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Free State Travel Information
The Free State is a region renowned for its natural beauty,
rural farmlands, mountains, goldfields and towns is a haven
for the outdoor enthusiast. Some of South Africa's most valued
San (Bushman) rock art is found here. The Free State is also
home to the most productive gold and diamond mines in the
world.
The Free State can be divided into five regions:
The Free State Climate
The Free State has a hot, dry climate with summer rains, cold
winters and lots of sunshine.
Some Free State History
During the Great Trek some Voortrekkers moved from the Cape
Colony and settled just north of the Orange River, forming
the border between the Cape Colony and the rest of South Africa.
These pioneers founded many towns and farms but soon came
into conflict with the local inhabitants, especially the Basotho,
whose nation was founded by Moshoeshoe. In 1854 the Voortrekkers
declared the area the Orange Free State - a Boer republic
and fought against Moshoeshoe many times, mostly over land
ownership. In 1868 the Basotho lost the war asked the British
for protection which meant that the Boers could not take over
his kingdom. However, it also meant that the British could
have control over his land. In 1870, Moshoeshoe died and the
British made the kingdom a colony, calling it Basotholand.
In 1966 Basotholand became independent and changed its name
to Lesotho. When the Second Anglo-Boer War broke the Orange
Free State helped fight against the British and in 1902 the
Boers lost the war and their republics became British colonies
and the Orange Free State was changed to the Orange River
Colony. In 1910, it became one of the provinces of the new
Union of South Africa, and the name was changed back to the
Orange Free State before its final name change to the Free
State In June 1995.
Contact us and we will gladly assist you with more Free State travel information, or simply click through to the region you wish to find out about.
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