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Free State
This land-locked province consists mainly of the plains of
the southern African plateau. To the east of this province is the highland,
with strangely eroded sandstone hills. The province is bordered to the south
by the Orange River, to the north by the Vaal River, and to the east by the
mountains of Lesotho. This made it a strategically defendable area
throughout South Africa's turbulent history. There are important gold mines
in and around Welkom and diamonds are also mined in the Free State Province.
One of the highlights of visiting this province is the Eastern highlands and
the QwaQwa Region. Bloemfontein is both the provincial capital of the Free
State and the Judicial Capital of South Africa.
Nestled in the
rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north-eastern Free State
lies the Golden Gate National Park. The park derived its name from the
brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the park's sandstone cliffs,
especially the imposing Brandwag Rock. These 11,600 hectares of unique
environment is true highland habitat, providing home to a variety of mammals
– black wildebeest, eland, blesbuck, oribi, springbok and Burchell's zebra -
and birds, including the rare bearded vulture (lammergeier) and the equally
rare bald ibis, which breed on the ledges in the sandstone cliffs. Ribbokkop,
the highest point in the park, revealing a breathtaking tapestry of red,
yellow and purple hues as its warm shades merge with the cool mountain
shadows towards evening. |
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Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is a
city known for its roses, a modern city surrounded by rural area. The city
has its origins in 1840, when a Voortrekker Boer, names Nicolaa Brits
arrived in the area. The Voortrekkers were so taken by the wild flower
beauty that they named the area ‘Bloemfontein’ (bloem = flower). The town
developed soon into a city and became the capital city of the Orange Free
State and played an extremely important role in the Anglo- Boer War. Many
historical brick building can be seen throughout the city.
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