If there’s a place to choose when you want lifestyle and leisure, it’s Central South Africa. The region spans four provinces (the Free State, the Northern Cape, North West and Gauteng) and is easily accessible via several national roads and airports. Central South Africa is where epic road trips come to life while listening to OFM, to guide the journey. It’s also where families come to slow down and where friends gather under the sun and stars, with the Sound of Your life creating the perfect music companion.
Big skies and bright stars
Parts of the Free State and the Northern Cape are known as Big Sky Country, and the name fits. Flat-topped koppies sit on the horizon. Roads roll for kilometres with wide plains stretched out in every direction. Epic sunsets give way to clear skies and bright stars. The grassy Karoo around the Gariep is one of the best places to pull up a camp chair and look up. It is also a world-renowned area for glider pilots to enjoy the open skies.
Highlands in the east
Head east and the Free State rises into the Highlands. Bethlehem and Clarens are the gateways to Golden Gate, Lesotho and the foothills of the Drakensberg just past Harrismith. This is great country for horse riding, mountain climbing, trail running and mountain biking, with snow in winter. Clarens is a regular weekend break for those from the city, but don’t discount Rosendal and the cherry town of Ficksburg. Close to Ficksburg is Sandstone Estates, which boasts an impressive collection of old steam trains and tractors.
River country
The Vaal and the Orange form the biggest river system in South Africa, and they meet near Douglas in the Northern Cape. Along the way they feed some impressive dams, including Gariep, Vanderkloof and Bloemhof. The Vaal Dam, on the border of southern Gauteng and the Free State, is a favourite weekend spot for those enjoying water sports.
You can raft both rivers. Parys is the place to do it on the Vaal, and the town has plenty more to offer. It sits on the Vaal wine route and right beside the Vredefort Dome. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest verified meteorite impact structure on Earth. About two billion years ago, a meteorite struck here and left a crater that is up to 300 km wide.
The quietest frontier
The Northern Cape is known as South Africa’s quietest frontier, and it is easy to see why. From Upington, the Quiver Tree Route follows the Orange River through Kakamas to Augrabies. There are vineyards along the river. At the end of the road is Augrabies Falls National Park, where the Orange River pours through a granite gorge, an impressive sight, especially when in flood. From here, Namibia is 100 km away and the landscape lends itself to 4×4 trails and rugged adventure.
All that glitters
Kimberley is the diamond city, and the Big Hole is its most famous sight. It is the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, and miners took 2,722 kg of diamonds out of it. Standing at the edge gives you a real sense of the scale of the work. The city is also home to the McGregor Museum, the William Humphreys Art Gallery and the Sol Plaatje Museum, which make for a rewarding day of culture. The Diamond Route links conservation and mining areas around Kimberley and beyond. The area also has significant Boer War history and is the site of the Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre, which features more than 400 ancient rock engravings.
Small towns, big stories
Philippolis, founded in 1823, is one of the oldest towns in the Free State. It is the birthplace of writer Sir Laurens van der Post, and visitors can see his library and memorial garden. Many of the town’s old buildings have been declared national monuments. Outside the town, on the road to Colesberg, there is a small craft brewery called Waterkloof that serves cold Karoo Ale and the local gin use varietals from the veld in the area.
In Bethulie, the Royal Hotel is home to 120,000 books and 80,000 vinyl records, while nature lovers can head to the Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve, where the Caledon and Orange rivers meet.
Smithfield has become home to writers and artists, and the town has quirky accommodation, good restaurants and shops selling antiques and collectables.
Game on!
Sports lovers don’t need to despair. Central South Africa is home to the winners of the Currie Cup, and the region boasts several provincial rugby, cricket and football teams. Both Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom host international cricket matches, while Springbok rugby is always a treat when watched at the Free State Stadium. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy more than 30 courses across Central South Africa, while motor enthusiasts can experience speed at the Phakisa Freeway in Welkom.
As a family we enjoy both the road trip and the destination. My husband LOVES to leave reviews and we’ve been lucky to explore Central South Africa widely, and he’s shared our experience with others often! For us the pace of life literally changes as we cross the Vaal River into the Free State. Our kids connect with the world outside the window; there’s less screen time and message notification and more discussion and talk.
OFM is part of the journey and the destination. From crossings provincial borders across Central South Africa on a national route, to the dust roads that lead to local gems, the station is there. My teenagers love the hits, I love the classics and we can all sing-along. With regular news updates and interesting content as part of the mix, we feel connected and informed.
If local tourism needed a poster child, Central South Africa would be it! Often seen as a quick stop on the road elsewhere, it is a region that is a destination in itself. Read one of my Husbands reviews, take a trip in Central South Africa and tune into OFM while you’re there, it really is the Sound of Your (Leisure) Life!
For more info contact Candy Dempers, Commercial Manager Algoa FM and OFM
