This judicial capital of South Africa has Victorian-era buildings and wide streets. Home to the National Museum and the University of the Free State, founded in 1904.
Bloemfontein, South Africa's judicial capital, sits at 1,395 meters above sea level in the Free State province. You can walk through rose gardens along the city streets, spot giraffes and zebras at Franklin Game Reserve, or climb Naval Hill for city views. The city has preserved important sites like the Anglo-Boer War Museum's military collection and transformed the 1930s Neo-Dutch mansion into the Oliewenhuis Art Museum.
Getting Around Bloemfontein
You can walk through the city center safely during daylight hours. Most activities happen around the Waterfront and Mimosa malls. Second Avenue north of the Waterfront has become the main dining district with numerous restaurants and bars. While local buses run regular routes, a rental car will give you the most flexibility to explore the surrounding areas and game reserves.
Museums and Cultural Sites
The National Museum exhibits fossils found in the Free State region and archaeological items from early human settlements. The Anglo-Boer War Museum tells the story of the 1899-1902 conflict through weapons, uniforms, and personal letters. At the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, you'll find rotating exhibitions of South African contemporary art in a 1930s Neo-Dutch mansion. The Sand du Plessis Theatre runs drama productions, musical performances, and cultural events throughout the year.
Parks and Natural Areas
Franklin Nature Reserve covers Naval Hill, with walking trails leading to viewpoints and the digital planetarium. The Free State Botanical Garden has sections for medicinal plants, succulents, and local tree species. Visit the Orchid House between April and December to see native and exotic species - the best flowering happens from September through November.
Transportation Connections
From Bram Fischer International Airport, you can catch multiple daily flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. The railway station connects to major cities including Port Elizabeth and East London, though services run less frequently than before. Three national highways intersect in Bloemfontein: the N1 linking Johannesburg and Cape Town, the N6 to East London, and the N8 to Maseru.
Historic Buildings
The Supreme Court of Appeal occupies a Victorian-era building that continues to serve as a working courthouse. The First Raadsaal, built in the 1840s, is the city's oldest building and contains its original furniture. In the Old Presidency building, you can walk through period rooms that show daily life of Boer presidents in the late 1800s. The Dutch Reformed Church (Moeder Kerk) welcomes visitors outside of service times.
Day Trips and Excursions
Drive three hours south to reach Graaff-Reinet, a Karoo town near Mountain Zebra National Park where you can see zebras, antelopes, and cheetahs. Within an hour's drive, several private game reserves organize wildlife tours and hunting trips. Take the N1 highway north to reach Gauteng or south through the Karoo toward Cape Town.
