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Although it lies inland in the more arid part of the Free State province, Bloemfontein is home to some of the country’s most beautiful gardens and parks. This is celebrated annually with the Rose Festival, during which a gardening competition has local socialites up to their ears in veiled straw hats. An effortless cycle, a walk or a leisurely drive through the city’s more affluent suburbs allows visitors the opportunity to enjoy the local greenery.
The Franklin Nature Reserve on Naval Hill at the northern tip of the town, with its languid giraffe, antelope and typical savannah grassland vegetation, brings a slice of Africa to the city. Drop a few snacks in a basket, your camera and some drinks, and make an afternoon of it. You can enjoy the sunset as a bonus.
Don’t miss out on the Botanical Garden with its esteemed orchid house, where thousands of these tropical plants flourish. King’s Park just west of the city centre is home to the zoo and Loch Logan – good for a morning stroll, a browse through the market and a light lunch at the water.
So rich in stars is the night sky around Bloemfontein that the University of Michigan built an observatory on Naval Hill, which has since been turned into a theatre – the Observatory or Sterrewag. Locals are known to drive a few kilometres out of town at sunset, find a suitable spot, open a blanket and a bottle of bubbly, and lie flat on their backs to enjoy the view. The less intrepid are out in the garden after dark with binoculars and a beer.
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