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Home , Clocolan, Free state (polity), Gariep Dam, Ladybrand

RISE WITH OUR LAND OF WIDE OPEN SPACES FREE INCENTIVE FACT BOOK Clarens – FREE STATE

Known as ‘the bread basket’ of , the Free State is all about wide open spaces and local hospitality. This province is situated in the heart of South Africa and, when it comes to incentive options as well as pre- and post-tours, visitors are spoilt for choice. From visiting the artists in Rosendal to tasting ‘boerekos’ at the wonderful restaurants in Clarens, exploring the beautiful landscapes of Golden Gate Highlands National Park and taking advantage of all the great watersports adventures on the , there are countless incentive and leisure activities on offer. For a spot of inspiration, visit the Basotho Cultural and glean an understanding of local folklore and traditions. On the other end of the spectrum, take a tour of Mangaung and get an authentic taste of life according to the many fascinating people who life there. Mangaung/ is the capital of the province and South Africa’s judicial capital. The city is a wonderful mix of history, heritage and modern-day attractions, and no matter where you are from, you will find a warm South African welcome in the Free State. 1 Clarens – Free State

2 KEY ATTRACTIONS AND INSPIRING ACTIVITIES:

• GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS the exquisite sandstone architecture NATIONAL PARK: South Africa’s only for which the area is so well known. grasslands national park is named after Another great place to take a road trip, the golden-hued sandstone mountains not too far from the bright lights of that are so distinctive. It is here that Johannesburg and Pretoria, is Parys. Like visitors can enjoy sightings of oribi, Clarens, this is a quaint and arty village blesbok, springbok and Burchell’s zebra. Delegates will love the intrigue known for its eateries, galleries and fun of a guided walk through an enormous water activities on the Vaal River. cave, where they can view ancient • VREDEFORT DOME: This UNESCO San rock art, or a visit to one of the few ‘vulture restaurants’ in the world. World Heritage Site is located near Guided walks and game drives are the of Parys, and is known as the popular at Golden Gate Highlands world’s oldest meteorite impact site. National Park and the area is rich in Guided walks are on offer, along with both cultural and natural history. other outdoor activities like quad- biking, rock-climbing and mountain– • BASOTHO CULTURAL VILLAGE: biking. Delegates will love interacting with the local colour and culture of the • MANGAUNG/BLOEMFONTEIN: province and a trip to the Basotho The city is definitely a highlight of Cultural Village in the Free State any visit to the Free State and there will definitely be an excursion to remember. Here, they can discover is always a lot on the go. Visit the authentic Basotho hospitality, art and Loch Logan Waterfront, the Franklin tradition in this fine cultural village, set or Naval Hill and amid the splendour of the Golden Gate take a walking tour of the city’s main Highlands National Park. attractions. • CLARENS: The ‘Jewel of the Free State’, • ROAD-TRIPPING: There are various this quaint town is home to art galleries, routes in the Free State that make for great restaurants and lots of outdoor great bus tours for groups or self-drive adventures. Delegates can shop up a options for independent travellers. storm at the little shops, followed by These include the Maloti Drakensberg horse-back safaris in the gorgeous Route (through three and mountain surroundings. Smaller groups can also opt for pony-trekking ), the Friendly N6 Route (which adventures just across the border in connects the Free State to the Eastern Lesotho. Clarens is a fantastic spot for Cape), the Battlefield Route (a must for team-building, treasure hunts and history buffs with a fascination for the incentives with a difference, and there Anglo-Boer War) and the Bloemfontein is a wide range of accommodation Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu Heritage available. The town is very popular Route (aka the BBT Route). for leisurely weekend getaways from Johannesburg or Pretoria. • GARIEP DAM AND NATURE RESERVE: This is a popular attraction for watersport • SMALL-TOWN ADVENTURES: The enthusiasts and another great destination Eastern Free State is a wonderful place to take delegates on a ‘road-trip for team-building and rewarding adventure’, from the aforementioned incentives. A variety of watersports (and artsy town of Clarens, to cherry- a range of good accommodation) is on tasting in Fouriesberg, the Lethoteng offer, as well as fantastic nature walks Weavers in to buy gorgeous and bird viewing in this, the Free State’s mohair, and to see some of largest nature reserve. 3 Eastern Free State

