'''Bloemfontein''' (''Fountain of flowers''), [http://www.bloemfontein.co.za/], is the judicial capital of South Africa. It is also the capital of the Free State Province.
Understand
Bloemfontein was founded in 1846 and today has a population of around half a million people.
J. R. R. Tolkien, author of '''The Lord of the Rings''' was born in Bloemfontein in 1892.
In 1923, the African National Congress (ANC) political party was founded in Bloemfontein.
Today Bloemfontein is a compact city surrounded by sprawling suburbs. Happily the city centre is safe to walk around during the day, however much of the city's activities are focused on the Waterfront and Mimosa malls, and on the large sporting complex. Second Street, north of the Waterfront mall, has the majority of the city's bars and restaurants.
Get in
By plane
Bloemfontein Airport [http://www.airports.co.za] is just outside the city and a number of flights to major South African cities take off from here, operated by South African Airways [http://www.flysaa.com] and SA Airlink [http://flyairlink.com]. and Mango airlines [http://ww5.flymango.co.za] fly to Cape Town
See Air travel in South Africa for more information.
By train
Bloemfontein is a major rail junction in the middle of South Africa. From here, Spoornet [http://www.spoornet.co.za/ShosholozaMeyl] operates regular trains to all points of the country : '''south''' to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London and Mthatha, '''west''' to Kimberley, '''north''' to Johannesburg and '''east''' to Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
The train station is in the city centre, on the corner of Maitland and Harvey streets.
For train ticket bookings, phone 086 000 8888 (from within SA) or +27 (0)11 774 4555 (from outside SA).
By car
The '''N1''', '''N6''' and '''N8''' national highways meet in Bloemfontein, making it easily reachable from any part of the country.
The '''N1''' northbound from Bloemfontein towards Gauteng is a toll road.
Distances
Bloemfontein-Johannesburg: 398 km
Bloemfontein-Cape Town: 1004 km
Bloemfontein-Maseru: 137 km
Bloemfontein-Port Elizabeth: 677 km
By bus
A number of bus services offer connections to major South African cities.
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<listing name="SA Roadlink" phone="+27 (0)11 333-2223" url="http://www.saroadlink.co.za"></listing>
Get around
By Car
As with most of South Africa, it is best to hire a car.
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<listing name="Tempest Car Hire" phone="+27 (0)51 433-2146" address="Bloemfontein Airport" hours="Open 6:30AM to 6:30PM weekdays, 8AM to 2PM on Saturdays" url="http://www.tempestcarhire.co.za"></listing>
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See
Anglo Boer War Museum. onument Road. 27 (0)51 447-3447. ttp://www.anglo-boer.co.za/. For a history on the war 1899 to 1902
Boyden Observatory. 27 (0)84 429-9080. errit@cosmicsafari.com. ttp://www.assabfn.co.za/friendsofboyden/boyden.htm. Explore the southern skies under dark and clear Free State conditions
Choet Visser Rugby Museum. 27 (0)51 436-4124. y appointment only.
Fire Station Museum. 27 (0)51 405-8730. ttp://www.mangaungfire.co.za/museum.htm. rlich Park Fire Station, Church Street. y appointment. raam@civic.mangaung.co.za. 17 vintage fire engines as well as a number of cars, bikes steam engines and even ox wagons.
National Botanical Garden. 27 (0)51 436 361. ayton Road,off Dan Pienaar Drive. snbg@sanbi.org. 10 entrance fee. AM to 6PM daily. ttp://www.sanbi.org/freestate/mainpage.htm.
National Museum. 6 Aliwal Street. 27 (0)51 447-9609. ttp://www.nasmus.co.za. rnito@nasmus.co.za. pen 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday, 10AM to 5PM on Saturday and 12PM to 5:30PM on Sundays.. 5 entrance fee. Home to the Florisbad skull.
Naval Hill and Franklin Game Reserve. The reserve has various wild animals and is located in the centre of the city.
Oliewenhuis Art Museum. 6 Harry Smith Street. 27 (0)51 447-9609. ttp://www.nasmus.co.za/OLIEWENH/OLWH.HTM. liewen@nasmus.co.za. ree entrance. pen 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday and 10AM to 5PM on Saturday.
Women's Memorial.
