Things to Do in Free State

Mimosa Mall is one of the Free State’s most desirable and luxurious shopping centres. Fashionable shops bring leading brands within grasp of Bloem’s trendy set.With 120 leading stores, there are numerous tempting choices coupled with an indulgent ambience. Big name chain stores include Game, Woolworths, Foschini, Truworths, twelve major restaurants and seven Ster-Kinekor theatres.Mimosa Mall is perfect for families with various eateries open for breakfast. There is a wide range of restaurants, shops and cafes. Most restaurants are open until late so there is sure to be something suitable for everyone.Positioned in the heart of Bloemfontein, the centre is a characteristic landmark and is one of the most successful malls in South Africa. Parking is plentiful with 1 800 secure bays. All car parks provide easy, direct access into the centre for consumers with kids.Mondays to Fridays: 09:00 - 18:00Saturdays: 08:30 - 17:00Sundays: 10:00 - 14:00Public holidays: 09:00 - 14:00Restaurants: 07:00 - till late

Conveniently close to most of Bloemfontein’s upmarket accommodation, Loch Logan Waterfront offers a good selection of retail and entertainment choices.The lively mall houses more than 100 shops, 17 restaurants and coffee shops, 10 fast food outlets, cinemas, salons, banks, a gym and a medical centre.Loch Logan Waterfront is centrally situated in King’s Park, a few blocks west of the City Hall and National Afrikaans literary Museum. The Bloemfontein Zoo, home to a fair amount of African wildlife, is also found in King’s Park.The convenient situation of Loch Logan Waterfront places it in close proximity to the Free State Stadium, Free State Cricket Stadium, Sand du Plessis Theatre, Bloemfontein Medi-Clinic, and Bloemfontein Rose Gardens. Bloemfontein International Airport is only a ten-minute drive away.

Eyeballing wine, swirling, sniffing and swishing - it may look complicated or even snobbish, but the traditional wine-tasting technique is actually based on common sense. It's simply a way to pause for a moment, to stop and think, and to pay attention to the ways that the wine impacts on all your senses, from sight and scent to taste, aftertaste, and the overall impression that the wine leaves behind after you've finished.

Bloemfontein certainly doesn’t lack when it comes to sports facilities and boasts a fine assortment. The 48 000-seater Free State Stadium is companion to an international standard athletics stadium, the Goodyear Park cricket grounds which is used for international matches, an artificial turf hockey stadium and great tennis facilities. The 1995 Rugby World Cup brought about a significantly improved stadium with seating bordering the field. Bloemfontein's chief stadium has also hosted international football events – some of the 1996 African Cup of Nations matches were played here. Improvements to the Free State Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup included enlarging the seating capacity and upgrades to all facilities.

Springbok Park, now known as Chevrolet Park, is a well-equipped stadium within walking distance of Bloemfontein's city centre. The 20 000-seater stadium incorporates two large stands. Braai and cricket devotees frequent the grassy banks, perfect for big groups who enjoy a good braai session while watching cricket. Boasting excellent floodlights, the grounds are often used for festive night matches.

Famous for its golden sandstone cliffs and abundant antelope and zebra herds, Golden Gate Highlands National Park nestles in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains. The park is named for the glowing golden ciffs lit by the sun, paticularily the imposing Brandwag rock. This unique reserve is a true highland habitat. Wildlife you are likely to see are black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok and Burchell's zebra. If you're lucky you could spot the rare bearded vulture (lammergeier) and the equally rare bald ibis, which breed on the ledges in the sandstone cliffs. Try to visit the Vulture Restaurant! Ribbokkop, the highest point in the park, reveals a breathtaking tapestry of red, yellow and purple hues as its warm shades merge with the cool mountain shadows towards evening. Other stunning lookout points are the Zuluhoek lookout point, Generaalskop viewpoint (third highest point in the park); Oribi basin and Drakensberg view. Hikers can chose from various day trails (varying from 1 hour to 5 hours) or the awesome two day Rhebok Hiking Trail (2 days and 1 night). Up for an African cultural experience? Get to experience the Basotho way of living dating back to the sixteen century by tasting traditional cuisine and learn about the traditional equipment and weapons at the Basotho Cultural Village. The Herbal Trail introduces visitors to the medicines that were (and still are) used by the African Traditional Healers.

Oliewenhuis Art Museum is housed in a Neo-Dutch style mansion which served as residence for the Governor General of the Union of South Africa. In 1985 it was converted into an Art Museum as a satellite of the National Museum Bloemfontein. The Permanent Collection housed at Oliewenhuis is an outstanding collection of South African art, which includes a unique outdoor Sculpture Park and a working African Carousel, for which original sculptures were commissioned. Temporary exhibitions of South African artists are regularly exhibited in the Museum galleries and the unique underground Reservoir gallery. Other highlights include the Blind Alphabet, an artwork created specifically for the sight-impaired and the functional Cement and Mosaic sculptures situated in the gardens. Oliewenhuis Art Museum, 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein Open Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:00, Saturday 10:00 - 5:00, Sunday and Public Holidays 13:00 - 17:00. Closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. +27 (0) 51 447 9609 oliewen@nasmus.co.za www.nasmus.co.za

Also called the 'Square', Game Shopping Centre has a good variety of shops. Fast foodies can choose from the drive through Wimpy and Kentucky or Spur and Panarotti Pizza restaurants.

Spend a peaceful night in jail! Sleep in an authentic cell featuring incredibly thick walls that are virtually sound proof. The sturdy solid wood and steel cell door is held together with 101 nuts and bolts. The Old Jail is situated in Justisie Street right on the upper edge of Philippolis. Behind the jail building is a walking trail through real Upper Karoo veld leading to the old Adam Kok Kruithuis. Guests lock themselves in at night and out in the morning. Full braai facilities are available and the kitchen is also fully equipped. And if you’re craving contact with the outside world – there is good cellphone reception inside the jail.

New Tempe Airport offers hangers and airstrip for light to medium sized aeroplanes, helicopters, microlights, gyrocopters, and high-altitude gliders. The airstrip is situated in uncontrolled airspace and the general flying area is just a five-minute flight to the North. Excellent flying conditions throughout the year make it an ideal choice for training.

The small Soetdoring Nature Reserve and Predator Park makes a great day outing from Bloemfontein. Although it isn't one of the top scenic parks in South Africa, you can observe a pride of lions in their fenced enclosure. Gemsbok, eland, springbok, blesbok, black wildebeest, zebra and red hartebeest can easily be seen on the open plains. More secretive impala, kudu, steenbok, duiker and mountain reedbuck are harder to spot in the riverine bush. The park also offers the best birding around Bloemfontein with over 284 species recorded. Most visitors come here to picnic, braai, spot wildlife or to fish along the river and dam. Braai and picnic facilities are dotted along the shore.