Clocolan, officially renamed Hlohlolwane, is a small farming town in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region of the Free State province of South Africa.
Overview
| Country: | South Africa |
| Province: | Free State |
| District: | Thabo Mofutsanyana |
| Municipality: | Setsoto |
| Established: | 1906 |
| Total Area: | 15.8 km² (6.1 sq mi) |
| Population: | 1,349 (2011) |
| Population Density: | 85.4/km² (221/sq mi) |
| Time Zone: | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal Code (street): | 9735 |
| PO Box: | 9735 |
| Area Code: | 051 |
About Clocolan
Clocolan is located along the R708 Regional Route and R26 Provincial Route, approximately 36 km south-west of Ficksburg, 57 km north-east of Maseru in Lesotho, and 169 km north-east of Bloemfontein (the Provincial Capital).
Clocolan is the end point of the R703 Regional Route which runs in from Excelsior.
The town is situated along the Maloti route main road, 20 km from the Caledon River, alongside the Lesotho border.
Besides cherry orchards, farming in the area predominantly consists of asparagus, wheat, maize, potatoes, sheep and cattle.
Clocolan has one industrial area, situated in the eastern side of the town close to the railway line.
The town is also strategically located for trade with Lesotho and along the main railway route from the Cape and Southern Free State to KwaZulu-Natal.
Clocolan/Hlohlolwane is easily accessible and lies adjacent to one of the main routes between the mines of the Goldfields and Lesotho. It is also the main north-south route through the Eastern Free State.
The name Hlohlolwane is derived from the Hlohlolwane Mountain which stands 1,820 km above sea level. Hlohlolwane means “stand-up-and-fight” which refers to an altercation between the Koena tribe and Baphuthing over a maize harvest.
The town was established in 1906 on the farms of Herold and Reinzi. The town grew out of the need for churches, schools, and business services for the surrounding farming community. It obtained municipal status on 18 July 1910.
The eastern Free State cherry industry originated in the Clocolan district where the first trees were planted by Henry Pickstone in 1904 on the farm Platkop.
Attractions
Clocolan has activities and sights to excite the history, nature and art enthusiasts.
Below are some of attractions in the area.
- San Artwork
- Deemster Asparagus Factory
- Lethoteng Weavers (Local crafts factory)
- Evening Star (Several hiking trails)
- Makoadi Rabbit Farm
- Little Gallery
