The plains of South Africa's interior plateau between the Vaal
and Orange rivers form the Free State.
This tranquil land is the geographic and agricultural centre of
South Africa. Of all the provinces, this one presents the classic
scene of the sunny veld, the high-lying, spacious grass-covered
prairie land with deep-blue African skies, majestic cloud formations
in summer and a skyline broken by the occasional flat-topped koppie
(hill-like mountain).
The Free State is fast becoming a tourist destination in its own
right. Famous for its warm South African hospitality, `boerekos’
(traditional Afrikaner farm-style cuisine) and decidedly
slower-paced lifestyle, this province has become a mecca for
holiday-makers intent on exploring small-town South Africa.
Known, locally, as South Africa's 'bread basket', the Free State is
cultivated by more than 30 000 farms to produce over 70% of South
Africa's grain consumption. It is also home to the most productive
gold and diamond mines in the world.
Major Attractions:
• Diamond & Wine Route
Follow the route of the diamond prospectors of the past and present.
A man-made diamond hole at Jagersfonteing of 760m beats the better
known Big Hole of Kimberley for size. Also visit the wine cellars of
Landzicht and Wilreza in the scenic Jacobsdal area.
• The Golden Gate Highlands National Park
An area of highveld and montane grassland, covering 12 000
hectares is well-stocked with eland, red hartebeest, black
wildebeest, blesbok and zebra. This is one of the few places
in the country where one stands a good chance of seeing the
Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture.
• Clarens and the Mountains of Gold
The beautiful town of Clarens lies just west of the Maluti
mountain range and is the perfect country retreat. Known as the
`jewel of the Free State’, Clarens is very popular with the
artistic community.
Clarens is near to Golden Gate – where the famous ochre and gold
sandstone outcrops offer up some of the most spectacular scenery in
the country.
• Fossil Hunting
The Free State has rich deposits of fossils, and visitors to Clarens
area can go on fossil-hunting expeditions. You may be
lucky to find dinosaur bones, dinosaur eggs or dinosaur teeth;
you’ll almost certainly find the fossils of smaller creatures
dating back to well over 200 millions years.
