Ladybrand

Ladybrand: Gateway the the Eastern Free State and Lesotho

Ladybrand was one of the towns established by the Voortrekkers to stabilize the "conquered territories" taken from the Basotho in the war of 1865. Later it was the British against the Boers during the Anglo-Boer war when in March 1900 the British occupied Ladybrand, but were defeated by a Boer Commando who lifted the siege within a matter of days. Today Ladybrand offers tourists spectacular mountain scenery and a base to visit the Golden Gate National Park and Eastern Highlands

Ladybrand has great charm, good accommodation and a great deal of interest in the area. Ladybrand has interesting museums, well-preserved sandstone buildings and is an ideal centre from which to explore hiking trails into the surrounding mountains. The fossilised remains of Diathrognatus, a prehistoric animal believed to be the link between reptiles and mammals, were found nearby and the district probably has the largest concentration of San rock art in the world.

Eating out in Ladybrand

• Imperio Robertos (behind Shoprite) is perhaps the best restaurant in town, fantastic steaks, pasta and pizza dishes, nice atmosphere and friendly owner (Roberto) make for a consistently pleasant dining experience.
• Cranberry Cottage is more of a guesthouse than restaurant - but the food is very good and the setting perfect for an intimate dinner. Need to book in advance as they start cooking the food before you arrive.
• De Vine (on the far side of the Church) is the new upstart in town, ambitious wine list and refreshingly different menu from most Free State eateries makes this a good option. Time will tell if it will outshine the competition given the high prices on the menu.
• Beef & Reef (opposite Spar) caters more for the Afrikaaner crowd - steak, fish and chips.
• Fish Cafe (opposite the Church) you can get better fish in Imperios or Beef & Reef but the prawn curry is pretty good.
• Spizzy Pizza (near the church) used to be a fantastic cozy little Italian place serving great pizzas. The pizzas are still good but the curiously stark grey interior is a little off-putting.

• As you can see Ladybrand is the best option for eating for those based in Maseru.