Bloemfontein (Fountain of flowers) is popularly and poetically known as "the city of roses", for its abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there. The city hosts numerous museums, including the National Women's Monument, the Anglo-Boer War Museum, the National Museum, and the Oliewenhuis Art Museum.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Bloemfontein is the judicial capital of South Africa and the capital of the Free State Province. Bloemfontein was founded in 1846 and now has a population of around half a million people. J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, was born in Bloemfontein in 1892. Despite Tolkien's fame, there is surprisingly little commemorating him in his city of birth. In 1923, the African National Congress (ANC) political party was founded in Bloemfontein. Today, Bloemfontein is a compact city surrounded by sprawling suburbs.
As with most of South Africa, it is best to hire a car. Avis, Bloemfontein Airport, ☏ +27 51 433-2331. M-F 6AM-8PM, Sa 8AM-4PM. Tempest Car Hire, Bloemfontein Airport, ☏ +27 51 433-2146. M-F 6:30AM-6:30PM, Sa 8AM-2PM. Hertz, Bloemfontein Airport, ☏ +27 51 400-2100. M-F 6:30AM-7:30PM, Sa 7:30AM-5PM. First Car Rental, Bloemfontein Airport, ☏ +27 51 430-0390. M-F 7AM-8PM, Sa 8AM-4PM.
1 Boyden Observatory, Mazelspoort Road, ☏ +27 84 429-9080, gerrit@cosmicsafari.com. Explore the southern skies under dark and clear Free State conditions. 2 National Botanical Garden, Rayton Road,off Dan Pienaar Drive, ☏ +27 51 436-361, fsnbg@sanbi.org. 8AM-6PM daily. This 70-hectare park is home to about 400 species of plants, largely native to Free State and Northern Cape Provinces and Lesotho. 140 bird species, 50 mammal species, and 50 reptile species live in the park. R10 entrance fee. Naval Hill and Franklin Game Reserve. Daily 8AM-5PM. The reserve has various wild animals (nothing dangerous) and is located on top of a hill overlooking the centre of the city.
Go to the Waterfront Golf Cricket: 1 Manguang Oval (formerly Springbok Park), Att Horak St, Willows, ☏ +27 51 447 5715. With a capacity of 20,000, this is home to Knights team, representing Free State province. (updated Oct 2023) Visit one of the numerous game reserves in the area and go sightseeing / hunting Take a walk through the tree-lined President Brand Street and visit the various museums Take a drive through the northern suburbs and see the lush gardens Visit the City Zoo just behind the Waterfront shopping mall. This zoo is home to a stuffed Liger a cross between a lion and a tiger, that was bred at the zoo in the 1930s.
People eat early in Bloemfontein - even by South African standards, if you arrive at a restaurant after 7:30PM, especially on a weeknight, you may get some funny looks from the staff, and rushed service as they try to get you out the door so they can lock up and go home. Fishpaste restaurant and bar, 31 President Steyn ave, Westdene, ☏ +27 51 430-2662. The place to go. Excellent food in an interesting atmosphere. Mexican Restaurant, 19A Second Avenue Westdene, ☏ +27 51 430-4526. There isn't much that is Mexican about this place, except for the big Aztec statue that overlooks the dining area. Seafood and steakhouse. One of the city's more upmarket steakhouses.
Bloemfontein is much safer than most other cities. You can walk around downtown during the day time (although it will be eerily quiet after the shops close). The Waterfront and other shopping malls are safe and patrolled with 24-hour security, and 2nd Street (the main restaurant strip) is fine day and night. The dodgy areas to avoid if possible are near the train station and anywhere east of the railway lines (where the traditional townships are located).
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Bloemfontein typically sees ~17°C daytime highs and 2 rainy days.
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