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About
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the province of Free State of South Africa; and one of South Africa’s three national capitals. It is perched near the centre of South Africa, on the road between Cape Town in the Western Cape and Johannesburg. Despite being the 7th largest city in the country, it is known for its natural prettiness and warm hospitality.
The city is at the center of the Free State Province of South Africa and is known for its friendly and hospitable people. The city has grown as a major metropolitan city while retaining the amicability of a caring and quiet town. It is the economic, educational and medical hub of a vast inland area in South Africa.
It is known as the city of roses because of the presence of more than 4000 varieties of roses in different parks within the city. The city is known for it’s many picturesque gardens nurturing the largest collection of orchids on the planet and the overall greener landscape spread across the surrounding hills.
Within the city, sightseers will find an excellent art gallery, as well as museums with fascinating exhibits on the region’s cultural and natural history.
The city is also at a close proximity to many wildlife reserves making it the pit stop for many wildlife enthusiasts and adventurers.
History and Culture
Bloemfontein has numerous historical and cultural attractions that can be explored by visitors.
It was part of an independent Boer Republic, which was colonised by the British and was considered the heartland of the old South Africa.
The diplomatic importance of the city in the old South African era has resulted in it being the display center for many historically important artifacts and public figures. The city has many war memorials and museums where the visitors can walk in and absorb all the historical knowledge about South Africa.
The visitors can also admire the many majestic government buildings constructed during the previous era on the President Brand Street. It also houses many significant art galleries and a unique museum dedicated to the game of Rugby.
Things To Do in Bloemfontein
The Cheetah Experience
Cheetah experience is a not for profit organization dedicated towards the conservation and breeding of endangered wild species.
It is the home of a number of endangered and threatened species, including cheetahs, leopards, male non-breeding lions, servals, caracals, African wildcats, wolves, meerkats and a Siberian tiger.
The visitors get a once in a lifetime opportunity to come on an educational tour and learn about these animals, see them up close, take some amazing photos. This place is a must to visit place for wildlife enthusiasts and travelers when in Blomfontein
Bagamoya Wildlife Estate
Located some 30kms from Blomfontein, the Bagamoya Wildlife Estate this beautiful reserve provides the visitors with the unique experience of interacting with large cats including lions, tigers and much more. All the interactions are carefully supervised by the well trained wildlife expert.
It is a truly African experience where you can enjoy the true wildlife experience through activities like by can bottle-feeding lions and tiger cubs, patting a cheetah, and even helping feed the adult lions.
Along with the big cats the visitors can also admire it’s other residents like, bat-eared foxes, wallabies and jackals. It also has a small zoo where you can find 28 different types of buck, giraffe, hippo, lama, camels and lots more.
Visitors can also join a guided game drive to see other animals such as giraffe, zebra, antelope, ostriches, warthogs, and more.
The Franklin Nature Reserve
The Franklin Nature Reserve is a 250 hectare reserve located in the heart of Bloemfontein. It is a prominent tourist landmark and a because of its panoramic views out over Blomfontein..
This reserve is the proud home of an amazing array of wildlife including giraffe, blue wildebeest, zebra, springbok, eland, and giraffes and a huge variety of bird species including the karoo scrub robin, violet-eared waxbills and lots more.
Due to the absence of the big cats within the Reserve, it is a perfect place to explore on foot and appreciate the local flora and fauna while enjoying the scenic views of the surrounding landscape.
Free State National Botanical Garden
Situated the north western fringes of Bloemfontein lies 70 hectares of the Free state National Botanical Garden, This garden offers the visitors with the natural landscapes of indigenous forest, grasslands, karee trees, and sculptural wild olive, along with more than 400 different species of plants including roses. The garden has two demonstration gardens to display medicinal plants.
The garden also has a well-stocked nursery with a supply of indigenous trees, succulents, shrubs and bulbs. The Botanical Society also arranges regular talks, sunset concerts during summer and moonlight walks.
It is also home to 140 bird species, 54 reptile species and about 32 mammal species. Visitors can spend some time in the bird hise overlooking the lake for the opportunity to spot some of the 144 species recorded in the park.
After exploring the park, visitors can enjoy a picnic on the beautiful lawns or refuel at the restaurant.
The National Museum
The National Museum at Blomfontein is a great place for tourists to learn about the region’s cultural, natural, and political history, as well as its artistic traditions.It is notable for its large collection of fossils, cultural historical exhibits and archaeological displays, The National Museum in Bloemfontein was established in 1877, The museum focuses on natural history and cultural history sciences, as well as art, and it has established some important collections.
It has many alluring attractions like life-size fibreglass elephants, the only complete skeleton of Euskelosaurus (Florisbad Skull) one of the earliest known dinosaurs, a working beehive, live snakes and other reptiles in the their Herpetology Hall, and an extensive history of Bloemfontein / Mangaung.
The palaeontology / anthropology and archaeology section is probably one of the more interesting areas of the museum – it takes us back to what our world must have been like millions of years ago. The museum has an extensive collection of fossils and archaeological material
including a chronological display of Stone Age and Iron Age tools.
There is an ethnological section too, with fascinating displays on the Bushmen, and a replica of a Victorian Bloemfontein street scene. Even the museum’s restaurant is Victorian-style, whilst the shop offers a range of curios and gifts from which to choose.
Anglo Boer War Museum
One of the most significant events in the history of South Africa was the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902.
The Anglo Boer War museum traces the history from the Boer’s perspective of this bitter conflict, History fans can gain insight into the context of the war, as well as life in the brutal British prison camps through dioramas, a collection of art, audio-visual presentations, artifacts, and other exhibits.
The permanent collection focuses on some of the key figures of the time and includes a collection of firearms. Particularly poignant are exhibits highlighting the war’s impact on black South Africans,
Enthusiasts can also explore the Outside area of the museum which has several memorials, including the National Women’s Monument, a 37-meter-high obelisk that commemorates the 26,000 women and children who died in British concentration camps during the Boer War. In the base of the monument is an urn containing the ashes of Emily Hobhouse, an Englishwoman who campaigned for better treatment of the internees.
The Fourth Raadsaal
The Fourth Radsaal locally known as the Vierde Raadsaal is a historic building in Bloemfontein, South Africa, which serves as the home to the Free States Provincial Legislature. It is located opposite the Supreme Court of Appeal in President Brand Street
The last session of the Parliament of the old Boer republic of the Orange Free State was held here before the occupation of Bloemfontein by British forces in March 1900
The Fourth Raadsaal is a renaissance-style building which was built in the 1890’s. This historic building has a monument of a general during the Boer War which is a must see.
The Renaissance-style red-brick building flaunts a prominent dome and a portico of Ionic columns and is one of the most picturesque buildings of the city.
How to get to Bloemfontein
By Air – Bloemfontein Airport is well connected by both SA Airlink and South African Express from Cape Town and Johannesburg and many other destinations
By Train – Bloemfontein railway station is served by Shosholoza Meyl inter-city trains connecting it to Johannesburg,
By Bus – Bloemfontein is located where a number of major highways meet including the N1 between Johannesburg and Cape Town. You can either drive into Bloemfontein by renting a car or by catching a bus on the Translux, Greyhound, Intercape Mainliner or big sky buses to reach from various destinations.
By Car – You can travel around the city by hiring a cab. You can even take car on rent and return when your trip is over.