Free State

Read about Free State

The Sentinel – a major Free State geological attraction.

Free State geological wonders

The Free State province is home to a number of impressive rock features, from dramatic sandstone cliffs and caves to two billion-year-old hills.

Clarens Oxwagon Camp

Go back in time when you sleep out at the Clarens Oxwagon Camp on a farm in the Eastern Free State amidst dramatic mountain scenery.

Free State highlights

Its wide open spaces and big skies makes the Free State a great outdoor adventure destination. A visit to the Basotho Cultural Village is an unforgettable experience.

Free State

Many Free State hiking trails feature San Bushman rock art and historic battlefield sites. There's plenty of free roaming game and one can overnight in rustic farmhouses, huts, chalets and even a cave.

More about Free State

Eastern Cape highlights

The magnificent Addo Elephant National Park is a must-do adventure on any Eastern Cape incentive itinerary. Tree canopying in the Tsitsikamma Forest along the Garden Route is a great team building activity.

Cheetah Experience, Free State

At the Cheetah Experience, visitors and volunteers experience an extraordinary close encounter with cheetahs, lions and leopards in the heart of Bloemfontein.

Renowned artists of the Free State

The Free State is and was home to famous sculptors, architects, photographers and writers, who were inspired by the vast landscapes and fascinating cultures of the interior of South Africa.

UFO Research Centre, Smithfield

The small southern Free State town of Smithfield is famous for its annual winter festival, its South African War skirmishes and its UFO Research Centre.

View images

Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Eastern Free State.

Basotho Hat and other traditional souvenirs

Watch video

Top 10

Natural attractions in the Free State

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

This spectacular national park is located in the scenic north east of the Free State province. The ochre and gold sandstone cliffs gave this park its name and the area is rich in San rock...
Vredefort Dome

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is the oldest and largest meteorite impact site in the world – and a must-see natural phenomenon. The area is popular with hikers and...
Gariep Dam Nature Reserve

The largest nature reserve in the province, this nature reserve is situated along the Gariep Dam and the Orange River and is home to a wealth of animal, plant and bird-life
Tussen Die Riviere Nature Reserve

Tussen Die Riviere Nature Reserve is situated in the southern Free State between the Caledon and the Orange Rivers – 2 of South Africa’s mightiest watercourses. It’s hard to find a more evocative...
Free State National Botanical Garden

Located on the outskirts of Bloemfontein the Free State National Botanical Garden has over 400 species of plants from the region including the vibrant red-hot pokers and wild dagga plants for which...
Sterkfontein Dam

The Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is a water wonder in the Eastern Free State, offering wildlife, birding, windsurfing and flyfishing with a magnificent view over the Drakensberg.
Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve

Moolmanshoek is situated in the eastern Free State near Ficksburg, and is renowned for more than 230 species of birds as well as zebra, blesbuck and other plains game species.
The Franklin Game Reserve

The Franklin Game Reserve in Bloemfontein is one of only 2 reserves in the world situated in a city (the other is in Hong Kong). For those who love nature, Hamilton Park on the reserve's west slope...
Willem Pretorius Game Reserve

Situated in the heart of The Free State – the reserve covers over 12000 hectares with the Allemanskraal Dam as a central feature. Excellent game viewing and birding on offer.
The Maluti Mountains

The spectacular Maluti Mountains form the border between the Free State and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Pony-trekking with local communities is a popular past-time in these rugged...