About Ladybrand
Ladybrand is surrounded by the beautiful hills of the eastern Free State at the foot of the majestic Maluti Mountains in Lesotho was founded in 1867 and named after Lady Catharina Brand, the mother of President Brand , then president of the Orange Free State Colony. Ladybrand, a frontier post was established specifically to defend the conquered territory from the "marauding" Basotho.
Today, it is a cosmopolitan town serving as a trade and business centre on the border of Lesotho as well as being the administrative centre of Mantsopa District Municipality which include the towns of Tweespruit, Excelsior, Thaba Phatswa, and Hobhouse. Many of the inhabitants commute daily to work in Maseru which is 18 kms away.
The area is traversed by the Maluti Route on the R26 from Kwazulu Natal via the Eastern Free State, up to the Eastern Cape highlands and the Lesotho Kingdom.
Ladybrand especially is an economically bustling town with high property prices and sometimes being popularly referred to as the "capital" of Lesotho.
History & Architecture
There are many charming sandstone houses and offices built in the 1800's and in the early years of the previous century. There has been a large increase in business in recent years and the increase in the number of new residential houses and complexes bear testimony to this.
Places to See & Things to Do
The inhabitants of the towns and villages of the region are friendly and have always welcomed visitors. Ladybrand is also close to Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho, and is the base from which tours into the beautiful "Mountain Kingdom" are taken.
The region surrounding Ladybrand is blessed with a strong and varied agricultural industry. Wheat, maize, sunflower and sorghum crops grow abundantly in season. Beef, mutton and game farming are also strongly represented here. Beef is of the finest in the country as is the mutton.
Maloti Route
The Maloti Drakensberg Route is an innovation to span the mountainous border between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho which rub shoulders with some of the most scenic parts of the Eastern Cape, Eastern Free State and Ukhahlamba Drakensberg. Site: www.malotiroute.co.za