The best time to visit this part of South Africa is in the months of April and May.
This province of South Africa is famous for its `boerekos (traditional Afrikaner farm-style cuisine) and its decidedly slower lifestyle.
The Free State Province is the third largest province in South Africa, famous for its warm South African hospitality. It has the second lowest population density, on some 129,480 km2 of land. All towns show a mixture of cultures. You will find the most valuable San (Bushman) rock art to be found in the Free State. The Free State of South Africa offers you open plains between the Vaal and Orange rivers.
Bloemfontein is the ideal place to start a tour of the Free State. North of Winburg, the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve is a must-see, offering an abundance of wildlife, excellent fishing conditions, and a wide range of sporting facilities.
Loch Athlone, one of Bethlehem’s main attractions, is a magnet for freshwater fishermen.
Beginning in Harrismith and ending in Zastron, the route is particularly notable for Golden Gate National Park, beautiful mountain scenery, and charming country towns. In the south west, the Gariep Dam complex offers a wide range of leisure activities including water sports, tennis, bowling, horse riding, golf and 13 nature reserves.
This province features the classic veld scene, grassy prairies with deep blue African skies.
The Free State is known, locally, as our ‘bread basket’, this part of South Africa is farmed by over 30,000 farms to produce over 70% of South Africa’s grain consumption. It is also home to the most productive gold and diamond mines in the world.
The climate of the Free State in the summer rains region is warm but can be relatively cold during the winter months.
This province has an extensive system of parks and reserves, including a national park (Golden Gate) and more than 80 provincial, municipal and privately owned national parks, nature reserves, game reserves and game farms. Activities include bird and animal watching, trophy and biltong hunting, hiking, horseback riding, biking, 4×4 off-road driving, camping, and rock climbing. With its wealth of historical and cultural attractions and excellent facilities, Bloemfontein is the ideal place to start a tour of the Free State. North of Winburg, the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve is the Free State’s main provincial reserve and offers an abundance of wildlife, excellent fishing conditions and a wide range of sporting facilities. Kroonstad has everything you need for a relaxing break, including a great holiday complex. Loch Athlone, one of Bethlehem’s main attractions, is a magnet for fishermen and those who enjoy boating. No visit to the Free State is complete without following the famous Highland Route.
Attractions:
Motheo (Central Bloemfontein)
Botanical gardens and zoological gardens
National Museum
Loch Logan Boardwalk
Rustfontein Dam and Nature Reserve
Sun of Thaba ‘Nchu
King’s Park and Prince’s Rose Garden
transgariep
Gariep Dam
Jagersfontein Open Pit Mining Museum and Koffiefontein Open Pit Mining Museum
The ‘Eye’ of Zastron
Mayaputi Nature Reserve
gold deposits
Winburg Voortrekker Monument
Welkom Gold Museum
Salinas Mining
underground mine towers
Willem Pretorius Game Reserve
Phakisa Racecourse
Northern Free State
Vredefort Dome – the largest meteorite impact site in the world
Viljoenskroon Tractor Museum
Frankfurt Sandstone NG Church
Eastern Free State
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Titanic rock in Clarens
Ficksburg Cherry Festival
bushman rock art
Basuto Cultural Village in Qwa-Qwa
bushman rock art
Seekoeivlei Wetlands in Memel
Suggested travel route
Day 1: Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein Reyneke Park
mottling
Telephone: 051 523 3888
Fax: 051 523 3887
Day 2: Fauresmith
Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve
transgariep
Telephone: 051 722 1441
Fax: 051 723 0134
Day 3: Ventersburg
Africa’s Best Aldam Resort
gold deposits
Telephone: 086 183 6237
Fax: 057 652 0014
Day 4 and 5: Paris
Dimalachite Nature Resort and River Lodge
Northern Free State
Telephone: 056 818 1860
Fax: 056 818 1854
Day 6 and 7: Clarens
Golden Gate Highland National Park
Eastern Free State
Telephone: 058 255 0012
Fax: 058 255 0901
Distances in km from Bloemfontein:
207km
Bethlehem 238 km
298 km
339km
kimberly 175km
211 km
Sasolburg 344 km
154 km
We invite you to a visit.