Discover Parys

Peaceful Parys

Just an hour’s drive from Johannesburg and the OR Tambo International Airport is the small, but infinitely abundant, town of Parys. It is situated along the Vaal River in the Free State and combines natural diversity and beauty with historical value and a distinct sense of heritage. Being so close to Johannesburg means that Parys can be a day-trip for those staying in the City of Gold, but is also a destination in its own rights.

Here are some of Parys’ favourite attractions and activities:

Breë Street – the best way to get the most out of the main street in the town is to walk it. This busy street is lined with awesome shops, art galleries, craft stores, antique dealers and eateries. There is something for absolutely everyone to enjoy along Breë Street. Continued

I ♥ Gariep Dam Because …

I ♥ Gariep Dam

Hi, I’m Robin van den Berg from Rose Cottage in Gariep Dam.

Gariep Dam IS BEST KNOWN FOR superior accommodation at affordable rates and stunning view of the dam and wildlife.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the Gariep Dam wall.

THE BEST Gariep Dam PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT the entrance road leading up to the upper town.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT Rose Cottage restaurant. Continued

Lions in Action – Bagamoya Wildlife Estate

Bagamoya Wildlife Estate

Bagamoya lies roughly 35 kilometres outside of Bloemfontein in the direction of Maselspoort. Out here the grass is long, the trees reminiscent of the bushveld and the skies a vivid enough blue to evoke many a novel depicting the beauty of the wild plains of South Africa.

Today’s open spaces are limited. Many of them, like Bagamoya, are closer and closer to cities and more like animal enclosures than they are game parks or farms. Being rather averse to zoos at the best of times I find I have mixed feelings on entering the estate. Two large, modern and fenced enclosures house two huge lionesses and a male lion, closest to the gate. One lioness is separate from the other two.

Above them, up a series of steep steps, is a viewing room where we’re greeted by a stuffed lion, its magnificence very obviously diminished by the taxidermy process. The enclosures below us are little bigger than those experienced in a zoo, although they lack the paltriness some of these institutions begin to exhibit. Continued

Bloemfontein’s Botanical Garden – Perfect for Photo Moments and Lazy Afternoons

Bloem's Botanical Gardens

Bloemfontein gets a rather raw deal. Mention that you’re spending Christmas there and you’re immediately the recipient of sympathetic looks. Some people will even groan out loud, assuming this will automatically make you feel better.

Fortunately I have no attachment to the city one way or the other. I won’t go as far as to say that I’m fond of it, but every city has its positive side. It is, however, where my in laws live, and last year we had to make a couple of concessions; sisters out all the way from London did not have Cape Town on their itineraries – more’s the pity.

With the whole family together – a rare and momentous enough occasion at the best of times – a photo shoot was in order, and the Botanical Gardens topped the list as a venue. It’s free (well, for those of us with a National Botanical Gardens membership), pretty and wouldn’t be too busy. Continued

I ♥ Harrismith Because …

I ♥ Harrismith

Hi, I’m Alet from Greensleeves Guesthouse in Harrismith.

Harrismith IS BEST KNOWN FOR being a friendly town. It’s also well known as the halfway stop between Durban and Johannesburg.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the Platberg Mountain which is in the Platberg Game Reserve adjoining the Botanical Garden.

THE BEST mountain PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT the Botanic Garden.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the town hall and the other beautiful, old buildings in town. The town hall is a National Monument; an impressive sandstone and brick building that was built in 1907. Continued

I ♥ Ficksburg Because …

I ♥ Ficksburg

Hi, We’re Dennis and Tereza from Malutizicht Lodge in Ficksburg.

Ficksburg IS BEST KNOWN FOR cherries!

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT General Fick’s Monument which is in front of the town hall. The hall itself is a national monument.

THE BEST scenic PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN on top of Emperani Mountains.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS can be taken anywhere along the R26 to Fouriesburg and Bethlehem.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD Dennis LIKES TO play bowls.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, I LIKE TO play scrabble or paint and Dennis likes to play bridge.

I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS summer, BECAUSE it is the coolest place in South Africa. Continued

I ♥ Bethlehem Because …

I ♥ Bethlehem

Hi, I’m Evette from Lavender Hill Country Estate in Bethlehem in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region of the Eastern Free State.

Bethlehem IS BEST KNOWN FOR its beautiful scenery it also has a number of historical sandstone buildings, many of which are now provincial heritage sites.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the old ship at Loch Athlone.

THE BEST nature PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT Bethlehem Bird Park.

OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the Bethlehem Museum and Sol Plaaitjie Dam. Continued

I ♥ Fouriesburg Because …

I ♥ Fouriesburg

Hi, I’m Guilletta from Pumula Guest Farm in Fouriesburg.

Fouriesburg IS BEST KNOWN FOR asparagus, unbelievable sandstone rock formations; the ‘Queen Victoria’ is listed as one of the 20 highest loose-standing rock formations in the Free State and the largest rock overhang in the Southern Hemisphere while ‘Salpeterkrans’ is on the way to Clarens.
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN INSIDE the old car at Jen-lee’s.
THE BEST autumn colour scene PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN anywhere in the Fouriesburg district.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS can be taken on the tractor outside the Plaas Stoep Pub.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO have sun-downers next to the low water bridge on the S344 dirt road.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, I LIKE TO sip some red wine in the pub next to the fireplace at the Fouriesburg Country Inn.
I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS autumn and winter BECAUSE because of the beautiful autumn colours and snow in Lesotho in winter. Continued

I ♥ Bloemfontein Because …

I ♥ Bloemfontein

Hi, I’m Jan Fourie from Camelia Guest House in Bloemfontein in the Motheo Region of the Free State.

