Bloemfontein / Mangaung

Bloemfontein is gateway to the sunny veld, spacious prairie land and deep-blue African skies. “Must do” regional highlights include Golden Gate Highlands National Park for wildlife, hiking and Basotho Culture Village tours. Gariep Dam is the largest dam in South Africa  and the area is well known for its nature reserve and water sports. The Vredefort Dome is 55 miles wide is the largest and oldest meteorite strike on earth. There is also ski-ing, wine routes, bird & game watching, trophy hunting, hiking and horse-riding, biking, 4×4 off-road driving, abseiling and rock climbing. Free State’s proximity to Lesotho also makes it a good base for those wanting to visit the tiny African kingdom.

Its name means “Place of the Cheetah” and it is the capital of the Free State Province. It has an unusual claim to fame in that it is the only city in the world to have been built around a game reserve. The grazing herds of the Naval Hill Game Reserve are literally just seconds away from the city’s urban beat. Visitors can also relax by strolling in the beautiful rose and botanical gardens or several city parks.

Visitors to Bloemfontein will be following in the footsteps of early pioneers and settlers. Going back further still, the first inhabitants were the San people who left precious rock art that visitors can still see today.

It more modern times, the city is famous of Olympic runner, Zola Budd and J.R.R. Tolkein who wrote “Lord of the Rings”. Visitors can follow in his footsteps by taking a “Tolkein Tour”.

Tourists will discover a wealth of recreational, shopping and entertainment facilities, theatres, restaurants, pubs and jazz clubs. The city’s rich historical and architectural heritage is reflected in its many museums, art galleries and festivals.