Tourism

The Vredefort Dome is to be marketed internationally.

Vredefort Dome is the oldest astrobleme ever found. Credit: Francesco Bandarin/UNESCO

About 2 000-million years ago a meteorite landed in what is now the Free State. The town of Vredefort is approximately in the middle of the circular area that has been identified as the dome of that meteorite; its diameter is 300km and extends from Johannesburg in the north to Welkom in the south. The core zone is 120km south of Johannesburg on the banks of the Vaal River, and this is the smaller area that has UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

The site’s boundaries, which has a radius of 190km, are roughly defined by the roads that link Vredefort, Parys and Potchefstroom. A meteorite impact structure is called an astrobleme and this is the oldest, largest and most deeply eroded such structure ever found.

A joint effort to improve and market the area nationally and internationally is underway, involving the Free State tourism authorities, the North West Province, Fezile Dabi District Municipality and the National Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries.

Other sites with potential that are the subject of upgrades include the Thaba Nchu Airfield and the Phakisa Raceway in Welkom.

The global pandemic closed down the tourism sector and it will take some time to recover. The provincial government provided some relief by earmarking tourism venues as sites for quarantine.

Heritage is a sector with growth potential. A Heroes’ Park is to be constructed at Thaba Nchu and Tumahole with statues of Oliver Tambo and Fidel Castro. A museum and statue at Brandfort to commemorate Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is planned.

In 2019 the 88-room Splendid Inn Bloemfontein was opened by Premier Hotels & Resorts. Protea Hotels has four properties in the Free State, two in Bloemfontein, one in Harrismith and the Protea Hotel Clarens.

The Tsogo Group’s properties include the four-star Southern Sun Bloemfontein and the Goldfields Casino in Welkom. The City Lodge Bloemfontein has 151 rooms, and there is a Road Lodge at the airport.

The Rantsoareng Group operates exclusively in the Free State and has three properties, the biggest of which is the President Hotel in Bloemfontein.

Sun International runs the Lesotho Sun and the Maseru Sun in neighbouring Lesotho. In Bloemfontein, the Windmill Casino and Entertainment Centre offers slot machines and gaming tables, plus conference facilities. The four-star Willow Lodge has 80 rooms. The Naledi Sun Hotel and Casino is about 65km from Bloemfontein.

The Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Maluti Mountains is one of South Africa’s great parks. ■

ONLINE RESOURCES

Bloemfontein Tourism: www.bloemfonteintourism.co.za Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs: www.destea.gov.za Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority: www.gla.fs.gov.za SECTOR INSIGHT Tourism venues were used as quarantine sites during the pandemic.