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South Africa Travel + Tourism Guide: Bloemfontein

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Bloemfontein

provincial capital of Free State Province - 500,000 inhabitants
fifth largest city in South Africa
translates from the Afrikaans as 'fountain of flowers'
city dates back to 1840s
1,395m above sea level
known as the "City of Roses" or Mangaung, the "place where cheetahs dwell" in Sotho
located in the center of South Africa
relaxed, though lively, university town

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Bloemfontein, situated in the middle of the country on the major N 1 route is 400 kilometres from Johannesburg, 630 kilometres from Durban, 680 kilometres from Port Elizabeth and 1000 kilometres from Cape Town.

The 2010 World Cup matches will be played in the modern Free State Stadium which is presently used for international (and local) rugby matches.

Bloemfontein known as the "City of Roses" due to over 4,000 rose bushes growing in the centrally situated Kings Park and the annual rose festival held in town. Bloemfontein is the judicial capital of South Africa being home to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

The city grew in the mid-1800s as the capital of the Orange Free State by the Boers who trekked from British dominance in the Cape.

Free State sunset.

A compact city with under half a million inhabitants, it is recognised locally for it's love of sport - mainly rugby. Well known local schools, colleges and the university have produced many international players.

The major sports facilities including the Free State Stadium are situated close to the centre of the city in a park-like environment.

The area includes the international cricket ground, Olympic size swimming pool, Kings Park with the expansive Bloemfontein Zoo - known for it's collection of primates, President Swart Park and the Loch Logan Waterfront.

Loch Logan Waterfront is an entertainment complex situated around a large lake and offers water sports, restaurants, bistros, theatres, cinemas, shops and a craft market. The area is relaxing place to spend time in the city.

All the Loch Logan Waterfront facilities are within 2 kilometres of the Free State stadium to the west while the city centre to the east is about the same distance away. En route to the CBD. one can find the National Museum, First Raadsaal (Parliament), the Wagon Museum, the Agricultural Museum, the General Hertzog House, City Hall and the area around historical President Brand Street which is now a national conservation area.

Bloemfontein's most famous museum is the Oliewenhuis Art Museum (Tel: 051 447 9609) at 16 Harry Smith Street is a 1930s mansion for the Governor General of South Africa and holds a collection of South African art.

Naval Hill just to the north of the city centre is a 200 hundred hectare park with tremendous views of the city and surrounding plains. Within the park there is a small game park with giraffe, zebra and many species of buck. The old observatory in the park is now a small theatre. The modern tropical Orchid House is situated just to the west of Naval Hill and the Botanical Gardens are in the same area.

Within a day's return drive of the city you can consider visiting Kimberley, 180 kilometres to the west, the diamond centre of the world, where you can visit the "Big Hole" scene of the diamond digging frenzy of the mid 1800s, and the reconstructed diamond mining village closeby.

Along your route you will pass through the maize fields of the Free State, and Boer War battle sites before entering the semi arid region of the northern Karoo.

One hundred and fifty kilometres to the east of Bloemfontein lies Maseru the capital of the dramatic mountain country of Lesotho. En route you pass the casino resort of Thabu Nchu.

The countryside in the eastern part of the eastern Free State is a maze of mountain passes, rolling pasturelands, rivers and the occasional site of ancient cave rock paintings.

Hotel accommodation in Bloemfontein can generally be described as moderate. There are 3 and 4 star modern "corporate" hotels. Some very good guest houses and plenty of standard hotels and self catering establishments exist close to the stadium.

On the edge of the city there are good value lodges and resorts.

Tourist Offices

The Information Center (Tel: 051 405 8489; 8am-4.15pm Mon-Fri; 8am-noon Sat) is at 60 Park Road.
There is also a tourist center on Park Road near the bus station.

Getting There

Air

10 kilometers to the east of the city Bloemfontein Airport (Tel: 051-433 2001) handles regular passenger aircraft from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban.

Private taxi is the best option at present to the city center.

Rail

The railway station is in the centre of the city to the east of King's Park. The Shosholoza Meyl overnight train runs between Jo'burg and Durban via Bloemfontein. The Algoa travels between Johannesburg (7 hours) and Port Elizabeth. The Amatola also goes via Bloemfontein between Johannesburg and East London. The Diamond Express is another train service to Johannesburg.

Bus

The main luxury coach companies have a bus station in the city near the tourist center and connect those cities and areas to the west. There are daily buses to Durban (9 hours), Johannesburg and Pretoria (5 hours), Port Elizabeth (9 hours), East London (7 hours), Cape Town (10 hours) and Knysa (12 hours). There are other bus services to Thabu Nchu casino (1 hour) and Maseru in Lesotho (3 hours).

Getting Around

Bloemfontein is in the centre of the country surrounded by vast agricultural lands ideal for cattle farming and growing maize.
It is on the major route between Cape Town and Johannesburg (and other northern cities), between Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, and between the inland route Cape Town to Durban.

Map of Bloemfontein - see a scrollable map of Bloemfontein showing the location of the soccer stadium.

Security

The South African government are aware that public safety is a major issue and are determined to increase the quantity and proficiency of the police force over the next couple of years.

Car Hire

All the major car hire companies are well represented in all major cities and at the airports. Cheaper less exclusive local companies also offer vehicles for hire.

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Accommodation

Featured Hotels

Earthsong Lodge - 5 Star Hotel
Protea Bloemfontein - 4 Star Hotel
Southern Sun - 3 Star Hotel

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Eating

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Drinking

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Internet Cafes

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Football Teams

Local team Bloemfontein Celtic presently play in the South African Premier Soccer League. The teams shirts are the green and white hoops of Scotland Glasgow Celtic. Celtic play at Free State Stadium, aka Vodacom Park Stadium, which will have a capacity of 48,000 by 2010.

The South African professional soccer season runs from September to May.

Weather

With the influence of the Lesotho mountains, the Free State area has crisp winter nights with the temperature sometimes falling to freezing point. The daytime temperatures can vary between 12 and 22 degrees Centigrade.
There is minimal rainfall in winter.