Sights in Free State
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National Women's Memorial
Commemorating the 26,000 women and children who died in British concentration camps during the 1899-1902 Anglo-Boer War, the National Women's Memorial is the creation of well-known South African sculptor Anton von Wouw. The sandstone obelisk depicts a bearded Afrikaner, setting off on his pony to fight the British, bidding a last farewell to his wife and baby, who are to perish in one of the camps. It's a powerful image and one still buried in the psyche of many Afrikaners.
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Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve
The small Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is in a beautiful area of the Drakensberg foothills, 23km south of Harrismith on the Oliviershoek Pass road into KwaZulu-Natal. Looking out over this expansive dam with its backdrop of rugged peaks feels like gazing across an inland sea. At one of the many viewpoints there’s a vulture ‘restaurant’, but there’s no set day or time for feeding. Sunset cruises on the dam’s lake are available.
Camping and rustic four-bed chalets are available.
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Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Right before the darkness erases the remaining flecks of colour from the sky, something magical happens in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The jagged sandstone outcroppings fronting the foothills of the wild, maroon-hued Maluti Mountains glow golden in the dying light; lemon yellow rays silhouette a lone kudu standing still in a sea of mint green grasses before the sky explodes in a fiery collision of purple and red.
The park might not boast any of the Big Five, but it does feature fantastic nightly sunsets. We suggest arriving about an hour before dusk (ask the locals when this happens as it changes throughout the year), this way you’ll have plenty of time to find t…
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Bloemfontein Zoo
Opened by the Prince of Wales – the future Edward VIII – in 1925, Kings Park is the city’s largest green open space and home to more than 4000 rose bushes. It’s a wonderfully colourful and deliciously fragrant place. Inside the park, you’ll find the Bloemfontein Zoo. Established in 1906, it is best known for its large primate collection. The entrance is on Henry St.
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Oliewenhuis Art Museum
One of South Africa’s most striking art galleries, the Oliewenhuis Art Museum is housed in an exquisite 1935 mansion. The gallery’s name comes from the wild olive trees growing in the beautiful gardens that surround it. It holds a collection of works by South African artists, including Thomas Baines. There’s also a strong contemporary collection.
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Manguang Township
The African National Congress (ANC) party was born in a shanty town 5km outside Bloemfontein in 1912. Today, you can experience life, and learn some important history, on a guided tour of Manguang Township, where South Africa’s most powerful political party was formed. Not surprisingly, Manguang, and other black townships around the Bloem area, played an integral role in the fight to end apartheid. Tours visit culturally important sights such as Mapikela House, now a national monument, where Thomas Mapikela, a founding father of the ANC, once resided.
If you are interested in township nightlife, visit after dark. Guided evening tours hit the township’s buzzing shebeens …
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Basotho Cultural Village
Within the Golden Gate Highlands National Park you’ll find the small Basotho Cultural Village. It’s essentially an open-air museum, peopled by actors depicting various aspects of traditional Sotho life. There’s a curio shop and an outdoor restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, serving a few Sotho dishes. Try the homemade ginger beer.
A two-hour guided hiking trail (R50 per person) explores medicinal and other plants, and a rock-art site. You can stay in two-person, self-catering rondavels (round huts; R475), but bring your own food.
Although this is a friendly place, with a lot of good information on traditional customs and culture, it is also essentially artificial…
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Waterfront
Yes, Bloemfontein has a Waterfront, modelled on Cape Town's. Although it's a bit tacky, Bloem's Waterfront is a lot more pleasant than the huge shopping malls that are popping up on the outskirts of so many South African cities. It's outside, set on a small body of water, and the atmosphere is relaxed - it's a great place for kids.
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Naval Hill
This was the site of the British naval-gun emplacements during the Anglo-Boer War. On the eastern side of the hill is a large white house that served as a landmark for British cavalry during the war.
There are good views from the top of the hill, which is also home to the Franklin Game Reserve. Walking is permitted, so get out of the car and go for an old-fashioned bush romp.
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Gariep Dam Nature Reserve
The Free State’s largest nature reserve is a combination of the 36,487-hectare Gariep Dam (which holds back a vast 6000 million cubic litres of water) on the Senqu (Orange) River and an 11,237-hectare wildlife sanctuary on its northern shore.
During February each year the world’s longest inland rubber-duck race takes place on the Gariep Dam. The event, which runs over a distance of 500km, is completed in one day. In the reserve you can choose from three chalets (from R300) or campsites (from R60). And there are more accommodation options in the town of Gariep Dam, near the dam wall at the reserve’s western edge. Forever Resorts Gariep-Aventura is well laid out and has l…
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Franklin Game Reserve
There are good views from the top of Naval hill, where you'll also home to the Franklin Game Reserve. Walking is permitted, so get out of the car and go for an old-fashioned bush romp.
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Anglo-Boer War Museum
The memorial is in front of the Anglo-Boer War Museum, which has some interesting displays, including photos from concentrations camps set up not only in South Africa, but also in Bermuda, India and Portugal.
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National Museum
A great re-creation of a 19th-century street, complete with sound effects, is the most interesting display at this museum. There is also a shop and a cafe here.
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Orchid House
Also in the neighbourhood, Orchid House is a glasshouse with a beautiful collection of flowers. The park outside is an ideal place to take the kids for a picnic.
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Kings Park
Opened by the Prince of Wales – the future Edward VIII – in 1925, Kings Park is the city’s largest green open space and home to more than 4000 rose bushes. It’s a wonderfully colourful and deliciously fragrant place. Inside the park, you’ll find the Bloemfontein Zoo. Established in 1906, it is best known for its large primate collection. The entrance is on Henry St.
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