4 FREE STATE: BLOEMFONTEIN

Rise with the warm heart • Europe: Amsterdam, Frankfurt, of South Africa Istanbul, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Zurich Mangaung/Bloemfontein is a popular • Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Dubai, business and entertainment hub, yet it Jeddah still has a pretty laid-back atmosphere, • North America: Washington, which means it’s a great place for both New York business events and leisure activities and • South America: Buenos Aires, incentive travellers. ‘The City of Roses’ Sao Paolo (named after the annual rose festival that • Asia: Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, takes place here) has a fascinating history Mumbai, Singapore and there is a range of different activities • Australia: Perth, Sydney and exciting experiences on offer for • Africa: all major those who want to spend a bit more time getting to know the place. Bloemfontein is also an easy three-to-four hour drive from Johannesburg, along the There is also a wealth of accommodation N1 highway. on offer both in the city and in close surrounds, and everything is easily Where to stay accessible by good roads and excellent infrastructure. Attractions further afield There are over 1 543 graded hotels include the Golden Gate Highlands and establishments in Bloemfontein National Park, the Gariep Dam and and surrounds and delegates are spoilt the small of Clarens, Parys and for choice when it comes to variety – Fouriesberg – fantastic for road-trip from city hotels to estates and adventures. guesthouses. Well-known local hotel chain Protea Hotels offer some options, Accessibility including Protea Hotel Bloemfontein and Protea Hotel Willow Lake. Another Bloemfontein is easily accessible through popular business meetings venue South Africa’s major international airports that also offers accommodation is the located in the cities of Johannesburg, Cape Windmill Lodge. The basic, value-for- Town and Durban with: money City Lodge and Road Lodge are • 10 direct flights a day from also on the accommodation list and, Johannesburg for something with a country feel De • Two direct flights a day from Oude Kraal Country Estate and Spa is an Cape Town excellent option (the place has a fantastic • One direct flight a day from Durban reputation for its culinary offerings).

Johannesburg is the gateway to South Africa via OR Tambo International Airport – the largest airport in Africa. Connecting flights via Johannesburg include: 5 Loch Logan Waterfront, Bloemfontein – Free State

6 Exceptional incentive activities river has both Grade 3 and Grade 4 rapids with names such Car Wash, Fish Pond and Big Surprise. • CITY TOUR OF BLOEMFONTEIN: Organise a ‘party bus’ to take your delegates on a • HIKING IN THE GOLDEN GATE fun tour around the city to visit the main HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK: From easy attractions, including Naval Hill and the walks to more challenging hikes, there is Franklin ; Free State Botanical something for everyone in this scenic park. Gardens; Bloemfontein National Museum, Dramatic views are guaranteed and the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, the Choet area is known for its spectacular bird life. Visser Rugby Museum and the famous and Delegates can also stay over the value-for- somewhat eccentric Mystic Boer pub. money SANParks accommodation. • A TREASURE HUNT IN CLARENS: Your • BASOTHO CULTURAL VILLAGE: For some delegates may enjoy a treasure hunt insight into the heritage of the Basotho, activity in the small town of Clarens. Leave visit this fantastic cultural village with clues at various galleries, restaurants, your group of delegates and/or incentive pubs and shops, giving participants the travellers. For something a little different, opportunity to get to know this town a little you might want to book a walking trail better. Throw in some trout fishing, horse- with a herbalist/sangoma and learn which back and quad-biking as part of the grasses, roots, herbs, leaves or bark in mix and a good time for all is guaranteed. the veld are used for medicinal or ritual purposes. • THE FREE STATE’S GARIEP DAM NATURE RESERVE: Offers visitors fantastic fishing • PARYS, FREE STATE: The town of Parys in and a range of watersports, including the Free State is great place for adventure canoeing, angling, power-sailing and and watersports, with a range of activities waterskiing. For those who prefer dry land, for all ages and fitness levels. River there’s game viewing, horseback rides rafting on the Vaal River with accredited and hiking stopping off at viewpoints to facilitators is a half-day or a full day of fun. take photographs and enjoy the beautiful The experience is tailor-made to suit the surrounds. A tour to the Gariep dam wall age and capabilities of participants, and – a pretty astonishing engineering feat - is safety gear, life jackets and helmets are also on offer. provided. For the less adventurous, this Free State tourism town offers a choice of • FOSSIL HUNTING EXPEDITIONS: art galleries, antique shops, pubs, delis, spas The Eastern Free State is known for and restaurants. incredible fossil findings that date back to the early dinosaur age and there are • BLOEMFONTEIN TOWNSHIP TOUR: Get a few specialised operators offering to know about the history and culture of fossil hunting expeditions. You may not Mangaung on a guided township tour. See discover remnants of a 210-million-year- the house of the late Thomas Maphikela old dinosaur (actually discovered in the and enjoy local beer and some authentic Ladybrand of the Free State), but township cuisine and nightlife. there is no doubt you’ll have great fun • A NIGHT OF STARS: Organise a night trying. to remember for your delegates at the • RIVER RAFTING ON THE ASH RIVER: Boyden Observatory, where you get to The Ash River just outside Clarens is a explore the evening sky with the 13-inch rafting hotspot. The Ash River is fed by the Alvin Clark refractor (which is known as Katse Dam, which sits high in the Maluti the third-largest telescope in South Africa). Mountains of Lesotho and ensures pretty You will, however, need to arrange this significant water levels all year round. The beforehand. 7 Clarens – Free State

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For destination expertise and convention planning support, contact the South Africa National Convention Bureau. T: +27 11 895 3000 E: [email protected] W: www.businessevents.southafrica.net