Bloemfontein IS BEST KNOWN FOR its friendly inhabitants and its historical sandstone buildings which comprise good material for art photos. If interested in capturing people relaxing at open restaurants, visit the three major shopping centres namely Mimosa Mall, the Waterfront or Preller Square.

GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Oliewenhuis. The gardens are neat, spacious and well kept. You will find lovely corners in the gardens where you can relax and compile your own setting for photos. Art objects next to the art museum also offer opportunities for creative photos.

THE BEST nature PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN early in the morning at the botanical gardens.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the zoo. Continued

5 days – Cape Town to Johannesburg, via the Free State

Fields of Cosmos

Ah, the heart of the country where the sun almost always shines, or at least for 340 days of the year. Swathes of wheat fields, cosmos and sunflowers with a backdrop of rolling hills, incredible sandstone mountains, and roads that lack congestion, give or take the odd pothole. This is the Free State.

Right through the middle of this province runs the main route between Cape Town and Johannesburg. Called the N1, this road runs straight, very straight, through terrain utterly land-locked that is also the country’s third-largest province – known as the bread basket of the country because it produces soya, sorghum, wheat, potatoes and sunflowers. But how many of us have followed our heart’s desire and spent time off the N1 in amongst the cosmos and fields of wheat? Continued

Rosendal – the “new” Clarens?

Rosendal, Free State

I’d heard that Rosendal is the “next” Clarens and seeing as we were en route from Ficksburg to Clarens and Rosendal is only a teeny bit off track we used this as our opportunity to pop in and see the village for ourselves.  One is greeted by a fairly large ‘map’ of Rosendal when arriving but to be honest we drove down a dusty track and thought to ourselves ‘what the heck is all the fuss about’ – in fact we couldn’t even find a shop of any kind!  We spotted a church steeple and being the intrepid, seasoned explorers that we are made our way towards that landmark …

Aha – good move that was.  Almost directly opposite the church is Turvsy Trading; a cauldron of enamel signs, antiques, bicycles, woollen goods and just about everything else you could think of.  I walked into the shop and my jaw hit the ground!  It was like walking into a regter egter trading store 100 years ago; Continued

The Bottling Co in Ficksburg

The Bottling Company

I spent the night in Ficksburg last week and seeing as dinner was not served at our guest house it was suggested that we try The Bottling Co.  We didn’t have much other choice and meeting the locals is what being on a road trip is all about so we followed the directions given and strolled the 300 metres or so from our accommodation in Ficksburg to The Bottling Co on Piet Retief Street.

The venue is divided into two sections; the bar and smoking area in the front and the non-smoking area in the back.  The front area had a lot more atmosphere so although not smokers, we chose in the smoking section.  Continued

Oliewenhuis – The city of roses divulges a gem

Oliewenhuis

I love strolling through the ground floor gallery of Oliewenhuis. Every time we return there is something new to grab one’s attention, usually contemporary – the museum is renowned for its contemporary collection and holds between 15 and 20 temporary exhibitions every year. The works are, more often than not, for sale, so it’s something of a glorified shopping experience. I can imagine acquiring some of these gorgeous works for myself!

Oliewenhuis is an art museum of note housed in a Neo-Dutch style mansion that served as residence for the Governor General of the then Union of South Africa from 1942, and later became the official residence for the State President of South Africa when he was in Bloemfontein. It is also one of the highlights of visiting the city, and a ‘must-see’ on anyone’s itinerary. Continued

Clarens entices, enchants and continues to appeal

Clarens

The town of Clarens has been on the lips of enthusiasts for years. It’s used as the yardstick for just about any town in the vicinity of the Free State, so I was curious on entering – not having visited for about six years. Would the town have retained its artists’ hideaway status, or would it now look a little jaded, overexposed and over-commercialised, as I feared it might?

It is difficult to beat the setting around Clarens. The picture book town lies in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains and the Golden Gate Highlands, on the Caledon River, with views that are pretty magnificent. Some fourteen art galleries bear testimony to the number of artists the wonder of the scenery has attracted, and the sheer volume of people who pass through here speak of the need to return time and again for the pleasure gained in the outdoors environment of Clarens – white water rafting, horse riding trails, fly fishing and hiking. Continued

Bloemfontein – Wouter’s ‘time out’ guide

Iewers Nice in Bloem

Pretty Bloemfontein bang smack in the middle of the country, give or take a few kilometres, tends to get the cold shoulder when it comes to travel through no fault of its own, except that there is no apparent reason to go out of your way to visit the city, unless, like me, you have relatives living there. But one is sorely mistaken to take the city at face value.

You’ve no doubt heard the origin of the judicial capital of the country’s name, but for the sake of posterity – it is Dutch for ‘spring of bloem’, ‘flower spring’ or ‘fountain of flowers’. The reason for this description might not become immediately apparent, if like me you visit out of season, as the abundance of roses in the city of roses tends to happen only during the annual rose festival in October. Continued