Presidency Museum. res. Brand Street. 27 (0)51 448-0949. pen 10AM to 12:15PM and 1PM to 4PM Tuesday to Friday. This former residence of presidents of the Orange Free Stare Republic has been restored to what it would have been at the turn of the century.
Queens Fort Military Museum. 27 (0)51 447-5478. aln@majuba.ofs.gov.za. pen 10AM to 12:15PM and 1PM to 4PM Monday to Friday. 16 Church Street. Exhibitions on the two ''Boer'' wars and the apartheid struggle.
SA Armour Museum. est of town, follow Nelson Mandela (R64) west towards the N1, you'll see a sign. ttp://newsite.ipmssa.za.org/content/view/248/68/. The SA Armour Museum, on the grounds of Tempe Military Base, exhibits various items dealing specifically with military armour. The SA Armour Museum consists of an indoor-, outdoor-, and reference library area.
Do
Go to the '''Waterfront'''
Play a round of '''golf'''
Visit one of the numerous '''game reserves''' in the area and go sightseeing / hunting
Take a walk through the tree-lined '''President Brand Street''' and visit the various '''museums'''
Take a drive through the '''northern suburbs''' and see the lush gardens
Visit the '''City Zoo'''
Learn
<listing name="University of the Free State" url="http://www.uovs.ac.za" phone="+27 (0)51 401-3219" fax="+27 (0)51 401-9185" email="niemannaja.rd@mail.uovs.ac.za" address="Bloemfontein"></listing>
Work
Buy
The ongoing expansion of the Waterfront mall means that Bloemfontein now has two branches of each of the standard South African chain stores (the other branches being in the Mimosa Mall 2km up the road). There is a craft market near the Waterfront mall on the first Saturday of the month. Many shops close Saturday afternoons.
Eat
Fishpaste restaurant and bar. 1 President Steyn ave, Westdene. 27 (0)51 430-2662. The place to go. Excellent food in an interesting atmosphere.
Mexican Restaurant. 9A Second Avenue Westdene. 51 4304526. There isn't much that is Mexican about this place, except for the big Aztec statue that overlooks the dining area. Seafood and Steakhouse. One of the city's more upmarket steakhouses. Fantastic food and service in a beautiful restaurant with a selective bar .Winner of numerous awards for food and service.Come and enjoy!
Cape Town Fish Market. raaff Reinet Street, off Dan Pienaar. reller Square mall. 51 436 6148. ttp://www.ctfm.co.za/location/index1.php?province=55. 29__ 5'17.03S. 26__12'46.03E. Branch of the popular CTFM chain - must be the only place for sushi in the Free State. Worth the trip into the northern suburbs.
Drink
Sleep
Budget
Bains Caravan Park. 1 Kimberley Rd. 27 (0)51 451-1115. 190.
Midrange
Bains Game Lodge. ttp://www.bainsgamelodge.co.za/. 27 (0)51 451-1928. ollow Nelson Mandela Drive for 2km outside the city, entrance gates on the right" email="info@bainsgamelodge.co.za. Serviced Chalets.
Bloemfontein Spa. ttp://www.bloemspa.co.za. aytonweg, Lilyvale. 27(51)4361567. rom R410.
City Lodge. 27 (0)51 444-2974. nr Nelson Mandela Drive & Parfitt Avenue. lbloem.resv@citylodge.co.za. ttps://www.citylodge.co.za. rom 410.
Florentia Guest House. c Louis Botha St, Waverley. lorentia@internext.co.za. 27 (0)51 436-7847. ttp://www.florentia.co.za/. rom R265pps. 29.0988889. 26.2233333. Safe parking and accommodation
President Hotel. 27 (0)51 430-1111. Union Avenue. reshot@iafrica.com. ttp://www.hotelpresident.co.za. rom R515.
Splurge
Halevy Heritage Hotel. ttp://www.halevyheritage.com/. 27 (0)51 403-0600. nfo@halevyheritage.com. rom R700.
Southern Sun. 27 (0)51 444-1253. nr. Nelson Mandela and Melville Drive, Brandwag. loemfontein@southernsun.com. rom R700.
Contact
Stay Safe
Cope
Get out
Visit the beautiful Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet and the Mountain Zebra National Park in the south.
Thaba 'Nchu, 60 km outside Bloemfontein has a luxury hotel and casino complex as well as Maria Moroka Nature Reserve.
The '''N6''' will take you to East London and the '''N1''' will take you to Gauteng or Cape Town