| Welcome to South Africa. | | | | soil and was not only a turning point in the history of |
| The Free State South Africa. The plains of South | | | | the modern wars of our time, but also the last of |
| Africa's interior plateau between the Vaal and Orange | | | | the gentlemens wars. |
| Rivers form the Free State Province. | | | | The Free State is the third-largest province in South |
| This tranquil land of the ever-present windmill is the | | | | Africa. However, it has the second-smallest population |
| geographic and agricultural centre of South Africa. Of | | | | and the second-lowest population density, housing |
| all the provinces, this one presents the classic scene | | | | some 2,8 million people on about 129 480 km2 of |
| of the sunny veld, the high-lying, spacious | | | | land. Many of the towns display a mix of culture |
| grass-covered prairie land with deep-blue African | | | | clearly evident in street names, public buildings, |
| skies, majestic cloud formations in summer and a | | | | monuments and museums. Dressed sandstone |
| skyline broken by the occasional flat-topped koppie | | | | buildings abound on the Eastern Highlands, while |
| (hill-like mountain). | | | | beautifully decorated Sotho houses dot the |
| The Free State is fast becoming a tourist destination | | | | grasslands. Some of South Africa's most valued San |
| in its own right. Famous for its warm South African | | | | (Bushman) rock art is found in the Free State. |
| hospitality, `boerekos (traditional Afrikaner farm-style | | | | The Free State climate in the summer-rainfall region is |
| cuisine) and decidedly slower-paced lifestyle, this | | | | warm and temperate in the summer but can be |
| province has become a Mecca for holiday-makers | | | | relatively cold during the winter months, especially |
| intent on exploring small-town South Africa. | | | | towards the eastern mountainous regions where |
| Known, locally, as South Africa's 'bread basket', the | | | | temperatures can drop as low as 9 :C. The western |
| Free State is cultivated by more than 30 000 farms | | | | and southern areas are semi-desert. |
| to produce over 70% of South Africa's grain | | | | The southern Free State shares the true Karoo |
| consumption. It is also home to the most productive | | | | semi-desert and its barren landscapes, while the north |
| gold and diamond mines in the world. | | | | is blessed by the liquid gold of the Vaal River. The |
| The Free State lies in the heart of South Africa, with | | | | western Free State traverses savannah and |
| the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho nestling in the | | | | substantial mineral wealth, whilst the Eastern highlands |
| hollow of its bean-like shape. Between the Vaal River, | | | | offer a wealth of scenic splendor. |
| in the north, and the Orange River, in the south, this | | | | City Centre |
| immense rolling prairie stretches as far as the eye | | | | The provinces capital, Bloemfontein, has a |
| can see. Formerly known as the Orange Free State, | | | | well-established institutional, educational and |
| this province has had its share of battles most | | | | administrative infrastructure, and houses the Supreme |
| importantly, perhaps, the Anglo Boer War. This was | | | | Court of Appeal. The province has a well-known |
| the last full-scale war to be fought on South African | | | | university and many other training institutions. |