A Bygone Age of Gentle Steaming

Not far from Amohela ho Spitskop, just off the R26, is Sandstone Estates.This stunning estate overlooks the beautiful Maluti Mountains, the setting is quite magnificent. Sandstone Estates has the largest private collection of narrow gauge steam locomotives in the world. The trains make up a collection of locomotives that have been restored for the enjoyment of the many steam train lovers all over the world, and Sandstone has now established itself as one of the world's top steam train destinations.

The exciting part is that the estate opens to the public on certain dates and long weekends.There is something very fascinating about these locomotives of yesteryear, steaming along in gentleness of motion through the stunning scenery of the eastern Free State.The whole family, both young and old, will be enthralled. You will certainly take home precious memories of a family day so special, so different, that it should simply not be missed.The Lesotho meander, a trip of some 30 minutes to the Lesotho border and back, with a backdrop of the majestic Maluti Mountains, hard to match anywhere in the world. The Mountain Wanderer, a trip of some 90 minutes, puffing great gouts of smoke, steaming through coppices and around koppies topped by massive yellow/brown and red streaked sandstone cliffs. Saturday 24th September 2016 is Heritage Day, and Sandstone Special Steam Events will be open to the public that day.

There have been new faces spotted at Amohela ho Spitskop Country Retreat, and it appears that a family of Meerkat ( Suricate) have moved into the main bedroom of Guinea Fowl Cottage.This superb self catering cottage has two bedrooms en suite, a huge open fire in the comfortable lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, safe parking behind the cottage, big cosy duvets on the beds, weber braai on the covered deck, views to forever. All the cottages are secluded and private, with porcupine rooting around behind the cottages at night and eagle owl hoot-hooting to each other. Download our bird checklist from our website, bring binoculars and hiking boots and book your spot here at Amohela ho Spitskop Country Retreat & Conservancy for the long weekend in September, with Saturday booked for Sandstone. What a stunning weekend awaits.