A holiday in the Free State is all about taking your time to get to know this fascinating destination, enjoying the diverse attractions and activities available. Whether you’re looking for a country retreat, a unique safari holiday, or a fascinating culture trip, you’ll find it in the Free State. Diverse, scenic and quirky, the Free State offers something for every type of holidaymaker looking to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life.  

Free State tourist attractions and things to do on holiday 

• Attend Bloemfontein’s Mangaung African Cultural Festival.   
• Hike the 33km Rhebok Trail in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. 
• Explore the Basotho Cultural Village.   
• Take a guided tour through the passages inside the wall of the Gariep Dam.   
• Visit Naval Hill in Bloemfontein, with its 6.5m-high statue of Nelson Mandela and its famous White Horse sculpture.   
• Enjoy the cherry festival in Ficksburg that takes place every November.   
• Try berry picking, great beer and ‘mampoer’ as well as plenty of art in Parys.  
• Go white-water rafting on the Vaal River in Parys.  
• Try your hand at fly fishing in Clarens, one of the country’s best trout fishing destinations.  
• See the world's oldest and largest impact crater, the Vredefort Dome.
• Go on safari and view wildebeest in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve.  
• Enjoy bird watching and discover over 400 species of plants in the Free State National Botanical Garden.  

With its wide-open spaces, breathtaking scenery, an abundance of birds and wildlife, and fascinating towns and villages, the Free State has its own unique charm that is begging to be discovered. Experience it all on an unforgettable family holiday, a romantic honeymoon or a road trip with your friends.