Xhariep Region

Gariep Aviation
tel: 086 265 0581.
www.gariepgliding.com

Regions l Xhariep

Xhariep

This is a region of vast grassy plains and endless vistas, where the visitor can enjoy the open blue skies - star-studded at night - and the fresh unpolluted air. The Gariep Dam is situated in the southernmost corner of the region and offers excellent recreational facilities and opportunities for anyone wishing to escape city life.

The Xhariep is a vast, open grassland fed by the broad river the San called the !Garib (great river) which forms the southern border of the region. It was named the Orange River by settlers who had orange in their flag and saw the colour in the murky expanse of this 2 000 km long source of life that cuts through dry lands and forms the natural southern border with -the Cape. Further north is Motheo which is dominated by the capital city Bloemfontein, literally meaning the “flower fountain’, and also known as the “city of roses’. Bloemfontein is the business and cultural hub of the Free State and expresses the cultural diversity for which the province is well-known. To the west beyond the sculptured lawns, impressive buildings and floral embankments, lies the semi-arid Xhariep, dotted by dams and covered by sheep and cattle farms. The east, stretching up to the Drakensberg Range, abounds with parks and reserves.

One should not be fooled by the tranquillity of the Transgariep Region - underneath the atmospheric serenity lie incredible journeys and unforgettable opportunities waiting to be experienced. These range from the sheer thrill of the hunt on any of the many game farms, the outstanding nature reserves offering their absorbing animal, plant and bird life, or just to enjoy the excellent facilities at the many holiday resorts in the area. And then there are the journeys. The journeys leading you directly into the hearts of the people and country alike. Follow the preserved trails of Bushman antiquity and feel the magical presence of a nearly extinct people; so are the historic footsteps of other cultural groups in the region. The charm of small town mythology brings one closer still to the rhythms of the earth, to a natural order, to a way of life perhaps intended for us all.

Must-sees in the rest of Transgariep Region

Railroad tracks running through the centre of Fauresmith
Landzicht Wine Cellar at Jacobsdal
Open Mine Museum and mining hole at Jagersfontein
Open Mine Museum at Koffiefontein
Transgariep Museum and Laurens van der Post Memorial at Philippolis
The 'Little Gallery' at Smithfield
Gariep Dam
The 'Eye' of Zastron
D.H Steyn bridge near Bethulie

The Xhariep Dam forms part of the largest inland expanse of water in South Africa.

Mouse over map of Xhariep

Free State Department of Tourism, Environmental & Economic Affairs
Bojanala Building - 34 Markgraaf st. - Bloemfontein - 9300 l Private Bag X20801 - Bloemfontein - 9300
Call Centre: 086 110 2185 - Fax: +27 51 400 9593

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Trompsburg was named after the owners of the farm Middelwater, on which the town was founded in 1891. It's hub of Free State Merino sheep farming.

Edenburg: This typical Transgariep town, nestled in the golden prairies alongside the country's busiest National road, sets its own pace as a prosperous sheep and cattle farming centre.

Philippolis: After the mission station Toverberg was closed in 1818, Dr John Phillip, superindent of South Africa, gave his name to this new missionary outpost in 1823, making it the Free State's oldest town.

Xhariep Dam is an ideal inland holiday destination as well as a perfect stop-over for tourists travelling between Gauteng and Cape Town.

Smithfield is where two important tourist routes, the N6 and R701, cross. It is also where the patriotic will of Basoeto, Free State settler and British often crossed in the past.

Zastron lies on the R26 at the foot of the Aasvoëlberg which is the highest peak in the Free State (2207m). Its close proximity to Lesotho is immediately discernable in the landscape, as the hallmark prairies and yielding slopes of the Transgariep offer themselves up to the magnificent mountains of the Eastern Free State.

Petrusburg, a rich agricultural centre, is situated 80km west of Bloemfontein on the R48.
Mixed farming is practised in the 3000 square km which was excised from the Fauresmith district in 1863. The main activity is sheep farming. The main crops are maize and potatoes. Modest quantities of wheat are harvested in the rare season when enough rain falls in winter and early spring. There are numerous salt pans in the district.

Bethulie: Formed around a mission station in 1829, this town offers many historical sites depicting the violent period prior to its formation, as well as nature reserves and resorts and various water-activities on the Dams in the area.

Koffiefontein: A fountain in this area was a favourite outspan for transport riders in the 19th century. The riders' habit of constantly making coffee is said to have led to the name Koffiefontein. In June 1870, one of these transport riders picked up a diamond near the fountain. This prompted the usual diamond rush and by 1882 Koffiefontein was a booming town with four mining companies. Ten years later the miners' camp was proclaimed a town and the name Koffiefontein was retained.