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Bloemfontein - South Africa World Cup Host City
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Located in the central part of South Africa, Bloemfontein the capital city of the Free State Province, has the laid-back, friendly vibe of a country town. Still, it's a party place, thanks to a healthy student population and numerous sports clubs and bars. It is full of culture and history, reflected by its rich architectural heritage, numerous museums and monuments. Bloemfontein is an active town, and sports are high on the priority list of the majority of residents. Hanging with the locals is a must, because people here still believe in old-fashioned hospitality and are a unique blend of rural tranquility and vibrant city life.
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Adventure Sports
Bloemfontein dwellers love their sport. Rugby is as popular as football, and hockey enjoys good support, while cricket rules in the summer. If it flies, drives or has wheels of any kind, chances are, you can do it in Bloemfontein. Flat terrain in the south and around Bloemfontein gives way to highlands on the Lesotho border to the east. With both the Vaal and the Gariep rivers bordering the province, there are even enough watersports around for those willing to wet their hair. In the air, the intrepid traveler's and sportsman's options include sky diving and gliding out of Bloemfontein's new Tempe Airport. Your degree of skill will determine your chances of participating in some activities, while others merely demand a lack of fear. For waterbabies, kayaking on the Gariep Dam is popular, while the Vaal is suitable for river rafting, jet-skis and waterskiing. To enjoy such activities, adventurers will have to drive a couple of hours out of the city, but good roads provide quick access to most facilities. Whether you're up for a serious rock climb, a demanding hike, some abseiling or hang gliding, there are outfits with good safety records that will be only too happy to look after you. Mountain biking, motocross and 4x4 trails criss-cross the province while sunny skies are almost guaranteed year-round. The border areas between the Free State and Lesotho (a neighboring country known as the "Roof of Africa") are mountainous and popular with 4x4 enthusiasts. At the Stone Hill Adventures facility on the edge of town, there is a 10-kilometre quad-biking track, a bar and barbecue facilities.
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Attractions & Activities
Sunny most of the year, Bloemfontein's clear skies encourage activities such as cycling, quad biking and barbecuing. A great way to wind down the day is taking a leisurely drive to a favorite lookout spot like Naval Hill, to salute the sunset with something cold and enjoy the star-strewn night sky that follows. The live entertainment scene is a fun way to access local culture, as are restaurants that serve regional specialties like fragrant Free State grilled lamb and farmers' sausage ("boerewors"). If you're ready for more action, the clubs and bars aren't shy to stay open late on the weekend. The surrounding areas also boast a wealth of attractions; go on a fossil-hunting safari, learn to ride like an African cowboy or go pony-trekking in the Maluti Mountains. The Free State's Golden Gate Highlands National Park is a major highlight and offers up scenery not to be missed! It's definitely worth the drive from the city of Bloemfontein.
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Entertainment and Leisure
Sports and bars are big in Bloemfontein. In the heat of summer a cold beer goes down really well, while the fresh winter nights demand a strong bottle of red wine or some shooters to defrost toes and ears. Prices are competitive and the quality of Cape wines (in bottles, not carton boxes) and preservative-free beer (from Namibia) is good. The venue that features the most live acts is the local state-of-the-art theatre house, the Sand du Plessis. Anything from ethnic music shows, well-known popular singers, drama, dance, ballet, cabaret and stand-up comedy are on the bill nightly, except maybe Sundays. The other theatre in town is the Observatory, also called Die Sterrewag, at the top of Naval Hill. Daily newspapers will carry updated listings of performances. If that's too formal for you, the market at Loch Logan offers arts and crafts for sale and features some pretty good buskers. Markets are generally an excellent opportunity to see some local expression of creativity, social commentary and street food. The Bloemfontein waterfront area on Kingsway Street houses a shopping complex with boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and cinemas; your best one-stop venue. Come night-time, music venues beckon. If it's ambience you enjoy, opt for one of the smaller live music venues around town, like the Roxy Rhythm Bar at 4 Ella Street or Kicks in Ferreira Road. Grab the local newspaper for up-to-date guides on the live shows and entertainment available. The Fishpaste Restaurant & Bar is cheeky; what a name for a landlocked spot! It's at 31 President Steyn Avenue and is popular with the young crowd. For good steaks and seafood grills, try Margaritas at 59 Milner Road or Barba's Café in Westdene. Sporty types can use their time out for a game of tennis or bowls, a leisurely cycle or a short hike. If you like to be pampered, there's always the massage table and the spa. On weekends, locals flock to Maselspoort, a green spot on the Modder River where parents can stoke the barbecue fires while the young ones explore the surrounds. Know this, though: if you've attended a sports match, eaten some barbecued or cured meat (called "biltong",the national snack), hailed the sunset with a drink and visited with the local wildlife (two- or four-legged), you've pretty much had a quintessential "Bloem" experience.
