Accommodations in South africa

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free-state, accommodations

If you’re interested in exploring the Free State, accommodation is widely available and varied to suit all your needs. This is the bread basket of South Africa, producing the majority (over 70%) of the country’s grain. While this means that the province is covered with enormous prairies and seemingly endless fields of maize, sunflowers and wheat, this is not all there is to the Free State.

The province is also home to some of the most scenic places and ancient natural wonders to be found anywhere in South Africa. The eastern highlands include the beautiful Golden Gate National Park, which is dominated by spectacular sandstone formations and is an area of extraordinary scenic beauty.

Once you’ve settled on your choice of accommodation, Free State activities offer a multitude of options for outdoor enthusiasts. The province boasts close to 340 days of sunshine per annum. This makes it ideal for activities such as horse riding, mountaineering, 4 x 4 trails, game viewing and mountain biking. In addition, the numerous rivers and dams offer a variety of water sport opportunities. These include angling, river rafting and canoeing, while for the more culturally minded, there are many sites where indigenous San rock paintings can be seen.

One site worth visiting is the UNESCO World Heritage site known as the Vredefort Dome in the northern Free State. This is the impact site of meteorite estimated to have been 10km in diameter – larger than Cape Town’s Table Mountain - that is believed to have struck the earth some two billion years ago.

It is estimated the impact vaporised around 70km³ of rock, leaving a crater nearly 300km in diameter. This crater is represented by a ring of hills, northwest of the impact point, known as the Vredefort Hills. These hills are ideal territory for those who wish to hike, abseil, horse ride or even canoe the area.

The province is home to some 30 000 farms and as is the case the world over, the farmers in the area welcome visitors. In fact, the people of the Free State are renowned for their overwhelming friendliness and hospitality, and when it comes to Free State accommodation, you’re able to enjoy a home away from home every single time.

Things to do:

No visit to the Free State would be complete without a visit to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, which rests at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains and is an area rich in scenery and San rock art.
For history enthusiasts, the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein commemorates the war fought between 1899 and 1902 between the Boer republic and the British Empire.
Sterkfontein Dam is not only a fisherman’s paradise, it also sits beneath rugged mountains that dominate the landscape and are known for rare Cape Vultures, black eagles and a wide range of antelope.
The SA Armour Museum in Bloemfontein contains artefacts, objects, books and documents which relate to the history of South Africa’s armoured forces. The museum includes a number of displays of armoured fighting vehicles, parts and accessories.
As one of the country’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Vredefort Dome is a spectacular natural phenomenon - the oldest and largest meteorite impact site in the world. It is an area popular with hikers and adventure tourists. There are a few great Free State accommodation options to choose from, should you decide to explore this majestic area.
Also for adventure tourists, the stunning Maluti Mountains, which form the border between the Free State and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, are worth a visit. Pony-trekking with local communities is a popular past-time in these mountains.
The Sandstone Estates' steam trains make up a collection of locomotives that have been restored for the enjoyment of many steam lovers from all over the world. In fact, Sandstone Estates has a faithful following of overseas steam train enthusiasts that visit South Africa regularly to attend a variety of annual functions.
The Mystic Boer in Bloemfontein is a unique pub and musical experience. The venue plays host to some of the nation’s top alternative Afrikaans bands and is known for its friendly atmosphere and massive parties.
The Battlefields Route in the Free State encompasses more than a dozen battle sites where fierce fighting was waged during the Anglo-Boer War at the start of the 20th century.
Stop over at the small historic town of Clarens, the Jewel of the Free State. Accommodation is quaint and welcoming and will provide a great base from which to explore the picturesque beauty of this area.

Top Festivals and Events:

For more than two decades, the tiny village of Clocolan has hosted its Vintage Tractor Fair in the scenic Eastern Free State Highlands in March. The oldest vehicles on display are more than a century old and the fair includes stalls, horse riding, gymkhana and pubs.
A must for visitors who like to try home brewed spirits, the Philippolis Witblits Festival takes place in early April and gives those attending a taste of a proud local tradition – SA moonshine (‘witblits’ is actually Afrikaans for ‘white lightning’). Held in the oldest town in the Free State, the festival also offers sports for kids as well as food and drink galore. Make sure you book your Free State accommodation for this festival early as it’s bound to be busy!
The Bethlehem Air Show, held in August, has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the major air shows on the South African calendar. It features both standing exhibits and a variety of air sports.
To celebrate the coming of spring, the Eastern Free State town of Fouriesburg hosts a Spring Fair early in September. The fair includes cherry blossom orchard tours, San rock painting viewings, organic farm tours and eco-farming demonstrations - as well as arts and crafts, live music and a range of children’s activities and games.
The annual Boertjie Kontreifees in Bultfontein takes place in September and offers tourists the chance to experience true South African hospitality. Drawing up to 20 000 people to the Free State, accommodation in the area is usually bustling with tourists who gather to enjoy the arts, crafts, food and drink stalls, agricultural shows, animal championships and competitions.
The Berg Bohaai Festival in Harrismith is a massive biking event held in September. Events include mountain bike races of 15km, 35km and 75km, a drum majorette competition, horse riding, arts and crafts and plenty of live entertainment.
The Golden Gate Half Marathon is run in October and is an out-and-back race through the beautiful Golden Gate National Park - home to beautiful rock formations and even more beautiful sunsets.
Also in October is the Bloemfontein Rose Festival. This event is more than 35 years old and is most appropriate, since Bloemfontein (which means ‘Fountain of Flowers’ in Afrikaans) is known as the City of Roses. The festival sees more than 15 000 roses on display, as well as a line-up of top class entertainment.
Another reason to plan your travels and book your Free State accommodation early is the Vredefort Dome Adventure Festival in November. Usually hosted in Parys, the event focuses on sport and adventure, taking in 18 different sports disciplines and attracting more than 3 000 participants.
Ficksburg is known throughout the country as the Cherry Town, making the Ficksburg Cherry Festival in the third week in November a must for any country-loving types. It is the oldest crop festival in the country at nearly 50 years old.

Things you should know:

The best time to visit the Free State is generally between spring and autumn (September to May).
Summer days tend to be very hot, with mild winter days and cold evenings. Snow regularly falls on the Eastern Highlands in winter.
The province is serviced by Bloemfontein Airport.
There are many self-drive tourism routes, including Battlefields, Friendly N6, Diamond and Wine, BBT Heritage, Maloti and Goldfields.
Despite Bloemfontein's conservative reputation, venues like the Mystic Boer have transformed it into a hotbed of alternative South African culture and music. Many people flock to the area and use abundant Free State accommodation options as a base from which to explore this magical province.