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The Free State has some great farms, nature reserves and Bed & Breakfasts – ideal for a weekend getaway. It’s a good idea to combine your overnight stay with some wildlife viewing, local food and impressive scenery to have a comprehensive experience.
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Travel to the town of Trompsburg, 120km south of Bloemfontein on the N1. Check into the Rietpoort Game & Guest Farm. It is home to an abundance of antelope and monkeys (the farmer’s wife breeds marmosets), and the setting is lush and welcoming. If they’re full, there’s Korthoek Guest House and the Berdanco Guest Farm in the vicinity.
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The Tussen-Twee-Riviere Nature Reserve is just south of Trompsburg, so if you’re staying on a farm in the area, be sure to visit here. The wildlife is as worthwhile as the San rock art and the mighty Gariep River flows through it.
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Enjoy the sight of Africa’s large antelope like the eland, marvel at the zebra’s stripes and listen to the sounds of the bush, particularly at noon and dusk. You can book accommodation in the reserve if you prefer. There’s nothing like swapping tales around the fire over a cold beer, or waking up to the sound of bird calls and the sight of antelope grazing at your back door – which happens frequently if you stay here.
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The Gariep Dam is about a two-hour drive from Trompsburg and Twee Riviere. This vast expanse of flowing water is a good call if you like wildlife, birds, hiking, canoeing and the outdoors in general. Raptor Ridge B&B comes with a good-looking thatch lodge and access to all the above-mentioned activities.
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Stay the night at the dam and then motor back at your leisure the next day, stopping off for lunch along the way. Better yet, if you’re staying in catered accommodation, ask the proprietor of the house to pack you some padkos – food for the road. It’s a South African institution to find a good spot under a shady tree somewhere, crack open some cool drinks and dip into the sandwiches, meatballs, eggs and fruit in the hamper before travelling further.
Before flying back home from Johannesburg or Cape Town, why not treat yourself to a bright lights, big city break?
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