The Cosmos Route in South Africa comes alive in late summer to autumn when the flowers after which it is named dance at the roadside. You could simply revel in oceans of cerise, pink and white, or you could visit one of the mines – a crucial part of South Africa's mineral wealth and history.

It is no coincidence that the roads lined with cosmos flowers lead to many memorials of the Anglo-Boer War. Historians believe that the seeds of the flowers, originally from Mexico, were brought in with bags of feed for English horses during the war and today they flower in luminous marshmallow shades of pink and white from late summer to late autumn. The British Royal Family, touring the region in 1947, loved the cosmos flowers.

The roadsides of the south-eastern Highveld come alive with them every year. The heart of the Cosmos Route in South Africa is Secunda, famous for the oil-from-coal Sasol Synfuels plant. Below Sasol is a network of five coal mines that form the largest underground mining complex in the world.

Not far away is the Kinross Gold Mine at Evander. This is the only place in the world where coal and gold are mined side by side. This rich mining land is lushly green in summer, and towering banks of purple clouds rise most afternoons before the inevitable dramatic thunderstorm.

Major roads traverse Cosmos country, but take some time to slip off them and enjoy the riches of this area: the riches beneath the ground, the richness growing from the fertile soil, and the rich autumn colours of the Cosmos Route.

Maybe it's the flat terrain, or the good weather, but the Cosmos Route in South Africa boasts no less than five highly-rated golf courses within a 40km radius. There is a Mississippi-styled casino at Secunda and nature reserves around Kinross, Bethal and Kriel which are stocked with small game. They're also a bird lover's paradise.

Anglers are spoilt for choice in this region with seven breathtaking dams. Yellowfish, Mudfish, Barbel, Largemouth Bass and Carp are prevalent in these dams, and outdoor enthusiasts will love the hiking opportunities in this region. Try the Quaggaspad Trail which is close to Balfour and offers beautiful views and access to 20 species of game.

Bethal boasts a ‘back in the day’ feel with its rich cultural heritage and interesting monuments. It is a lovely little town and a must to experience. An agricultural tour affords visitors the opportunity to visit the Rusticana Holstein Dairy Farm that can be found in Bethal. Here, an unbelievable feat is achieved: in 6 minutes, 26 cows are milked! Feast on delicious locally grown goodies and enjoy the serene nature of this beautiful area.

Hendrina is a typical farmer's town, where husband and wife teams run the local restaurant and pub in town, and visitors are treated like long-lost friends to local specialities, just like the Simply Delicious Restaurant on Church Street.
The Grootdraai Dam (the tenth largest dam in South Africa) is 10 kilometers outside of Standerton and is a one of its major attractions, bringing in revenue from visitors wishing to see the dam and enjoy the activities. Standerton also has a variety of sports facilities to keep sport lovers occupied, whilst the towns amenities provide day to day entertainment like malls and movie houses.

There are many clubs available to join or even just visit when you’re on holiday. These include the 9-hole Standerton Golf Club and there is also a Bass-Fishing club to keep the anglers happy, a boat club and even a Model Aeroplane club for model-plane enthusiasts.

Many of the guest farms in Standerton provide horse-riding, guided forest walks and many other enjoyable destinations that bring travellers closer to nature. Standerton is a surprisingly entertaining South African holiday destination. With activities catering to all ages, sexes and preferences, you’re assured of a fantastic holiday in Standerton.

The best time to visit is from late summer to late autumn, roughly February to April, which coincides with the kaleidoscope of colour of blooming pretty white and pink cosmos flowers.

Cosmos country has a varying climate and can experience summer temperatures in Kriel of 45°C dropping rapidly in the winter months to minus 20°C. This said the region has general summer temperatures of 25°C and anything from 5 to 16°C in winter when the nights are cold and frost regularly occurs.