Visiting Bloemfontein South Africa

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Visiting Bloemfontein South Africa
By Mairead Foley

Bloemfontein was founded in 1846 and today has a population of around half a million people. It's often referred to as the ''Spring of Flowers'', and is located right in the heart of South Africa in the Free State Province. It's the 6th largest city in the country, and is situated on the N1 motorway between Cape Town and Johannesburg. The best way to explore the area is by car.

What to see and do in the Bloemfontein area

The best way for you to explore the Bloemfontein area is by car. You can pick up your car at the city airport - check out our car hire Bloemfontein Airport page. The airport is located about 10km to the east of Bloemfontein. The N1 and N6 national highways meet in Bloemfontein, making it easily reachable from any part of South Africa.

The Maloti Route

It's highly recommended that you take the Maloti Route from Bloemfontein, the longest signed tourist route in South Africa. Starting in Harrismith, it goes through the Free State to the Orange River, and crosses the Eastern Cape to the N2 highway on the wild coast. The tour incorporates a visit to Lesotho and there are also many scenic towns and villages as well as beautiful scenery along the route, chiefly Hobhouse, Ladybrand, Wepener, Vanstadensrus and Zastron along the R26.

The Maluti Mountain Range in the Kingdom of Lesotho beautifully maps the route as a whole and it covers cultural, artistic, historical experiences and stunning scenery. Your route starts in Ladybrand and this historical town can be reached by taking the N8 east from Bloemfontein. Ladybrand is approximately 138km from Bloemfontein.

Graaff-Reinet

Graaff-Reinet is the 4th oldest town in South Africa and is well worth a visit. The town is renowned for its architectural heritage and has more national monuments, apparently, than any other town in South Africa.

Once it was one of the primary centres of the Cape Colony as it was on the direct route to the minefields of the region. It's also well known for the nearby Valley of Desolation, which today forms part of the newly established Camdeboo National Park spanning about 15,000 hectares.

The Camdeboo National Park and Valley of Desolation, 14km outside the town offers hiking, wildlife (a wide variety of Antelope, Mountain Zebra, Buffalo) and great birdwatching near the dam. The views at the valley are spectacular, and well worth checking out.

To get to Graaff-Reinet from Bloemfontein take the N9 highway at Colesberg through Middleberg.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is located at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains on the North Eastern Free State. You may be interested to how the park got its name - well this is from the magnificent rays of gold cast by the golden sun on the sandstone cliffs of the park.

The park encompasses an area of almost 12,000 hectares and is home to a wide variety of animals chiefly; black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, springboks and zebras. Wild birds such as vultures and the bald iris live there on the sandstone cliffs. The summers are cool here with cold winters transforming the park into a winter wonderland. There are many activities to be enjoyed here, namely nature trails, game viewing and guided excursions.

To get here from Bloemfontein take the N5 to Bethlehem. Continue on the N5 towards Harrismith/Kestell, and then 7 km from Bethlehem, turn right towards Clarens. From Clarens take the R712 to Puthaditjaba. Travel 22kms to the Golden Gate National Park.

Clarens Village

The village of Clarens is situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains in close proximity to the Golden Gate National Park.

Gariep Dam Reserve

The Gariep Dam is the Free State's largest nature reserve and encompasses an area of about 37,000 hectacres. The dam is located on the Orange River between the Eastern Cape to the south and the Free State to the north and is ideally situated between Bloemfontein and Colesberg. Watersports is a popular activity here, including sailing, power boating, canoeing, angling and water skiing. The privately owned Aventura Midwaters Resort is recommended for a visit with the family, with extensive activities for children. A tour through the dam is a must.

Take the N1 road south from Bloemfontein to the Gariep Dam.

Willem Pretorius Reserve

The Willem Pretorius Game Reserve is located in the heart of the Free State with the Allemanskraal Dam making up the centre. It covers over 12,000 hectares. There's a great variety of game and bird species here as well as a huge array of animals including springboks, giraffes, zebras and black wildebeest.

Take the N1 north from Bloemfontein, the reserve is just off the main road and follow the signs.

Caledon Nature Reserve

The Caledon Nature Reserve is located 15km south of Wepener on the R701, and it covers an area of 2,300 hectares. The Caledon River flows through the reserve and the Welbedacht dam is located at the southern point. The main animals to be seen are black wildebeest, blesbok, zebra and springbok. You can also enjoy a spot of birdwatching, with over 200 species of bird housed here. Fishing is a popular pastime here and you can also indulge in some watersports such as canoeing, or, if you fancy stretching your legs, hiking!

The reserve is approximately 120 km southeast of Bloemfontein along the R701, between Wepener and Smithfield. Take the N8 from Bloemfontein and follow southeast on the R701.

Sandveld Nature Reserve

Sandveld Nature Reserve is along the Bloemhof/Hoopstad road, the R34. It lies approximately 200 km northwest of Bloemfontein. The reserve covers almost 40,000 hectares. Animals here include gemsbok, blue wildebeest, rhino, buffalo, and giraffes. Bird life and watching is a popular pastime there.

You can also camp at Sandveld, and there are modern holiday chalets located here for rental. Soft sandy beaches that fringe the area and the plentiful supply of fish make Sandveld a paradise for anglers.

Reference: Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.

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