Bloemfontein The City of Roses

Bloemfontein, the City of Roses, is centrally situated in the heart of South Africa. Surrounded by arid soil, the city springs forth as a natural paradise with rich plant life and an abundance of roses. The city hosts the annual Rose Festival, when people come from far and wide to enjoy the festive atmosphere and the sights, sounds and smells that forms part of this exciting festival.

Bloemfontein's atmosphere is unlike any other city in that it offers a small town  spirit along with the convenience and energy of a bustling city.

Mangaung (as Bloemfontein is known in its native Sotho vernacular) is the judicial capital of South Africa and the current ruling party, the ANC, was founded in nearby Waaihoek in 1912. The city now boasts a magnificent reminder of former President Nelson Mandela on Naval Hill.

Despite its small-town feel and rich historic heritage, the city of Bloemfontein is as modern and technologically advanced as any other city. Bloemfontein is unique and eclectic in many ways and that is what  attracts tourists most. The city offers activities and sights that appeal to modern city-dwellers, but it has the added advantage of nature and wildlife in close proximity. This combination promotes a unique lifestyle that pleases locals and visitors alike.

The Bloemfontein city centre is compact and safer than many other city centres in South Africa. Mimosa Mall and the Waterfront mall are the city's main hubs of activity and contain  popular chain stores. The malls are safe and patrolled and have 24 hour security.

To the north of the Waterfront mall, is Second Avenue, where more restaurants and most of the city's bars can be found.

With a population of around half a million of some of the friendliest people in South Africa, Bloemfontein offers several popular shopping malls with cinema complexes, sports stadia, educational institutions,  golf courses, museums, nature reserves, and everything else a person might need in close proximity.

When visiting Bloemfontein, you will hear many legends as to how the city's name came about, but all we really know is the history, as documented historically. Originally a small farm, the land owner, Johannes Nicolaas Brits sold the farm to Major Warden, who established a small community on the farm. Over the years it grew into the capital city of the Orange Free State Republic.

Today, Bloemfontein real estate is highly sought after, as the city is home to the South African Supreme Court of Appeal and it is the commercial hub of the Free State province. Driving through the city, you will see many historical landmarks from years gone by, when the region was still in its developmental stages.

Bloemfontein offers many interesting activities and sights in and around the city, from shopping to education, relaxation to eating, arts and culture.

Grab your camera and car keys and set off on an exploration of the spectacular City of Roses.

Malls

Bloemfontein offers all the well-known chain stores, fast food restaurants and other conveniences which you will find in the malls. Shopping is a pleasure in the well-ventilated, clean and secure malls.

  • Mimosa Mall
  • Loch Logan Waterfront
  • Northridge Mall
  • Makro
  • Game / Checkers

Historical Sights

Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings author) was born in Bloemfontein? He's just one famous person who once lived here.

Rich in cultural history, Bloemfontein honours the people and events that has shaped it into the City of Roses as we know it today. Mangaung, birthplace of the African National Congress honored former president of South Africa and the ANC by erecting a statue of him on Naval Hill.

The Bloemfontein Conference took place here, with the purpose to prevent the Second Boer War from breaking out. The concentration camp where many Afrikaner women and children died is also located here.

Take a walk through history by visiting some (or all) of these historical sights on your next visit to Bloemfontein or enjoy a day in the lives of the locals while enjoying the Mangaung Cultural Route that includes visits to the Youth Monument, Masakeng stadium and Maphikela House.

  • Anglo Boer War Museum
  • Old Presidency
  • Nelson Mandela Statue
  • Naval Hill
  • Mangaung Cultural Route
  • National Women's Memorial
  • Youth Monument

Sports

Bloemfontein, like the rest of the Free State, is a city that is passionate about sports. The city hosted some of the FIFA World Cup 2010 soccer matches and is home to award-winning golf courses just outside of the city.

  • Bloemfontein Golf Course
  • Free State Stadium
  • Schoeman Park Golf Course
  • Masenkeng Stadium

Nature Reserves & Botanical Gardens & Zoo

The greater Bloemfontein area is rich in fauna and flora. It is home to the only nature reserve in the world to be surrounded in its entirety by a bustling city. You will find some incredible indigenous plants in the botanical gardens and in the nature reserves and the city zoo, you will get up close and personal with various antelope species, the Big 5 and various other animal life.  You will find ample wooded areas, water bodies, and open plains, as well as braai facilities or picnic spots and walking paths in the various reserves and the zoo.

  • Caledon Nature Reserve
  • Franklin Nature Reserve
  • Maria Moroka Game Reserve
  • Soetdoring Dam Nature Reserve
  • Free State National Botanical Garden
  • Bloemfontein Zoo
  • Thaba Nchu

Arts & Culture

The city of Bloemfontein is home to people from various cultures and the theatre and art museum both promote local, national and international arts. The National Museum of Bloemfontein boasts an extraordinary fossil collection, which include the skull of the Florisbad man, found near Florisbad Springs in the 1930's.

President Brand Street is a beautiful tree-lined street along which you will find some of the popular museums.

  • Sand du Plessis Theatre
  • Oliewenhuis Art Museum
  • Bloemfontein National Museum
  • Freshford House Museum

Restaurants & Pubs

Second Avenue is home to many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, clubs and bars. You will find most of the chain restaurants in the malls.

 

CONTACTS
7 Frans Kleynhans Road
Bloemfontein,9301
051 436 8471/3175
info@emoya.co.za

 

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