Bloemfontein

BBloemfontein, or “Bloem”, as the locals like to call it, is the judicial capital of South Africa located in the Free State Province. It offers a wide variety of experiences from its famous Rose Festival to adventure activities.

Getting there: Bloemfontein is a four to six hour drive or 45-minute flight from Johannesburg. It is less than 90 minutes when flying from Cape Town or Durban.

Stay: Bloemfontein offers a selection of boutique hotels, guesthouses and hotel accommodation to suit any type of traveller and budget.

Things to do: Learn more about what to do on your visit to Bloemfontein.

Eating out: Discover what Bloemfontein has to offer for foodies.

History: Bloemfontein is a real delight for history fans. Learn more about what you can find there.

Adventure: Are you a thrill seeker? Find out what adventures await you in Bloemfontein and the surrounding areas.

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Freshly grown – food of the Free State

Dining in the Free State means helpings of cheese, beef, lamb, wild game, trout, cherries, apples, peaches, asparagus and more.

Breathtaking scenery

Smithfield is a central stopover with good food and ambience

Breathtaking scenery

Smithfield is a central stopover with good food and ambience

Smithfield is a good central stop between Johannesburg and the Wild Coast or Johannesburg and Durban. It boasts an artistic local community with good local eateries, excellent birding and numerous mountain bike trails.

Vibrant culture

Xhosa cuisine: the dishes and traditions

Vibrant culture

Xhosa cuisine: the dishes and traditions

Vibrant culture

African ancestors

Vibrant culture

African ancestors

African ancestors continue to give Africans a shared and personal sense of self-affirmation, identity and unfettered belonging.

Vibrant culture

Zulu cuisine: the dishes and traditions

Vibrant culture

Zulu cuisine: the dishes and traditions

Zulu cuisine is still very much influenced by tradition and its celebration of history and a commitment to culture.

Great small-town foodie stops

It’s often worth it leaving behind the big lights and taking a road tip to explore small-town cuisine, or even making a trip of it and spending a night or two and exploring what else is on offer.

Traditional African food in South Africa

The food story of South Africa.

The culture of Basotho: history, people, clothing and food

As a nation that boasts about its rich culture, the Basotho can trace their origins to the pre-historic age.

Vibrant culture

Culture and expression of identity: The Ndebele of South Africa

Vibrant culture

Culture and expression of identity: The Ndebele of South Africa

The Ndebele of South Africa constitute one group of people whose identity has survived precarious conditions and existential crisis under the weight of changing power dynamics of internal and external factors from pre-colonial to present times.

Vibrant culture

A history of mining in South Africa

Vibrant culture

A history of mining in South Africa

Mining in South Africa has been a contentious issue since 15-year-old Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs discovered South Africa’s first diamond, the Eureka, in Hopetown in 1867.

Vibrant culture

History of women in South Africa

Vibrant culture

History of women in South Africa

Before the idea of a rainbow nation was even conceived, women across races came together in various organisations to further strengthen the fight against Apartheid.

Vibrant culture

A history of South African democracy

Vibrant culture

A history of South African democracy

South Africa is made up of people who have been in the country since the beginning of time, as well as others who arrived either as slaves, escapees of persecution in their homelands, or seekers of instant riches.

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Refine your experience

Freshly grown – food of the Free State

Smithfield is a central stopover with good food and ambience

Xhosa cuisine: the dishes and traditions

African ancestors

Zulu cuisine: the dishes and traditions

Great small-town foodie stops

Traditional African food in South Africa

The culture of Basotho: history, people, clothing and food

Culture and expression of identity: The Ndebele of South Africa

A history of mining in South Africa

History of women in South Africa

A history of South African democracy

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