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Safari in Kroonstad - Essential Travel Info

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Safari in Kroonstad Free State South Africa (1 Results)

Free State Safari's
- Kroonstad Free State South Africa Safari

Ideal for school or church camps or conferences. Catering for groups of 20 or more. Hunting available in the winter, also hiking, game-viewing and birdwatching.

Geography: A two-hour drive from Gauteng makes Kroonstad an excellent stopover for travellers. The pretty town is situated in the northern part of the Free State and as it lies in the centre of the whole Southern African region, is an important railway link to all major centres.

History: Legend has it that Kroonstad is named after a horse called Kroon (Crown), which fell and broke its leg in a stream. The stream was called Kroonspruit (Crown Stream) in honour of the horse, and later when a village sprang up around the waterway it was named Kroonstad. It is a busy town, the second-largest urban centre in the Free State and is a rich agricultural district as well as an important player in the diamond and coal-mining industry of the northwestern parts of South Africa.

Arts and Culture: Kroonstad has a lovely collection of stately old buildings that line the streets, with the central attraction being the Dutch Reformed Church in the centre of the market square. For those travellers interested in the history and culture of the region, the Sarel Cilliers Museum on the corner of Hill and Steyn Street has exhibitions on the gold mining industry, the Voortrekker leader Sarel Cilliers and the development of the Free State railways. The museum, opened in 1983, is housed in the Public Library, while the restored farmstead of Cillers can be seen on the farm Doornkloof.

Science and Nature: Kroonstad lies a good 1,300m above sea level and owing to its clear invigorating climate is an extremely healthy area to live in. The perennial Vals River, along which the town has developed, is a tributary of the Vaal. The area surrounding Kronstad is great for game viewing, while the rose gardens on the farm Randfontein are internationally renowned.

Entertainment: There is a lot going on in Kroonstad to keep the family busy, but the main entertainment attraction is the impressive Kroonpark Resort. This complex provides pools, waterslides and fun-filled entertainment that will keep the kids happy for hours. As well as the town being rich in historical sights, there are also modern shopping complexes, cinemas, good restaurants and the Kroonstad Civic Theatre, which always has something interesting showing. If you are in town in September make sure not to miss the September Street Festival, while the monthly Flea Market will provide bargain shopping and great entertainment.

Sport: This part of the Free State is well suited to the outdoor sports enthusiast and some of the activities on offer include hiking and mountain biking, angling and boating along the Vals River, as well as a round of golf on the 18-hole course. Anglers and watersport enthusiasts, who enjoy the challenge of the well-stocked waters, frequent the caravan park and numerous campsites on the banks of the willow-lined Vals River, while 4x4 routes and quad biking are also very popular in the surrounding areas of the town.

Did You Know? All championship Jukskei competitions are held in Kroonstad. Jukskei is a traditional Afrikaans game, which in essence is similar to horseshoe throwing.

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