Holiday homes and weekend cottages are in great demand and have resulted in stock shortages, says Barbara Green, owner of local estate agency Homenet Clarens Properties.

Development land in the village is also in short supply and any released for development is quickly snapped up, she notes. "The Ridge, a new development of 36 stands just outside the village, was recently proclaimed but only three stands are still available, at prices of around R350 000 each.

"Farmers with river frontage or bass dams are offering fishermen the opportunity to buy into syndicates, but prices are also rising sharply.

"Weekend cottages in the village proper or on the outskirts of Clarens are now easily commanding prices of more than R1-million. The cheapest properties currently on my books are a bed-sitter for R650 000 and a two-bedroom cottage for R775 000. It is a sharp contrast to the days when I arrived here 15 years ago and you could take your pick of vacant stands for about R7000 each.”

Green says that besides being a flyfishing destination, Clarens is also popular among nature enthusiasts and artists because of its spectacular mountain setting. "The little village is home to no less than 20 art galleries, which find ready patronage from tourists.

"Other attractions include nature trails and hikes, free bass fishing in the town dam, adventure sports, and, of course, the spectacular snowscapes in winter. An 18-hole golf course outside the village is being planned, while the planned ski resort in Lesotho and cable car to the top of Mont-aux-Sources at Witsieshoek will be a mere hour’s drive away."