Dry but not boring, South Africa’s Free State provides the ideal canvas for those who want to explore the Free State, literally and figuratively, with wide open spaces and cloudless blue skies.
Here, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy bird watching, game watching, trophy hunting, hiking, horseback riding, biking, 4×4 off-road driving, river rafting, fly fishing, camping, climbing, caving, or just relaxing at its more than 80 parks and reserves. like the scenic Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
History buffs have plenty of highlights to explore, and those with a geological interest will marvel at the meteorite impact site at Vredefort, the world’s oldest crater.
CLIMATE:
The Free State is warm in the summer (December-February) when most of the rain falls, but can be very cold in the winter (April-July) and severe frost can occur in much of the state. Snow usually occurs in the eastern mountains and sometimes in the rest of the region.
SHOPPING:
traditional clothes; woven baskets; silk dyeing; beadwork; ‘mampoer’ (fruit distilled alcohol); red meat, game and ‘biltong’ (dry meat); cherry or asparagus products; original art; Beautiful handcrafted items from Phuthaditjhaba; mohair rugs and sandstone products.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TOP TEN SHOOTS:
Golden Gate:
Highlands National Park In the Maluti Mountains, named after the golden sandstone cliffs; spectacular, including the view. majestic Brandwag rock and exhilarating climate; Overstaying is a popular option for both humans and animals in this mountainous habitat.
Bloemfontein:
The ‘City of Roses’, Bloemfontein, is of cultural and political significance, with sandstone architecture, important museums and monuments, and a busy calendar of events; Don’t miss the Franklin Game Reserve, only one in the world completely surrounded by a city; Macufe Festival in September; Loch Logan Beach; historic town jazz performances and the War Museum.
Parys and Vredefort Dome:
Named after Paris, Parys is located on the Vaal River in the Vredefort Dome, a crater caused by a massive meteorite that struck the earth about 250 million years ago; Don’t miss the Golf Island and other water activities in the middle of the Vaal in Parys, and in Vredefort adventure lovers can go hiking trails, see untouched San paintings and iron age settlement ruins, rock climbing and descending; The 200km Dome is best seen from the air.
Battlegrounds:
Many historical sites related to the Anglo-Boer War can be found in the Free State. Explore 13 battlefields, 8 military monuments, 2 war museums and 3 war and concentration camp cemeteries. Some of the main war battles in 1900 are: Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Sannaspos, Mostertshoek, Jammerbergdrift, Sand River, Biddulphsberg, Yeomanry Hill, Roodewal, Surrender Hill and Doornkraal.
Xhariep / Gariep:
‘Great River’ Meaning; A vast grassland fed by the 2000km Gariep Dam offers travelers views of endless clear blue skies, starry nights, and unpolluted air; A land of farms, parks and reserves ideal for hunters and eco-tourists.
Towns of Thabo Mofutsanyana:
Clarens is a picturesque town described as the “Jewel of the Free State,” where artists and art galleries abound, and photographers find the scenery magnetizing in the fall and spring; The mammal is fast becoming a birdwatching hotspot with over 350 species including many ‘special’ and 15 Red Data listed species, other attractions are the landscape and the spectacular Seekoeivlei Wetlands floodplain; Ficksburg is full of extraordinary adventure options, from the usual hiking, fishing and gaming activities to altitude scuba diving (2650m above sea level) and oxcart adventures!
Eastern Highlands:
Breathtaking scenery in the unspoiled region with snow-capped mountains, densely vegetated valleys and wild valleys; ideal for romantic hiding places, trout fishing, bird watching and hiking; Don’t miss the Bushmen pictures.
Vaal River:
South Africa’s inland waterscape, which offers unlimited water sports opportunities such as white water rafting, casual sailing, speedboats and water skiing; game farms, accommodation facilities, campsites and casinos; Experimentsville and Jim Fouche Resort near Oranjeville are highlights.
Lejweleputswa (Free State Gold Fields):
Take underground mining tours of some of the world’s deepest mines on the Goldfields Route; Visit Welkom, one of the few cities in the world to be completed before construction, where you can take a tour of the world’s deepest wine cellar, located 857m below ground at the St Helena Mine, and see the city’s Gold Museum. Phakisa Freeway, one of the top 5 motor racing circuits in the world; Virginia was home to the richest gold reefs in 1946 and is a nature enthusiast’s paradise.
Basotho Cultural Village, Qwa Qwa National Park:
The scenic Qwa Qwa National Park offers an authentic traditional African experience in the form of the Basotho Cultural Village; See cane and stick structures and mud huts, drink sorghum beer, watch weaving and get your fortune guessed by a local healer.
