Vredefort

Vredefort, Northern Free State

Vredefort is a farming town, nestled in the unique beauty of the Free State Province of South Africa. The province is characterised by little ridges and koppies on otherwise flat terrain, and is home to a wonderful array of wildlife. The town of Vredefort may be small and quiet, but it boasts one of the most significant meteor craters on the planet.

This town was established on the crater of the same name. The crater is an impressive 300 kilometres wide and is estimated to be billions of years old. It is particularly important as it preserved the reefs of the Free State, which were laden with gold. Today, gold mining is still a major industry in this part of the world.

The Vredefort Dome is one of the country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites and an interesting tourist attraction. There are several tours on offer; which range from geological tours for pupils and students to historical, cultural and bird-watching tours. This remains a crucial site for scientists and geologists.

Vredefort was once the site of the British concentration camps for the Boer women and children. As such, it played an important role in the South Africa of yesteryear.

Vredefort and its surrounds are known for the scenic farms that speckle the landscapes. Here, sunflowers, peanuts, sorghum, maize and cattle are farmed. Driving through the countryside and seeing the vast stretches of natural prettiness is the ultimate getaway from the city life.

Vredefort is just over 90 minutes from Johannesburg, which is home to the OR Tambo International Airport. It is almost three hours from the province's capital city, Bloemfontein.