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History & Culture
This city has seen it all. It was part of an independent Boer Republic, was colonized by the Brits and was considered the heartland of the old South Africa. Nevertheless, it has become remarkably compliant with the realities of the new South Africa. Bloemfontein serves as the judicial capital of the country and major lawsuits are resolved in the august wood-paneled halls of its historical buildings. Instead of overdosing on a dozen monuments and historic buildings that hark back to the time of the Anglo-Boer War, you can visit the top sites. These would include the impressive twin-spire Dutch reformed church; the Oliewenhuis Art Museum - a stunning example of typical Dutch gable architecture; and finally, the street that is the historic heart of the city. In the early morning take a stroll along President Brand Street and admire its majestic sandstone buildings and groomed gardens that date back to the Colonial era; they look magnificent. The indigenous population of the area, the Basotho or South Sotho people, has a proud and tenacious history. To them, Bloemfontein is Manguang (place of leopards). They are part of the greater Sotho people of South Africa who number an estimated seven million in all. The Basotho live in the Free State and neighboring Lesotho, once a British protectorate before independence in 1966.The Qwaqwa National Park houses a Basotho Cultural Village.
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Natural Attractions
Although it lies inland in the more arid part of the Free State province, Bloemfontein is home to some of the country's most beautiful gardens and parks. This is celebrated annually with the Rose Festival, during which a gardening competition has local socialites up to their ears in veiled straw hats. An effortless cycle, a walk or a leisurely drive through the city's more affluent suburbs allows visitors the opportunity to enjoy the local greenery. The Franklin Nature Reserve on Naval Hill at the northern tip of the town, with its languid giraffe, antelope and typical savannah grassland vegetation, brings a slice of Africa to the city. Drop a few snacks in a basket, your camera and some drinks, and make an afternoon of it. You can enjoy the sunset as a bonus. Don't miss out on the Botanical Garden with its esteemed orchid house, where thousands of these tropical plants flourish. King's Park just west of the city centre is home to the zoo and Loch Logan, good for a morning stroll, a browse through the market and a light lunch at the water. So rich in stars is the night sky around Bloemfontein that the University of Michigan built an observatory on Naval Hill, which has since been turned into a theatre, the Observatory or Sterrewag. Locals are known to drive a few kilometers out of town at sunset, find a suitable spot, open a blanket and a bottle of bubbly, and lie flat on their backs to enjoy the view. The less intrepid are out in the garden after dark with binoculars and a beer.
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Surrounding Areas
Within a 2 to 3 hour radius (by car) of Bloemfontein lies a rich choice of attractions. A scenic drive you shouldn't miss (as it's one of the best in the country) is the road between Fouriesburg and Clarens in the Eastern Free State. From there, drive on to the Golden Gate National Park with its majestic sandstone outcrops, the perfect spot for a photographic safari. Head further south and you can make your way to explore a Basotho Cultural Village, as well as Phuthadijhaba. Hiking in this part of the Drakensberg mountain range is also quite popular. Free State small towns are full of old world charm. Clarens is renowned for its artists, restaurants and scenic surrounds, while Ficksburg has its sports bars, home industries, heritage buildings and colorful locals. Not too far away from Ficksburg, you'll find the ultimate hippy hangout - Rustler's Valley, great for a fun stop-over and the locals are always friendly. Small towns like Fouriesburg, Clocolan and Ladybrand also offer fascinating insights into life in the agricultural Free State province. This province is also the gateway to our neighbouring country, Lesotho, a region famous for pony-trekking, hiking and African rural lifestyles. Various tourism routes and meanders tailored to special interests are worth exploring. If history is your thing, the town of Kimberley to the north was at the centre of a diamond rush in the 1800s. Today the Big Hole, which yielded 14.5 million carats of diamonds, stands as a testament to those times. There is an open-air museum at the site, with period buildings.
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Local Map of Bloemfontein
Map of Bloemfontein, South Africa
*Click on map to enlarge
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View All South Africa World Cup Host Cities online.
Check Out our South Africa World Cup Stadiums page for statistics about all of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Venues.
View our South Africa World Cup Host City Distance page to view the distance (in miles) between the Host Cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa - Information on the Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Packages and World Cup Tickets that we'll have to offer.
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