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The Free State (Sotho: Freistata; Afrikaans: Vrystaat [ˈfrɛistɑːt]; Xhosa: iFreyistata; Tswana: Foreistata; Zulu: iFuleyisitata), formerly known as the Orange Free State, is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital.
Free State, province, east-central Republic of South Africa. Under the name Orange Free State, it was originally a Boer state and then (from 1910) one of the traditional provinces of South Africa; it was renamed Free State in 1995.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
After South Africa’s transition to democracy the Orange Free State became a South African province and the name was changed to Free State. The province is the granary of South Africa, with agriculture central to its economy, while mining on the rich goldfields reefs is its largest employer.
- Clarens. The jewel of the Free State, and at 1850m, its highest town, Clarens is one of those places you stumble upon and find yourself talking about long after you depart.
- Parys. Parys is a growing, vibrant town that sits beside the Vaal River just 120km south of Jo’burg. It is home to a few impressive buildings, including the 1915 Anglican Church, built from blue-granite blocks.
- Sentinel Hiking Trail. The most famous of the hiking trails in the area is the 10km Sentinel Hiking Trail, which commences in Free State and ends in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The Free State's only national park is known for its dramatic, golden-hued sandstone cliffs and outcroppings, abundant wildlife (including eland, zebra and wildebeest) and centuries-old cave paintings by the San people.
- Brief history of the Free State. Intriguing though it sounds, the name “Free State” applies to former redneck country. For nearly 150 years, the only free people in the Free State were its white settlers, who in 1854 were granted independence from Britain in a territory between the Orange and Vaal rivers, where they created a Boer Republic called the Orange Free State.
- The Maloti Route. Hugging the Lesotho border for 280km from Phuthaditjhaba (Witsieshoek) in the north to Wepener in the south, the tarred Maloti Route offers one of South Africa’s most scenic drives, taking you past massive rock formations streaked with red and ochre, cherry orchards and sandstone farming towns.
- Parys and the Vredefort Dome. The small town of PARYS, just off the N1 highway 300km northeast of Bloemfontein and 100km from Johannesburg, makes a good stopover on the long trek across the country, or an interesting day-trip from Jo’burg.
- Bloemfontein. BLOEMFONTEIN, part of Mangaung municipality, is located at the crossroads of South Africa, which means that many travellers break their journey across the country here.
The Free State is essentially an agricultural province and its appeal lies in its scenic beauty, rural tranquillity and natural attractions.
The Free State is known for its great hospitality and sedate lifestyle, and is particularly appealing for those interested in exploring small-town South Africa. But it is not all about sedate strolls and birdwatching; there’s more than enough to keep the adrenaline junkie occupied.
