Travelling through South Africa is always going to be an adventure steeped in deep history, incredible wildlife and birdlife, and breath-taking scenery. One of the places to visit is Bloemfontein, the 7th largest city in South Africa. The city of Bloemfontein, affectionately called “Bloem,” is located near the centre of the country and is the capital city of the Free State province.
Roses are grown in abundance in “Bloem,” deeming the city as “The City of Roses.” Other than its flowers, the Sesotho tribe noticed the high population of Cheetahs in the area and gave it the name “Manguaung” meaning the “Place of Cheetahs.” Bloemfontein is filled to the brim with natural beauty and the locals’ warm hospitality. It holds the secrets to a rich history for all South Africans, with all the museums needed to prove it. Let’s have a look at the top 3 places to visit in Bloemfontein.
The Anglo-Boer War Museum
Situated on Monument Road, the Anglo-Boer War Museum is the only one of its kind. That’s right, there is no other museum in the world that is solely dedicated to honouring the history of the Anglo-Boer War. This war happened been the years 1899 and 1902 and became an event that shaped South Africans forever. The horrors that occurred in the Anglo-Boer war should never be forgotten and the many people that lost their lives to protect this country should be honoured. This is exactly what this museum aims to do.
Through art collections, dioramas, exhibits and more, the Anglo-Boer War Museum intends to share a deeper perspective of the background that led to the war and against which the war took place. To fully appreciate everything that has happened to shape this country, we would highly recommend putting the Anglo-Boer War Museum on your list of places to visit in Bloemfontein.
Free State National Botanical Gardens
Nestled perfectly on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, in a large valley between dolomite mountain peaks lies the Free State National Botanical Garden. This is a must-see when considering places to visit in Bloemfontein. You can expect to see vast grasslands and beautiful wooded areas filled with Wild Olive trees and Karee trees. There are also pristine lawns to have a picnic if relaxing in the wild tickles your fancy.
The entrance fee to the gardens is less than R40 per person, which is incredibly affordable considering you’ll have access to 70 hectares of wilderness. The gardens are home to over 144 bird species, 54 reptile species, and 32 mammals.
The Boeremark
If you would like to experience real “salt of the earth” living, we suggest you visit the Boeremark, which is a local farmer’s market that opens every Saturday between 6 am and 2 pm. If you’re going for the fresh produce, we’d recommend you arrive at about 8 am to ensure you get the bounty you hope for.
Other than fresh produce, the market provides plenty of food stalls, gifts, toys, arts and crafts, clothing, books, and much more. Rest assured that your kids will have entertainment while you scour the stalls because this market pony rides AND jumping castles to ensure that everyone in the family is having fun.