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 farmhouse-style Afrikaner cuisine) and 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, at about 129,480 km2 of land. All the towns show a mixture of cultures. You will find that the most valuable San (Bushman) rock art is 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 top attractions, is a magnet for coarse fishermen.

Beginning in Harrismith and ending in Zastron, the route is particularly notable for the Golden Gate National Park, beautiful mountain scenery, and charming rural towns. In the southwest, 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 presents the classic scene of veld, grassy meadows with deep blue African skies.

The Free State is known, locally, as our ‘breadbasket’, this part of South Africa is cultivated 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 Free State climate 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 game watching, trophy and biltong hunting, hiking, horse riding, biking, 4WD driving, camping and 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 main provincial reserve in the Free State 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 resort. Loch Athlone, one of Bethlehem’s top 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 Opencast Mine Museum and Koffiefontein Opencast Mine 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

mottle

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

211km

Sasolburg 344 km

154 km

We invite you to a visit.