List of Activities in Free State
Free State Info
The Free State, once viewed as that expanse to drive through on your journey to anywhere else, flat, nothing to see, one stop to fill the tank, then on your way. Look again. The Free State is now taking its rightful place as a holiday destination for visitors, both from within South Africa and increasingly, from abroad.
Lying in the centre of the country, access may be gained by an extensive network of roads, railway lines and an airport at Bloemfontein linked to all major airports in South Africa. Hotel, resort, and guesthouse accommodation is plentiful and ranges from luxurious through to the simplest and most basic of camp sites.
The Free State is divided into five sub-regions, each with its own special characteristics. Motheo, meaning ‘Foundation’, lies at the heart and Bloemfontein, capital of the Free State, is the main city. Also known as the ‘City of Roses’, Bloemfontein has many attractions. The Franklin Game Reserve, with antelope, zebra and giraffe, is situated on Naval Hill, from where a panoramic view of the city may be had. Loch Logan Waterfront and Zoo Gardens, Oliewenhuis Art Gallery, the Botanical Gardens, museums, a theatre and many historical sites cater for a choice in interests and entertainment.
Experience the pulse of the people on a trip to Botshabelo and Manguang Townships through the beat of African jazz. Taste traditional home-brewed beer and see, in the arts and crafts, the work of skilful hands.
For seekers of adventure or just to experience nature in the wild, the Caledon and Rustfontein Dam Nature Reserves, Philip Sanders Resort and Maria Moroka National Park are among many offering watersports, canoeing, angling, game- and bird-viewing, hiking and 4x4 trails. Bushman rock art, dinosaur remains and archaeological sites are scattered throughout the region.
Northern Free State, in close proximity to Gauteng and Johannesburg International Airport, is perfect for the weekend getaway. The Vaal River forms the northern border, and with the Vaal Dam, is one of the main features of the area. Many excellent resorts line the banks and make this a popular venue for angling, wind-surfing, water-skiing, paragliding and river-rafting. Bird and animal life abounds in game and nature reserves, or one may visit a game farm where controlled hunting has become available.
The flat plains of this region were thrown into turmoil when a giant meteor struck the earth some 2000 million years ago, forcing the earth into deep gorges and ridges. The Dome, known as the Vredefort Structure, has numerous streams winding through the gorges and there are excellent opportunities for fly-fishing, while hiking and mountain-biking provide recreation for the more active.
From Sasolburg, chemical giant and hub of industry, to the peaceful rural areas, Northern Free State has a wealth of historical, cultural and leisure pursuits to offer.
The district of Thabo Mafutsanyana lying to the east is the most scenic region of the Free State. On the edge of the Drakensberg and Maluti Mountains, weather-sculptured sandstone cliffs dominate the landscape. Golden Gate Resort and National Park, where shapes and colours, light and shadow reveal nature at its most magnificent, is surely a national treasure and inspiration to the many artists who have made their home in nearby Clarens.
Seekoeivlei, a vast wetlands, named for the hippos recently re-introduced to the area, is a haven for bird-watchers, as many as 350 species having been recorded. Small carnivores, serval, African wild cat and white-tailed mongoose inhabit the area, thriving on birds and rodents nesting in the marshes.
The eastern Free State has a diversity of activities: game- and bird-viewing, fly-fishing, hiking and pony-trekking, abseiling, mountain-biking and 4x4 trails to tempt the visitor. Art and crafts, historic and cultural sites abound, while the cherry festival at Ficksburg, a cheese factory and winemaking add further interest.
Formally known as Goldfields, Lejweleputswa is the treasure chest of the Free State, and some of the richest gold deposits in the world are to be found here. The mines, including St Helena where gold was first discovered, are the main source of wealth to the province. Welkom, the principal town, was designed before any building started and brings residential, industrial and mining areas into accord with one another. Underground mine tours and the gold museums are very popular attractions and well worth a visit.
Extensive plains and rich soil make farming the other important occupation
of the region and fields of sunflowers are a familiar sight and enhance
the concept of gold. Bothaville plays host to the Nampo harvest farm
and festival, the world’s second largest private agricultural
show.
Encompassing Allemanskraal Dam on the Sand River, Willem Pretorius Nature
Reserve and Resort is home to two of the big five, rhino and buffalo
that roam freely throughout the reserve. On the northern side, hills,
covered in huge white stinkwood, karee trees and thick vegetation are
inhabited by baboons, kudu, mountain reedbuck and duiker. Herds of antelope,
black wildebeest, red hartebeest and zebra thrive on the southern shore,
grazing on the open grasslands. Game-viewing and bird-watching, angling,
windsurfing, waterskiing and paragliding are popular pursuits with sundowner
cruises on the dam high on the list of favourites.
Southernmost of the regions is Xhariep. Fed by the Orange and Caledon
Rivers, the Gariep Dam is set among koppies and rocky outcrops and the
dry open plains of the encroaching Karoo. Fish farming is carried out
and educational tours of the hatchery and dam wall may be taken, or
enjoy the water sports, game- and bird-viewing and sundowner cruises
on the dam.
Moving further afield, one may go on a sightseeing tour of the Landzicht
wine cellar at Jacobsdaal and the Open Mine museum and mining hole in
Jagersfontein, which can be compared with the Big Hole in Kimberley.
History, geography, diverse cultures and the industry of men and women have created in the Free State a variety of recreational activities and pursuits as good as any in the country. We haven’t got the ocean. Do we need it?
Free Sate - The Place to Visit
The Free State, lying at the heart of South Africa, is made up of five sub-regions, Motheo at the centre, Fezile Dabi in the north, Thabo Mafutsanyana to the east, Lejweleputswa, formerly Goldfields, west and Xhariep to the south.Lying between the Vaal and Orange Rivers with their dams and tributaries, water is an important asset to the province and has been richly exploited in the creation of wildlife reserves and holiday and pleasure resorts. A large variety of species and habitat make game- and bird-watching an enjoyable pastime for visitors. Recreation in the form of water sports, including sailing, water-skiing, paragliding, wind-surfing and river-rafting can be found in many of the resorts. Anglers and fly fishermen are also catered for with a wide choice of rivers and streams in which to wet their lines.
The landscape in the Free State ranges from flat plains stretching as far as the eye can see, koppies and rocky outcrops, towering sandstone cliffs and weather-sculptured towers of the eastern region and the marshes of the Seekoeivlei wetlands. For the more adventurous, pursuits such as hiking, abseiling, mountain-biking, quad-biking and 4x4 trails are available. Some farmers have moved from commercial to game farming, re-establishing herds of plains game and permitting controlled hunting.
The cities and towns within the Free State have a wealth of interests to offer. In Bloemfontein, the capital, Loch Logan Waterfront, the zoo and botanical gardens and museums are just a few of the attractions. Go down a mine in Welkom, see how wine is produced at the Landzicht wine cellar at Jacobsdal or watch cheese being made in the traditional way at Ceylonia. Arts, culture, history, the land and the people make the Free State the place to visit.
