Province · Joanesburgo, Pretória e o planalto

Estado Livre

The Free State, on the high plateau: Bloemfontein, the judicial capital, the sandstone cliffs of Golden Gate, the village of Clarens and the Vredefort dome.

In the photo: Brandwag, Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Estado Livre

The Free State lies in central South Africa, on the high plateau called the Highveld, between Gauteng, KwaZulu‑Natal and Lesotho. It is a province of grasslands, maize and sunflower fields, with sandstone mountains to the east.

Bloemfontein, the provincial capital, is also the country’s judicial capital, home to the Supreme Court of Appeal. Known as the City of Roses, it has museums on Boer history and the memorial to women and children who died in concentration camps during the Anglo‑Boer War.

To the east, along the border with Lesotho, Golden Gate Highlands National Park has sandstone cliffs in golden and red tones, trails and scenic drives, with antelope and zebras on the plains. Clarens, next door, is a village of galleries and cafés at the foot of the mountains.

To the north, on the border with North West, the Vredefort dome, near Parys, marks the largest known meteorite impact crater on Earth and is a World Heritage Site. The Gariep Dam on the Orange River is the largest reservoir in the country.

When to go

From September to April days are usually warm, with summer rains in afternoon showers. From May to August winter is dry and cold, with frosts, and it can snow in the Golden Gate mountains. The Free State is 5 hours ahead of Brasília.

Getting there

Bloemfontein has an airport (BFN) with flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town. From Johannesburg, Clarens and Golden Gate are about 3½ hours by car, and Parys about 1½ hours. Driving is the most practical way to travel around the province.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Estado Livre

What to see in the Free State?

Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Clarens in the east, and the Vredefort dome near Parys in the north.

Can you go to Golden Gate from Johannesburg?

Yes. The park is about 3½ hours by car; it’s worth staying overnight in Clarens.

Does it snow in the Free State?

In winter, from June to August, it can snow in the eastern mountains, such as at Golden Gate. Nights are cold throughout the province.

What is the Vredefort dome?

The mark of the largest known meteorite impact crater on Earth, near Parys, a World Heritage Site.

Tap a province to see its destinations. Limites: South African Municipal Demarcation Board / OCHA ROSEA / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.