Free State provincial article - South African Vacations

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Historic Church: The town’s sandstone church is typical of early Orange Free State church architecture. VAN STADENSRUS Situated between the Free State towns of Wepener and Zastron, this relatively young town was proclaimed in 1925 and named after the owner of the farm on which the town was laid out. WEPENER ADVENTURE AND SPORT Water sport: Egmont Dam, on the Wepener Road, is the ideal venue for those interested in water sport. HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE Anglo-Boer War Grave: The grave of CWA Durand, a Boer commander during the Anglo- Boer War, is located in this area. This town, on the banks of the Caledon River at Jammerbergspruit, was named after the Boer leader Louw Wepener, who was killed in 1865 while attacking the Basotho stronghold of Thaba Bosiu during the Second Basotho War. The town and surroundings were also the scene of many battles fought during the early nineteenth century and the many unidentified graves in the valley of the Jammerbergspruit bear witness to this sad fact. Van Rooyen’s Gate Border Post, the gateway to Lesotho, lies 7 km from the town. The Wepener of today is a centre for a large wool, grain, maize and livestock farming area, as well as building sand manufacturing centre. ADVENTURE AND SPORT Angling and water sport: The Wepener district, with its many dams (Knelpoort, Welbedacht, Caledonia) and the nearby Caledon River, is a prime angling and water sport area. 4x4 routes: 4x4 Enthusiasts are regular visitors to the region. The 4x4 trail in the Caledon Nature Reserve is one of several trails in the area. An off-road race is held here every September. Hiking: There are several hiking trails in town, such as those in the Caledon Nature Reserve. Mountain-biking: Mountain-hikers are welcome to try out Wepener's mountain bike trail. ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY San Rock Art: Some intricate San rock art can be viewed on Ventershoek Farm. 49
FAUNA AND FLORA Caledon Nature Reserve: The 3 700 ha Caledon Nature Reserve is located just off the Wepener-Smithfield Road, approximately 120 km from Bloemfontein. Game species include black wildebeest, grey rhebuck and zebra. Nearly 200 species of birds, including the majestic fish eagle, have also been recorded. The reserve has two floating bush camps, each of which can accommodate 16 people. Each of the bush camps has its own barbecue and ablution facilities. The reserve is ideal for angling and some record size carp and barbel have been caught here. Other species of fish include the yellow fish and the Orange River mudfish. Visitors can leave their bush camps to indulge in some canoeing, gliding over the waters of the Caledon River, or can try out the 4x4 trail. A visit to the Snake Park is yet another option to consider. The rolling hills of this reserve are clothed in various hues of green during summer and winter brings with it a golden glow. The Caledon River, with its thick reed beds, from which the reserve gets its name, slowly winds through the reserve. HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE Jammerbergdrif Battlefield: The Jammerbergdrif Battlefield site near the Caledon River in the Wepener area witnessed many battles between the Boers and the British. One such battle saw General Christian de Wet and his soldiers attack a British garrison of 2 000 men, in a siege that lasted 17 days. However, when British reinforcements arrived, Boer forces had to retreat. The library in town houses a permanent exhibit of this battle site. Dutch Reformed Church: The sandstone Dutch Reformed Church, in Kerk Street, was erected in 1882 and has been declared a National monument. Lord Fraser’s House: The house of Lord Ian Fraser, an early local inhabitant, has been lovingly restored to its original Victorian glory and now serves as a guest house. Sandstone Bridge: The sandstone street bridge over the Caledon River has been declared a National monument. Town Hall: The sandstone Town Hall was built in 1927. Note the memorial gates and statue of Commandant Louw Wepener in front of the Hall. The renowned South African sculptor, Coert Steynberg, sculpted the bronze bust. 50
Page 2 and 3: Index OVERVIEW.....................
