If beauty and tranquillity are what you are looking for, look no further than the Free State, with its majestic mountains, fertile valleys, fields of cosmos and sunflowers.
At its heart is the capital city of Bloemfontein, meaning spring of flowers. The name is never more apt than in the spring and summer when blooms of every colour can be seen here.
Not only is Bloemfontein the capital city of the Free State, it is also the judicial capital of the country. It offers up-market shopping centres, a wide variety of excellent restaurants and coffee shops and a host of nightlife opportunities. Bloemfontein has an extensive cultural and social events calendar, with annual highlights including the Macufe festival and the rose festival.
Botshabelo is an emerging tourism destination. Situated 45km from Bloemfontein, it is believed to be the biggest township in the province and the second-largest in South Africa after Soweto. Tourist attractions include arts and crafts, traditional weaving, silk painting and bead work.
Another tourism hub is Ladybrand. Nestling in the foothills of the magnificent Maluti mountains, this is the centre of the golden wheat and sunflower belt of the Free State. Visitors can take advantage of some great hikes into the beautiful sandstone surroundings and excellent visits to historical sites.
Then there’s Ficksburg, which was founded in 1867 and is an important trade link between Lesotho and South Africa. It is best known for its annual cherry festival, celebrating the fact that it is the largest cherry producing area in South Africa.
If it’s nature you’re after, the Golden Gate National Park is the ultimate destination. Deriving its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the park’s sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag rock, the park boasts plenty of wildlife.
In the north of the province lies Parys, so named because the Vaal river running through it reminded a land surveyor of Paris’s River Seine. Visitors to Parys can take in the Vredefort Dome, a meteorite-impact site recognised as the oldest crater in the world.
Also in the north is the Vaal dam. Completed in 1938, it is the main water supply for the former Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vaal Triangle and mining areas. The dam is the largest water-sport recreation centre in the Free State and boasts the biggest concentration of sailing boats in the country.
In the Lejweleputswa district lies the town of Welkom, which mushroomed into existence in 1947 after the discovery of gold on a farm called St Helena. Places of interest include the Flamingo pan, named for the flamingoes that inhabit this scenic recreation area; the Gold Museum, where a complete history of gold, its mining and production is displayed in the library; Phakisa Raceway, one of South Africa’s newest racetracks; and Theronia pan, a tranquil pan and bird sanctuary.
Virginia is a town in the heart of the Goldfields where the richest gold reefs in the world were discovered in 1946.
In the Xhariep district lies the Xhariep dam, which is part of the Orange River Project. At the dame there are guided tours through 13km of tunnel wall, fishing, river rafting and canoeing and annual international gliding championships.
The historic town of Philippolis is situated amid picturesque plains and koppies. The town boasts historic Karoo houses (Griqua style) and a historic Dutch Reformed Church. Also visit Adam Kok’s home, his kraal and his ”Kruithuis”.
Finally, there’s Smithfield. The town was founded in 1884 by Sir Harry Smith, governor of the Cape Colony. It only became a municipal area in 1948. Today it is an important commercial centre for wool and cattle farming.
The Basotho War Memorial is one of its attractions. Others are the birthplace of Christiaan de Wet on the farm Leeukop and bushman rock art. The first school in the Free State was established here in 1848 and is still standing.
For more information on tourism in the Free Sate, visit www.freestatetourism.gov.za.