The Free State is the geographic and agricultural centre of South Africa. Of all the provinces, this one presents the classic scene of the sunny veld, the high-lying, spacious grass-covered prairie land with deep-blue African skies, majestic cloud formations in summer and a skyline broken by the occasional hill.

This province is fast becoming a popular tourist destination, tourists being drawn by its warm South African hospitality, traditional Afrikaner farm-style cuisine and the slower-paced lifestyle. The Free State is fast becoming a hotspot for tourists intent on exploring small-town South Africa.

The Free State is cultivated by more than 30 000 farms, making it South Africa's local "bread basket", producing over 70% of the country's grain. Apart from being an agricultural force it is also proudly regarded as having the most productive gold and diamond mines in the world.

Overview

The Free State lies in the heart of South Africa, with the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho nestling in the hollow of its bean-like shape. Between the Vaal River, in the north, and the Orange River, in the south, this immense rolling prairie stretches as far as the eye can see. Formerly known as the Orange Free State, this province has had its share of battles – most importantly, perhaps, the Anglo Boer War. This was the last full-scale war to be fought on South African soil and was not only a turning point in the history of the modern wars of our time, but also the last of the gentlemen’s wars.

The Free State is the third-largest province in South Africa. However, it has the second-smallest population and the second-lowest population density, housing some 2,8 million people on about 129 480 km2 of land. Many of the towns display a mix of culture clearly evident in street names, public buildings, monuments and museums. Dressed sandstone buildings abound on the Eastern Highlands, while beautifully decorated Sotho houses dot the grasslands. Some of South Africa's most valued San (Bushman) rock art is found in the Free State.

Climate

This summer-rainfall region is warm and temperate in the summer but can be relatively cold during the winter months, especially towards the eastern mountainous regions where temperatures can drop as low as 9ºC. The western and southern areas are semi-desert.

GETTING TO KNOW The Free State

The southern Free State shares the true Karoo semi-desert and its barren landscapes, while the north is blessed by the liquid gold of the Vaal River. The western Free State traverses savannah and substantial mineral wealth, whilst the Eastern highlands offer a wealth of scenic splendour.

City Centre

The province’s capital, Bloemfontein, has a well-established institutional, educational and administrative infrastructure, and houses the Supreme Court of Appeal. The province has a well-known university and many other training institutions.

Eco-tourism

The Free State Province boasts an extensive system of parks and reserves, including one national park (Golden Gate) and more than 80 provincial, municipal, and privately owned nature parks, nature reserves, game reserves, and game farms. Activities include bird and game viewing, trophy and biltong hunting, hiking, horse-riding, biking, 4x4 off-road driving, camping and climbing.

Source: South Africa Tourism

Things to do and see in The Free State

• Clarens, the jewel of the Free State, is located in spectacular scenery.

• The Golden Gate Highlands National Park outside Clarens has beautiful sandstone scenery.

• The King's Park Rose Garden in Bloemfontein has more than 4000 rose bushes.

• Steam train enthusiasts can take a trip down memory lane, along the historic Bethlehem-Bloemfontein Railroad to destinations such as Maseru and Ladybrand. Excursions are relatively short, allowing passengers to enjoy the scenery and facilities along the route.

• The province contains many historic sites related to the Anglo-Boer War, including 13 battlefield sites, 8 military monuments, 2 war museums and 3 war and concentration camp cemeteries.

• The Free State has rich deposits of fossils, and visitors to Clarens area can go on fossil-hunting expeditions. You may be lucky to find dinosaur bones, dinosaur eggs or dinosaur teeth; you’ll almost certainly find the fossils of smaller creatures dating back to well over 200 millions years.

• Throughout the Maluti mountains, one can find caves and cracks where the San people took shelter in a not-quite-so-distant past. Countless examples of historic rock-art are to be seen at Spitskop (Brandfort district), Sterkstroom (between Rouxville and Aliwal North), Stowlands (near Christiana), Tandjesberg (close to Clarens and Golden Gate), Sterkstroom (between Rouxville and Aliwal North) and at Stowlands (near Christiana).

Source: Pocket Guide to South Africa - www.gov.za
For more things to do in the Free State visit South Africa Tourism