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» Southern Africa » South Africa » Provinces » Free state

Free State Travel guide

Tourist Information - Accommodation - Map - Climate

» Map
» Demography
» Geography
» Climate
» Getting around
» Towns & City
» Attractions
» Accommodation
» Additional Information



Free State Province was created in 1994, before that date, it bore the name of the Orange Free State Province and the FSO.

It has an area of 129 825km² and its capital Bloemfontein.

The main economy of the province's agriculture, mining and tourism.




Capital : Bloemfontein
Main cities : Welkom, Bethlehem, Parys, Kroonstad, Winburg
Major Attractions : Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, Soetdoring Nature Reserve, Drakensberg
Area : 129 825 km2
Population : 2,824,500 inhabitants
Density : 21.4 inhabitants/km2
Religions : -
Languages : Afrikaans, Sotho, Xhosa, Tswana, Zulu
GDP : -
Economic sectors : Agriculture, Mining, Tourism


I. Free State map

Free State province
Map of Free State


II. Démography

The Free State is divided into five districts divided into 20 local municipalities.

On the most common languages spoken are Sotho (64.4%), Afrikaans (11.9%), followed by Xhosa, Tswana and the Zulu.

With 21 inhabitants/km² and a total population of nearly 6,276,000 inhabitants, the Free State is to the Northern Cape which the lowest density of South Africa.

III. géography

The Free State to borders with:

- The KwaZulu-Natal in the east
- The Eastern Cape south
- The Northern Cape west
- The province of North-West to North West
- The Gauteng north
- The Mpumalanga northeast
- The Lesotho to South

With vast plains, the Free State is known as the breadbasket of South Africa.
Almost the entire province is located at an altitude of over 100 meters above sea level
The Drakensberg and Maluti Mountains is situated at over 2000 meters, and the top of the Free State rises to 3291 m.

IV. climate

The climate of The Free State has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.

On the hills in the eastern province, snowfalls are frequent, and in the west summers are extremely hot.

Most precipitation falls in summer thunderstorms form of brief

Bloemfontein to hot, humid summers and cold winters and dry, often accompanied by severe frost.

V. Getting around in Free State

Care Hire in the Free State:

- Agencies rental car Welkom
- Agencies car rental in Bloemfontein
- Agencies rental car of Bethlehem
- Agencies rental car Harrismith


Plane tickets:

The Free State Province has a large airport for domestic flights and International, that of Bloemfontein.

Flights to Bloembonfein

VI. Cities of Free State

- Bloemfontein : Capital of the Free State and judicial capital of South Africa.

- Bethlehem : City of 12,000 Inhabitants, famous for the cultivation of wheat.

- Clarens: Small town of 3600 inhabitants nestled in the Maluti mountains on the scenic Highland 17 km from National Park Golden Gate Highlands.

- Ficksburg: City of average size of 8500 inhabitants, is located Fickburg the border with Lesotho, it is situated at 1750 meters at the foot of the Mountain Imperani.

- Harrismith : Town of 35,000 inhabitants.

- Parys: City of 11,000 inhabitants situated 5km from the famous site of Vredefort Dome.

- Welkom City of 192,000 inhabitants, known for its mining.

VII. What to see and what to do in Free State

Top 15 of the most popular natural attractions in the Free State:

Golden Gate National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

This National Park near the border with Lesotho, was founded in 1963, covers an area of 343km², the park is known for its sandstone cliffs and the caves dressed San rock paintings.
Golden Gate Highlands National Park is also famous for its fauna and flora, the park is also a place for reintroduction of the "Big Five".

Vredefort Dome

Vredefort Dome

Vredefort Dome, with its 300km of diamiètre is the largest crater in the world. World Heritage of UNESCO, Vredefort Dome near Parys is situated in the Nort-eastern Free State Province and 120 km southwest of Johannesburg .
Tel: 018 299 5371 - E-mail: helpdesk@vredefortdome.org


Gariep Dam Nature Reserve

Gariep Dam Nature Reserve

The reserve is situated between Colesberg Colesberg and Bloemfontein, it is an ideal base for the weekend or for a stopover if you go to Cape Town from Johannesburg.
Nature of the subject Gariep Dam spans 36,487 hectares, located on the Orange river, this reserve is ideal for aquatic attractions for wildlife watching.

