Driving through the Free State there isn't always very much to see immediately next to the road, so stopping at roadworks doesn't really mean that you can sit back and enjoy the scenery. Or can't you. Right next to the road was a strip of greenery with these very interesting little orange flowers blooming in … Continue reading Free State roadside flower
Tag: Free State
Retief (Voortrekker) Pass
Driving up the Olivierhoek Pass over the Drakensberg in comfort only having to dodge the occasional pothole, I was wondering how tough it must have been for the Voortrekkers to get down this mountain during the Great Trek in 1837. On a visit to the Voortrekker Monument outside Pretoria I saw the painting above and I imagine it … Continue reading Retief (Voortrekker) Pass
Retiefklip (Retief Rock)
One of the things I was quite anxious to see when I was in the Drakensberg area was Retiefklip. I asked at the resort where we were staying how to get there and was told that the road was very badly damaged in the rain that fell in the week or so before. Seeing that … Continue reading Retiefklip (Retief Rock)
Golden Gate
One of the most famous landmarks in the Free State is the imposing Brandberg (burning mountain) rock in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. We passed through Golden Gate on our way to the Drakensberg, but unfortunately the day was starting to get late and we still had some distance to drive. This meant that … Continue reading Golden Gate
The Free State town of Wepener
For me the journey to a destination is just as important as the destination itself. So many people get on the road and is in such a hurry to get to their end point, that they miss out on a whole lot of attractions and sights along the way. Along the way I normally do … Continue reading The Free State town of Wepener
Constantia Farm Stall
What is it with farm stalls that make one want to turn off and have a look and see what they have to offer? Driving through the Eastern Free State on our way to the Drakensberg, we saw the Constantia Farm Stall (not referring to Constantia in Cape Town) outside Fickburg beckoning and slowed down for a … Continue reading Constantia Farm Stall
Bloemfontein statues
This is my last Bloemfontein post from this trip, I promise. I was actually very disappointed that I didn't have time to explore the city some more. I have never been to Bloemfontein before and it has so many places, most of historical value, to see. The one thing I did notice is that there are … Continue reading Bloemfontein statues
Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
During the Apartheid years Bloemfontein was called the judicial capital of South Africa. That was because the Appeals Court of South Africa is situated there. It used to be thew highest court before the establishment of the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. In 1996 it was renamed the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa by the … Continue reading Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
Hertzog Square
Across the road from the Bloemfontein City Hall in Hertzog Square stands a fine monument dedicated to General JBM Hertzog. General Hertzog was a military officer in the Anglo Boer War (1899-1902) and later became Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa.Hertzog Square consists of fountains, a reflection pool and the statue created by sculptor Danie … Continue reading Hertzog Square
Bloemfontein City Hall
I hope you're not tired of Bloemfontein yet, but there are still a couple of things to show you. Bloemfontein's City Hall is a stately sandstone building designed by Sir Gordon Leithe. Even though its looks like a very old building from the outside, it was only built in 1935 and is decorated with Italian marble and … Continue reading Bloemfontein City Hall
Firefly the Travel Guy 