Why on earth would I want to travel to the Free State?
The Free State might seem like a province to pass through, yet it offers wide skies, sandstone cliffs, towns rich in history and destinations like Clarens, the Golden Gate Highlands and the Gariep Dam.
There is a stretch of South Africa that many travellers skim past on their way from Johannesburg to the Drakensberg or down towards the Cape. Yet the Free State, lying at the heart of the country, is not a place to rush through.
It is a land of vast skies and wide horizons, where the quiet pace is not a lack of attraction but its greatest charm.
The province is dominated by open farmland and highveld grassland, its air carrying the earthy scent of maize and sun-warmed soil. Travelling through this landscape, whether along the N1 from Bloemfontein northwards or the R26 winding east towards the Maloti foothills, is to encounter South Africa at its most unhurried.
The drive itself becomes a part of the experience. Villages rise in the distance with their church spires, while windmills stand sentinel over golden fields.
No traveller should overlook the appeal of Bloemfontein, the judicial capital of the country. It is known as the City of Roses, with its gardens blooming in springtime.
Naval Hill offers sweeping views across the city and a resident population of giraffes grazing on the slopes. The Free State National Botanical Garden lies just beyond, a pocket of native veld showcasing the flora of this dry interior. Moving east, the scenery shifts towards sandstone cliffs and mountain passes.
The jewel of the province is the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, where ochre-coloured rocks blaze in the light of late afternoon. Hiking trails thread through valleys and over ridges, and birdlife fills the air.
Nearby, Clarens has gained a reputation as an artistβs town, its streets lined with galleries, cafΓ©s, and guesthouses that offer a warm welcome. This small town, ringed by the Rooiberge, makes a fine base for excursions into Lesotho via the Monontsha Pass that connects the eastern Free with the Kingdom of Lesotho over the steep escarpment, or the more rugged Sani route further south.
For travellers seeking history, the Free State carries stories in its soil. The Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein provides insight into a conflict that shaped the region, while towns like Philippolis and Fauresmith still echo with old stone churches and nineteenth-century architecture. In rural spaces, Basotho and Afrikaans farming traditions remain strong, and the rhythm of life follows the seasons.
The Vaal Dam in the north draws visitors for water sports and fishing, its vast expanse a striking contrast to the surrounding fields. To the south, Gariep Dam on the Orange River is equally impressive, offering sailing, hiking, and opportunities to explore the Karoo fringe. Standing at the Gariep viewpoint, with the reservoir stretching away like an inland sea, is a reminder of the scale of this province.
What really sets the Free State apart is its quiet authenticity.
There are no great coastal resorts, no grand safari circuits, no glittering nightlife. Instead, there is space to breathe, landscapes that stretch endlessly, and towns where conversation lingers over coffee. It is a place where the traveller can pause, listen to the rustle of grass in the wind, and rediscover the stillness that modern life so often steals away.
So, visiting the Free State is not about ticking off famous attractions. It is about recognising that beauty can lie in simplicity, and that time spent here rewards those willing to slow down.
Travelling through this province offers a unique perspective on South Africa, rooted in its heartland and navigated along its peaceful roads.
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