Tussen Die Riviere Nature Reserve

Tussen Die Riviere Nature Reserve

Tussen Die Riviere Nature Reserve is located at the confluence of the Caledon River and Orange river.
It is an ideal place for hikers and a game reserve of 22 000 hectares free.
You can meet Springbok , hartebeest, Wildebeest , Zebra and even the spectacular White Rhinoceros.

Free State National Botanical Garden

Free State National Botanical Garden

This botanical garden is located on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, an area of 70 hectares, its fauna and flora are exeptionnelles. The Free State National Botanical Garden hosts nearly 400 different species of plants and trees, about 125 species of birds and 50 species of mammals.
The ideal time to visit this garden is between November and March, but the garden is open all year round between 8:00 and 18:00. A small entrance fee is required to visitors.

Sterkfontein Dam Reserve

Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve

Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is a reserve of 18 000 hectares, camping and hiking trails are built around the artificial lake.

Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve

Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve

Moolmanshoek Private Reserve is located in the mountains between Ficksburg and Rosendal Witteberg in the eastern Free State. The accommodation prices vary between R665 and R900 include breakfast and dinner. You can practice the game drives, Safaris at night, hiking, fishing, abseiling, horse riding, mountain biking, the tree climbing, etc..

Franklin Nature Reserve

Franklin Nature Reserve

Franklin Nature Reserve is a nature reserve of 250 hectares located in the heart of Bloemfontein. You can observe many birds but Wildebeest or Giraffe , with Hong Kong, Franklin Nature Reserve is the only urban wildlife reserve in the world.
Tel: +27 (0) 51 412 7016

Willem Pretorius Game Reserve

Willem Pretorius Game Reserve

Willem Pretorius Game Reserve covers 12,000 hectares and is located in the heart of the Free State Province. Between plain and hilly rocky crests, the observation of game and birds are not the only attraction of the reserve. A ruined village dating from prehistoric times there.

Maluti Mountains

The Maluti Mountains

Maluti Mountains is a mountain part of the Drakensberg.
It is located in Lesotho but returned to the interior of the Free State approximately 100km.
Of up to 3482 meters, the scenery is magnificent, the area also offers more than 600 rock art sites San .

Caledon Nature Reserve

Caledon Nature Reserve

Caledon Nature Reserve is on the road 701 to about 120 km south of Bloemfontein.
Extending over 2300 hectares, the reserve offers the possibility to do some fishing, observe the flora and fauna.
The bush camp in the reserve are available, but you will not find any luxury.
Soetdoring Dam Nature Reserve

Soetdoring Dam Nature Reserve

Soetdoring Dam Nature Reserve is located on Route 700 45 km from Bloemfontein and extends over 7500 hectares. The dam provides the opportunity to observe Elk, Springboks, Zebras, Wildebeest, Kudu , Impala but also wild dogs and Lions in a separate pen.
Mount Everest Game Reserve

Mount Everest Game Reserve

Located 20km north of Harrismith, this private reserve is home to species such as the rhinoceros, Zebra , Cobe ...
It is also an ideal place for lovers of hiking and climbing.
Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve

Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve

Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve is situated close to the N1, this is a nice place to spend the weekend.
The dam is famous for fishing, sailing, bird watching and hiking.
Maria Moroka Game Reserve

Maria Moroka Game Reserve

Maria Moroka Game Reserve is located 70 km east of Bloemfontein, close to the luxurious Black Mountain Leisure & Conference Hotel.
The park lies at the foot of the mountain of Thaba Nchu, and offers the possibility of many walks or game drive.
Tennis, mini-golf, shows and cabaret are also available.


VIII. Where to stay in Free State

Here is a list of hotels and lodges where you can stay in Free State province :

There are many hotels or lodges in the Free State Province, we have classified the accommodations by city.

- Bethlehem Hotel
- Bloemfontein Hotel : Capital of Free State
- Clarens Hotel
- Ficksburg Hotel
- Harrismith Hotel
- Parys Hotel

IX. Additional Information






Source : 2012

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