The Free State, formerly known as the Orange Free State, is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Boer republic called the Orange Free State and later the Orange Free State Province.
Kroonstad, officially named Maokeng, is the fourth largest town in the Free State and lies two hours' drive on the N1 from Gauteng. It is the second-largest commercial and urban centre in the Northern Free State, and an important railway junction on the main line from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Maokeng is Sesotho and means "place of the thorn trees ".
Alberton is a town situated on the southern part of the East Rand of the Gauteng Province in South Africa and is situated very close to the major urban centre of Johannesburg.
Mountain Zebra National Park is a national park in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa; proclaimed in July 1937 for the purpose of providing a nature reserve for the endangered Cape mountain zebra. It is surrounded by 896,146.57 hectares of the Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment.
The Caledon River is a major river located in central South Africa. Its total length is 642 km (399 mi), rising in the Drakensberg Mountains on the Lesotho border, flowing southwestward and then westward before joining the Orange River near Bethulie in the southern Free State.
Motheo was, until the municipal elections of 18 May 2011, a district of the Free State province of South Africa. At the time of the 2011 elections it was disestablished as a consequence of Mangaung Local Municipality being upgraded to a metropolitan municipality.
Golden Gate Highlands National Park is located in Free State, South Africa, near the Lesotho border. It covers an area of 340 km2 (130 sq mi). The park's most notable features are its golden, ochre, and orange-hued, deeply eroded sandstone cliffs and outcrops, especially the Brandwag rock. Another feature of the area is the numerous caves and shelters displaying San rock paintings. Wildlife featured at the park includes mongooses, eland, zebras, and over 100 bird species. It is the Free State's only national park and is more famous for the beauty of its landscape than for its wildlife. Numerous palaeontology finds have been made in the park, including dinosaur eggs and skeletons.
Oviston Nature Reserve is a protected area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The nature reserve is managed by Eastern Cape Parks. It is located on the southern shores of the Gariep Dam.
The Borakalalo Game Reserve is a protected area in North West Province, South Africa. It is located about 80 kilometres NNW of Pretoria and 60 km north of Brits. This majestic Nature reserve has unfortunately been hampered by numerous safety problems, especially affecting overnight visitors to the reserve. Also known as a fantastic birding destination with specials including African Finfoot, Meyer's Parrot and Grey-Headed Kingfisher.
The QwaQwa National Park is part of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the Maloti-Drakensberg Park and comprises the former Bantustan (homeland) of QwaQwa. It is approximately 60 km from Harrismith on the Golden Gate Road (R712) and formed an integral part of the Highlands Treasure Route.
Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve is a 22 000 ha nature reserve wedged between the Orange River and the Caledon River in the southern Free State, South Africa.
Abe Bailey Nature Reserve is a protected area in Gauteng, South Africa. It is situated near Carletonville, beside the township of Khutsong on the West Rand. It is about 4,200 hectares in size.
Albert Falls (Dam) Nature Reserve, is a protected nature area located in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, near Pietermaritzburg and Cramond. The nature reserve was established in 1975. The Albert Falls Dam is rated as one of the best bass fishing dams in the world. The area surrounding the falls have an abundance of secluded nature trails and picnic spots. The emblem of the Albert Falls Amble is the African fish eagle, as its unique call can be heard throughout the area.
Kalkfontein Nature Reserve is situated in the southernmost part of the Free State, of South Africa, on the road (R701) between Bethulie and Smithfield about 15 km from Bethulie, where the Orange River and the Caledon River come together.
Maria Moroka NationalPark is named after Chieftainess Maria Moipone Moroka of the Barolong Tribe in Thaba Nchu. The national park is near Thaba Nchu in the Mangaung District of the Free State Province, South Africa. The park perimeter surrounds the Moutloatse Setlogelo Dam which is a popular angling area. The Thaba Nchu mountain range is to the north of the national park.
Mabula Game Reserve is a private game reserve situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is about 12,000 hectares in area and is about 47 km from Bela Bela (Warmbaths).
Buffelspruit Nature Reserve is a smallish nature reserve in the far north of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is a nature reserve consisting of veld and koppies (hills) run by the Johannesburg City Parks. It is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of Johannesburg, in an area of 640 hectares. Home to many species of flora and bird life, it is also home to large and small mammals such as blesbok, zebra, wildebeest and duiker. The reserve has a number of hiking trails and archaeological sites, with the Bloubosspruit flowing through the area.
Wonderfonteinspruit is a small river situated in the Highveld region of South Africa. Its source has been disputed in the past, although it is now accepted that the river originates in the West Rand of Gauteng between Krugersdorp and Randfontein, at the Tudor Dam, which was initially used as a storage dam for the Luiperdsvlei Gold Plant. In the past the river received a majority of its water from karst springs along its course. The river flows through one of the richest gold-producing areas in the world, which led to the dolomitic compartments which fed the river being dewatered to make way for mining activities. This led to the drying up of the karst springs that fed the river.
