the village and its surroundings. New balls are provided on Saturdays, but not during the week. Appropriate clothing and shoes must be worn at all times. Racquets are available free of charge.
Once-off fees: Adults - R50, Under 16 - R30
Monthly: Adults: R200
Families: R350 (children under 18)
[Your first tennis day is for free]
Kontak: Jan 073 210 9141 of Peter 082 818 2461
Reaching out in Rosendal - Tshepo Generations
Tot soveel as 70 behoeftige kinders in Mautse word 3 maal per week in n veilige omgewing met akademie, speel en kos onderrig. Working together, we prepare balanced meals, play games, do puzzles, read stories and engage with the children about their lives.
We also offer homework support and some tutoring for the older children. Hierdie inisiatief word bestuur deur Global Gate Community Church in Mautse en NG Baken van Hoop in Rosendal en staan bekend as Tshepo Generations. Geld, kos, klere, boeke en speelgoed word met groot dankbaarheid ontvang en aangewend om die lewens van die kinders ingrypend te verander.
If you would like to get involved in any way, offering your time, collecting items or to make a donation, please contact Charmaine on 082 340 9393 or email charmainegallon@gmail.com
More places to visit and things to do around Rosendal
Sandstone Heritage Trust
Sandstone, 45km away from Rosendal on the road to Fouriesburg, houses one of the largest collections of working steam locomotives in the world, including a 26km narrow gauge railway, together with fully restored military vehicles, some from WWII, and heritage agricultural equipment as well as buses, cars, and even an historic Voortrekker wagon drawn by a team of oxen.
Set in the Caledon Valley on the border with Lesotho, Sandstone is also a large, fully organic, working farm. Here visitors can spend the day viewing the collection, housed in a series of large hangars, visiting the gift shop, or wandering the grounds.
Remarkably this is actually not even a museum, instead being a private collection of heritage items that makes itself open to the public. Visitors must make an appointment one day in advance.
Twice a year the facility comes fully alive when these toys are brought out to play, during the Ficksburg Cherry Festival in November and, the 10 day "Stars of Sandstone" event, which is typically held in March or April and when 70% of guests are steam enthusiasts from overseas.
Contact: Leigh Sanders: leighs@sandstone.co.za / Tel 051 933 2235
http://www.sandstone-estates.com
Moolmanshoek
Moolmanshoek—located on an historic farm property with a specular mountain setting—is a rural resort, wedding venue, equestrian centre, nature reserve and game farm. Guests can explore the reserve and participate in activities that include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, off-road 4x4 trails, as well as fishing, hunting and bird watching. Located 15km from Rosendal, it is the go to place in the area for outdoor activity. The town frequently provides “over-flow” accommodation for weddings and other events hosted there and vice versa.
Contact: +27 51 933 2220 | +27 82 788 6623 | 086 532 8392
https://www.moolmanshoek.co.za
Mosamane
Mosamane is a self-catering guest lodge within easy reach of Rosendal, 6km south of town off the road toward Ficksburg, and nestled against the Witteberg mountain range. The site hosts comfortable accommodation—including a renovated barn—and open air boma. Situated at the foot of spectacular sandstone cliffs, natural topography includes Montana grasslands, mountain fynbos, valley bushveld, kloof forests and a mini canyon.
Activities include hiking (9km and 3km trails), bird watching and taking in the spectacular views. Rosendal’s shops, galleries, cafes and nightlife are all within an easy 10 minute drive. The hiking trails are open to day visitors from Rosendal for a modest fee; please call ahead.
Contact: Henriette Wakeford 082 901 8799 / Henriettewakeford@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Mosamane-Guest-Farm-1468540440028467/
Poloafrica
Poloafrica Trust, situated on Uitgedacht Farm, south of Rosendal, is a unique place—a first class polo school dedicated to transforming the lives of underprivileged youth and adults in an isolated rural community. Through the discipline of sport and participation in an academic programme—the latter is a prerequisite for beginning to care for and learn to ride the ponies—the natural potential of South Africa’s youth is unlocked. The young “scholars”, of whom there are 40, one third of them girls, learn life skills and must work hard toward a high school diploma. Underprivileged adults have the chance to flourish as polo professionals, whether through playing the game, pony care, farrier work, schooling ponies or coaching other players in the sport.
Poloafrica is happy for people to enjoy the Uitgedacht polo experience as day visitors during school holidays when they can visit the stables, tour the class rooms and walk the grounds. Call ahead to make an appointment.
Tel: Catherine Cairns (+27) 84 290 0000 / email: info@poloafrica.com
Franshoek Farm and Polo School
Franshoek Farm and Polo School is an internationally recognised polo centre, offering tuition and accommodation, tucked away on a spectacular site 40km south-east of Rosendal. It is fully open to non-Polo playing visitors as a guest farm with activities that include walking and hiking trails in the Witteberg Mountains, horse riding, bass fishing, and exploring caves and waterfalls. Charming self-catering accommodation with beautiful views is available
Contact details: tracey@poloschool.co.za / +27 (0)72 403 9454
Tracey Morgan
Website: http://www.poloschool.co.za
Earthrise Trust and Rustler’s Valley Farm
Located 38km from Rosendal, Earthrise Trust is a lodge and rural conference centre dedicated to realising the ideals of the Earth Charter through ecology and social and economic justice. A not for profit “activist initiative”, it was founded by labour and struggle figure Jayendra Naidoo and a group of like minded supporters, and is located on Rustler’s Valley Farm, once better known as the site of a world famous rock festival and rave colony.
Contact: Anton Chaka: +27 078 511 9042
Tempelhof Game Farm
A fully functioning game farm, guest farm, and wedding or event venue, Tempelhof is located 29km south of Rosendal on the road to Ficksburg. Notably, it is also a lion farm and has one of the largest breeding programmes for wild dogs in the country. Visitors should call to make an appointment.
Contact: 082 213 1299 / tempelhofficksburg@gmail.com