Bloemfontein

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Bloemfontein (Fountain of flowers), [1], is the judicial capital of South Africa. It is also the capital of the Free State Province.

[edit] Understand

Bloemfontein was founded in 1846 and today 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. In 1923, the African National Congress (ANC) political party was founded in Bloemfontein.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Bloemfontein Airport [2] is just outside the city and a number of flights to major South African cities take off from here, operated by South African Airways [3] and SA Airlink [4]. Low-cost airline 1Time [5] recently started flights to Johannesburg and Mango airlines [6] fly to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

See Air travel in South Africa for more information.

[edit] By train

Bloemfontein is a major rail junction in the middle of South Africa. From here, Spoornet [7] operates regular trains to all points of the country : south to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London and Mthatha, west to Kimberley, north to Johannesburg and east to Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

The train station is in the city centre, on the corner of Maitland and Harvey streets.

For train ticket bookings, phone 086 000 8888 (from within SA) or +27 (0)11 774 4555 (from outside SA).

[edit] By car

The N1 and N6 national highways meet in Bloemfontein, making it easily reachable from any part of the country.

The N1 northbound from Bloemfontein towards Gauteng is a toll road.

[edit] Distances

[edit] By bus

A number of bus services offer connections to major South African cities.

  • Greyhound, ☎ +27 (0)83 915-9000, [8].  edit
  • Intercape Mainliner, ☎ +27 (0)21 380-4400, [9].  edit
  • SA Roadlink, ☎ +27 (0)11 333-2223, [11].  edit

[edit] Get around

[edit] By Car

As with most of South Africa, it is best to hire a car.

  • Avis, Bloemfontein Airport, ☎ +27 (0)51 433-2331, [12]. Open 6AM to 8PM weekdays, 8AM to 4PM on Saturdays.  edit
  • Tempest, Bloemfontein Airport, ☎ +27 (0)51 433-2146, [13]. Open 6:30AM to 6:30PM weekdays, 8AM to 2PM on Saturdays.  edit
  • Hertz, Bloemfontein Airport, ☎ +27 (0)51 400-2100, [14]. Open 6:30AM to 7:30PM weekdays, 7:30AM to 5PM on Saturdays.  edit

[edit][add listing] See

  • Anglo Boer War Museum, Monument Road, ☎ +27 (0)51 447-3447, [15]. For a history on the war 1899 to 1902 edit
  • Choet Visser Rugby Museum, ☎ +27 (0)51 436-4124. By appointment only.  edit
  • Fire Station Museum, Erlich Park Fire Station, Church Street, ☎ +27 (0)51 405-8730 (), [17]. By appointment. 17 vintage fire engines as well as a number of cars, bikes steam engines and even ox wagons. edit
  • National Botanical Garden, Rayton Road,off Dan Pienaar Drive, ☎ +27 (0)51 436 361 (), [18]. 8AM to 6PM daily. R10 entrance fee.  edit
  • National Museum, 36 Aliwal Street, ☎ +27 (0)51 447-9609 (), [19]. Open 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday, 10AM to 5PM on Saturday and 12PM to 5:30PM on Sundays.. Home to the Florisbad skull. R5 entrance fee.  edit
  • Naval Hill and Franklin Game Reserve. The reserve has various wild animals and is located in the centre of the city. edit
  • Oliewenhuis Art Museum, 16 Harry Smith Street, ☎ +27 (0)51 447-9609 (), [20]. Open 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday and 10AM to 5PM on Saturday. Free entrance.  edit
  • Women's Memorial.  edit
  • Presidency Museum, Pres. Brand Street, ☎ +27 (0)51 448-0949. Open 10AM to 12:15PM and 1PM to 4PM Tuesday to Friday. This former residence of presidents of the Orange Free Stare Republic has been restored to what it would have been at the turn of the century. edit
  • Queens Fort Military Museum, 116 Church Street, ☎ +27 (0)51 447-5478 (). Open 10AM to 12:15PM and 1PM to 4PM Monday to Friday. Exhibitions on the two Boer wars and the apartheid struggle. edit

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Go to the Waterfront
  • Play a round of golf
  • 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

[edit] Learn

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Fishpaste restaurant and bar, 31 President Steyn ave, Westdene, ☎ +27 (0)51 430-2662. The place to go. Excellent food in an interesting atmosphere. edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Camping

  • Bains Caravan Park, 31 Kimberley Rd, ☎ +27 (0)51 451-1115.  edit

[edit] Budget

[edit] Midrange

  • Bains Game Lodge (Follow Nelson Mandela Drive for 2km outside the city, entrance gates on the right), ☎ +27 (0)51 451-1928 (), [22]. Serviced Chalets. edit
  • Bloemfontein Spa, Raytonweg, Lilyvale, ☎ +27(51)4361567, [25]. From R410.  edit

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay Safe

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

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