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Places to stay around Bloemfontein Bloemfontein
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Bloemfontein Information Guide
Bloemfontein, the City of Roses, serves as something of an oasis, lying as it does plum in the middle of the Free State and indeed the country. The only major city for miles around, it is also the sixth largest city in the country, the Judicial Capital of South Africa, and it lies on the N1 between Johannesburg and Cape Town, often functioning as a stop off to break the major journey between the two cities. Despite being situated in an area of dry grassland, Bloemfontein more than lives up to its name - spring of flowers. Thousands of rose bushes line the city; more than 4000 rose trees have been planted in the rose gardens in Kings Park, and many homes, still minus the ubiquitous six metre wall of other major cities in South Africa, boast colorful gardens littered with flowering plants and trees. Bloemies, as the locals fondly call her it, is a city of little stress and very few residents buy into the rush, rush syndrome typical of a major city. |
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The city centre is lined with historical buildings, including the beautiful tree-lined President Brand Street - a national monument - its pavements home to several graceful museum buildings, right in the centre of the CBD. Naval Hill, a little nature reserve of 192 odd hectares, set right
in the city, is worth a drive through. Set on a hill as it is, it
not only provides a welcome respite from all things city, but also
gives a bird’s eye view over the city. And the extremely modern
Orchid House, which lies at the western foot of Naval Hill in Hamilton
Park, lays claim to the world’s largest collection of orchids.
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Bloemfontein
telephone code - 051 South Africa code +27
Internet
cafe -
Other useful InformationThere is no shortage of activities when in Bloemfontein: The Art in the Park, held in Kings Park on the first Saturday of every month is an extremely popular event amongst residents; Loch Logan Waterfront offers a series of restaurants, shops, pubs and entertainment, and the Oliewenhuis Art Gallery - a beautiful neo-Cape Dutch house with frequent exhibitions and sprawling lawns - has gardens under shade trees that provide a wonderful space in which to picnic or simply enjoy tea at the little garden tea house.
Kings Park is the largest of the city's pleasure grounds. They are a blaze of colour almost all year round. Bloemfontein is known as the City of Roses, and more then 4000 rose trees have been planted in the rose gardens in Kings Park, which was opened in 1925 by the Prince of Wales. The Bloemfontein Zoo is also in this park, well known for its large collection of primates. The Zoo is open every day of the year and visiting hours in the summer are from 08:00 to 18:00 and in winter from 08:00 to 17:00.
Adjacent to the Zoo is the new Loch Logan Waterfront It includes a cinema,
fashion shops, restaurants and coffee shops, a permanent flea market,
etc.