Location: South Africa » Free State » Eastern Free State » Maloti Route » Caledonspoort » BethlehemAvondzon Holiday EstateAvondzon Holiday Estate Self catering accommodation near Bethlehem Free StateDescriptionAvondzon is a self catering holiday estate of 266 ha in the eastern Free State of South Africa It is situated halfway between Bethlehem and Fouriesburg, almost 6 km from the village of Slabberts, which is situated at the R26 road, at a distance of about 300 km south of Johannesburg.
The estate is particularly ideal for nature lovers who will admire its tranquility, birds and beautiful scenery.
The altitude of about 1800 m of this region guarantees a mild subtropical climate for most of the year.
About one third of this farm is occupied by a beautiful mountain range. Most of the land is still in use as farmland for wheat and corn, as well as grazing land for cattle.
The nearest national park is the Golden Gate park at a distance of about 65 km. The estate consist of four guesthouses : the main house (displayed at the home page) cottage, flat and chalet.
There are also two barns, a few camp sites and rock caves with ancient bushmen paintings.
All guesthouses have fully equipped kitchens with electrical stoves, refrigerators, crockery etc.
Bathrooms have at least a shower and toilet and some a bath as well .
Bedrooms have two single or one double bed. Bed sheets, blankets and towels are provided.
At the main house there is a satellite TV (DSTV) available from November - April. In the main house is a fireplace and small electrical fan heaters are provided for chilly winter nights.
On top of the mountain there is an antenna for cell telephone communications, so the reception is perfect.
Water is supplied from private wells and is of excellent quality. The main house, build in 1924, has two bedrooms for guests downstairs, with two single beds each. They share the bathroom with bath, washbasin, shower and toilet.
The master bedroom, with shower and toilet, is upstairs and used by ourselves.
There is a dining kitchen and a second kitchen equipped with an electrical stove, oven and a refrigerator with freezer compartment for general use, like the sitting room and a separate television room with a satellite tv (DSTV) with over fifty worldwide channels (only from November - May). In the patio between the house and the flat is a barbeque for use by all guests. The cottage, with its thatched roof, is situated at a short distance from the main house. It has a comfortable and spacious sitting/dining room, a bathroom with shower, bath, washbasin and toilet.There is one bedroom below with two single beds and one upstairs with a double bed. The kitchen is equipped with a four plate electrical stove and a refrigerator with freezer compartment. Outside there is a nice terrace in front, where you can enjoy your breakfast in the morning sun and a good glass of South African wine in the evening. Barbeque facilities are between the main house and the flat. The flat is situated right behind the main house. It consists of a sitting room with an open kitchen, that is fitted with a four plate electrical stove and a refrigerator.
The kitchen and sitting room are separated by a bar. The bedroom has a double bed. Between the bedroom and the kitchen is the bathroom with toilet, washbasin and bath with shower. Outside the sitting room is a terrace. Between the flat and main house is the common barbeque area. The chalet is situated about one hundred meters behind the main house, halfway up the slope of the mountain, nearby the steep cliff.
It offers maximum privacy and from its terrace you may observe some animals, like several species of birds, rock dassies and an occasional porcupine, best during early morning and evening hours.
It is a one room apartment, that was built between two huge boulders, which serve as walls.
There are two single beds and a kitchen and dining corner.
The separate bathroom contains a shower, a toilet and a washing basin.
The kitchen is equipped with a two plate electrical cooker and a refrigerator.
From the barbeque area you have a very nice view over the valley.   
AttractionsThe rock paintings at Avondzon, like some other places in the region, were painted by the bushmen, sometimes called San people, hundreds of years ago. Many thin people of various sizes, wearing mostly black cloaks, together with animals, have been depicted in mainly red colors, in the shallow cave at the foot of the cliff.
The reason, why so many pictures have been made in just this cave on the estate, is not clear. Probably the cave was a sacred place and the paintings display religious rituals, important occasions or serve as a protection against evil spirits. Only in a few other places at Avondzon some small rock paintings have been found as well.
The presence of the so called 'rain animals' as eland and hippopotamus like animals, one of which is even held by the tail by one of the figures, suggests the work of medicine men or shamans as rainmakers in this dry area of the country.
In the center of the scene, a number of people are dancing with their arms thrust towards the sky and their knees bent. These attitudes are usually associated with the trance dance.
Some others are crouching on the floor with their arms stretched backwards. More information about the rock paintings in South Africa are found in the books:
"When animals were people" by H.C. Woodhouse (1984)
"Images of power" by D. Lewis-Williams and T. Dowson (1989)   
DirectionsFrom Johannesburg you take the N3 toll road towards Durban. After about 120 km, take the right turn near Villiers in the direction of Frankfort on the R26 road via Reitz to Bethlehem. There you continue on the R26 towards Fouriesburg. After about 20 km, halfway between Bethlehem and Fouriesburg, take the right turn to Slabberts and take from there the gravel road in southern direction. Do not cross the railway line! After about 4 km you see the sign of Avondzon and the road to the estate at your left side. From there it takes another 2 km on that gravel road to reach the buildings.  
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Avondzon Holiday Estate
083 5358628