Page 4 and 5: OVERVIEW Free State Department of T
Page 6 and 7: political parties saw the light of
Page 8 and 9: GOLDFIELDS ROUTE This route passes
Page 10 and 11: The Lejweleputswa Region is the fou
Page 12 and 13: SJA De Villiers, who taught a whole
Page 14 and 15: ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPING Agricult
Page 16 and 17: HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE De Aap Far
Page 18 and 19: Saltpans: There are several natural
Page 20 and 21: wildebeest, tsessebe, white rhino,
Page 22 and 23: ART AND CRAFTS Art and Crafts Route
Page 24 and 25: Inca Lilies: Make an appointment to
Page 26 and 27: CUISINE Biltong Factory: The Bilton
Page 28 and 29: Joanne Pimm Monument in Central Par
Page 30 and 31: Post Office: The Post Office buildi
Page 32 and 33: Bloemfontein is the sixth largest c
Page 34 and 35: Fossil Finds: During the 1920s and
Page 36 and 37: Bloemfontein Orchid House: The Orch
Page 38 and 39: of the Communist party and the lawy
Page 40 and 41: Maphikela House: Maphikela was one
Page 42 and 43: Wagon Museum: The Wagon Museum in S
Page 44 and 45: ART AND CRAFTS Hunters Taxidermy: T
Page 46 and 47: Two Nations Marathon: The Two Natio
Page 48 and 49: NATURAL WONDERS Stables Rock Crevic
Page 52 and 53: NORTHERN FREE STATE Northern Free S
Page 54 and 55: Hiking: The Klipkraal Hiking Trail
Page 56 and 57: Wilge Marathon and Raft Race: These
Page 58 and 59: place was formerly the stronghold o
Page 60 and 61: Horse riding: Contact Erasmus Stabl
Page 62 and 63: uilt with great expertise, some say
Page 64 and 65: FAUNA AND FLORA Nature and Game Res
Page 66 and 67: PARYS According to legend a German
Page 68 and 69: ART AND CRAFTS Antique shops: Drivi
Page 70 and 71: Palm Court Hotel: The current Parys
Page 72 and 73: Vaal Meander: The new Vaal Meander
Page 74 and 75: FAUNA AND FLORA Benwell Herb Garden
Page 76 and 77: FAUNA AND FLORA Birds and Butterfli
Page 78 and 79: ARLINGTON Arlington started off as
Page 80 and 81: Pretoriuskloof Bird Sanctuary: Enjo
Page 82 and 83: Mountain-biking and 4x4 Routes: Tra
Page 84 and 85: NATURAL WONDERS Mushroom Rock: This
Page 86 and 87: CORNELIA This small rural town was
Page 88 and 89: ART AND CRAFTS Art galleries and Ar
Page 90 and 91: HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE All Saints
Page 92 and 93: Some of the caves contain statues o
Page 94 and 95: FAUNA AND FLORA Bergdeel Private Na
Page 96 and 97: and killed. Today, Harrismith forms
Page 98 and 99: Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve: Th
Page 100 and 101:
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE Groenkop B
Page 102 and 103:
Miniature church: The miniature san
Page 104 and 105:
OTHER ATTRACTIONS Sparta Beef: The
Page 106 and 107:
105 ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY D
Page 108 and 109:
PHUTHADITJHABA/QWA-QWA This town li
Page 110 and 111:
village. Visitors may also follow t
Page 112 and 113:
President Steyn and Mounted Attenda
Page 114 and 115:
Museum: The museum attached to the
Page 116 and 117:
WARDEN Warden was laid out on the b
Page 118 and 119:
The great Xhariep Dam is one of the
Page 120 and 121:
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE Berlin Mis
Page 122 and 123:
Methodist Church: The pristine litt
Page 124 and 125:
Golf: The Magersfontein Memorial Go
Page 126 and 127:
eautiful fountain where overnight f
Page 128 and 129:
San Rock Art: There are several imp
Page 130 and 131:
from farming and is one of the larg
Page 132 and 133:
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE Adam Kok H
Page 134 and 135:
Republic Monument: This small monum
Page 136 and 137:
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE Basotho Wa
Page 138 and 139:
ZASTRON Zastron was laid out on JH
Page 140:
SOURCES Bulpin, TV. 1999. Majestic
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Free State provincial article - South African Vacations

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