Free State & Mpumalanga Attractions

The Free State is also rich in mineral wealth and the gold mines around the city of Welkom produce 20% of the worlds' gold. Many national parks and game reserves are found in Free State; the most attractive of which is the Golden Gate Highlands National park dominated by strangely eroded sandstone mountains.

The state has historical importance as a Boer frontier. The population of 2.8 million mostly South Sotho-speaking and Afrikaans are centered around Bloemfontein, the provincial capital, and the gold-mining region of Welkom.

To the east of the Free State the province of Mpumalanga, meaning 'the place where the sun rises', is a region of great scenic beauty. Typical of its landscape are forests, mountains, rivers, waterfalls and scenic passes. Mpumalanga is well known for it's wildlife parks, in particular, the southern part of world-renowned Kruger National Park, one of South Africa's top attractions.

Mpumalanga has no large towns; its capital is Nelspruit. The province has just under 3 million people, mostly speaking Swazi, Zulu and Afrikaans.

The bustling hub of the city's life is Hoffmann Square, in which are the Tourist Information Office and the Head Post Office. The square, originally the town's market square, was given its present aspect in the 1970s. It is a convenient starting-point for a tour of the main sights, a walk taking about an hour.