Inexpensive Travel in the Free State – Always Present Windmill at the Agricultural Center
The best time to visit this part of South Africa is in the months of April and May.
This South African province is famous for its boerekos (traditional farm-style Afrikaner cuisine) and its decidedly slower lifestyle.
Free Sate 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 exhibit a mixture of cultures. You will find that the most valued San (Bushman) rock art is found in the Free State. Free State 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 freshwater fishermen.
Beginning in Harrismith and ending in Zastron, the route is particularly notable for 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 scenery of grassy meadows with deep blue African skies.
The Free State is known locally as our ‘bread basket’, this part of South Africa is farmed by more than 30,000 farms to produce more than 70% of South Africa’s cereal consumption. It is also home to the most productive gold and diamond mines in the world.
The Free State’s climate in the summer rainy 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 natural parks, nature reserves, game reserves and game farms. Activities include bird watching and games, trophy and biltong hunting, hiking, horseback riding, biking, 4×4 off-road driving, camping, and climbing. North of Winburg, the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve is the main provincial reserve in the Free State, offering an abundance of wildlife, excellent fishing conditions, and a wide range of sports facilities. Kroonstad has everything you need for a relaxing getaway, including a great vacation spot. 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 Zoo Gardens
National Museum
Loch Logan Boardwalk
Rustfontein Dam and Nature Reserve
Thaba ‘Nchu Sun
King’s Park and Prince’s Rose Garden
Transgariep
Gariep Dam
Jagersfontein Open Mine Museum and Koffiefontein Open Mine Museum
The ‘eye’ of Zastron
Mayaputi natural reserve
Goldfields
Winburg Voortrekker Monument
Welkom Gold Museum
Salt mines
Visits to underground mines
Willem Pretorius Game Reserve
Phakisa Racecourse
Northern free state
Vredefort Dome – The World’s Largest Meteorite Impact Site
Viljoenskroon Tractor Museum
Frankfort 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
Motheo
Phone: 051 523 3888
Fax: 051 523 3887
Day 2: Fauresmith
Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve
Transgariep
Phone: 051 722 1441
Fax: 051 723 0134
Day 3: Ventersburg
Africas Best Aldam Resort
Goldfields
Phone: 086 183 6237
Fax: 057 652 0014
Day 4 and 5: Parys
Dimalachite Nature Resort and River Lodge
Northern free state
Phone: 056 818 1860
Fax: 056 818 1854
Days 6 and 7: Clarens
Golden Gate Highland National Park
Eastern Free State
Phone: 058 255 0012
Fax: 058 255 0901
Distances in km from Bloemfontein:
Aliwal North 207 km
Bethlehem 238 km
Clarens 298 km
Harrismith 339 km
Kimberley 175 km
Kroonstad 211 km
Sasolburg 344 km
Welkom 154 km
We invite you to visit us.