History
Unwrap this destination’s earliest memories with its art galleries, Boer War monuments, indigenous villages, and even a museum that’s dedicated to Africa's beloved sport, rugby.
Bloemfontein is a scenic destination in South Africa. It is home to over 256,000 inhabitants and is famously known as the City of Roses, due to its rose bush-lined streets. Bloemfontein offers you exciting opportunities for amazing safaris. This destination’s top attractions include the Free State National Botanical Garden, Anglo Boer War Museum, and Naval Hill.
Seize the chance to explore the beautiful capital of the Free State province, because cheap flights are available for a limited time! Bloemfontein is the home of Bram Fischer International Airport (BFN), also known as Bloemfontein Airport, which is a 25-minute drive from the city centre. Bram Fischer International Airport serves a multitude of airlines, including CemAir, Mango, and South African Airways. Direct flights are available from Cape Town and Johannesburg. The flight duration from Johannesburg is approximately 1 hour.
Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
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Unwrap this destination’s earliest memories with its art galleries, Boer War monuments, indigenous villages, and even a museum that’s dedicated to Africa's beloved sport, rugby.
Nature lovers are in for a treat with various natural attractions, including the Free State National Botanical Gardens, a luscious setting that includes a 200-year-old olive tree.
Discover the rich creativity that Bloemfontein offers, with displays of the locals’ exceptional skills in poetry, music, storytelling, and comedy, at venues such as Vulture Club and PACOFS.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
Country | South Africa |
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Currency | South African Rand |
Language | Afrikaans / Sesotho / English |
Hub Airport | Bram Fischer International Airport (BFN) |
Airline | South African Airways |
Time Zone | GMT+2 |
Travel Adaptor | Type D / M / N |
For a comfortable holiday experience, visit Bloemfontein during the spring (September-October) and autumn seasons (April – May). The temperatures during these times range from the mid to high 20s, with moderate to cool conditions in the evenings. Travelling to the Free State capital during this period will spare you the combination of the high temperatures and extreme humidity of the summer (November – March).
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low °C | 15°C | 15°C | 12°C | 8°C | 3°C | -1°C | -1°C | 1°C | 6°C | 9°C | 12°C | 14°C |
High °C | 31°C | 29°C | 27°C | 24°C | 21°C | 17°C | 18°C | 20°C | 26°C | 28°C | 28°C | 30°C |
Rainfall (mm) | 70 | 130 | 70 | 50 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 50 |
Enjoy the charming experience that the capital of the Free State province offers. With its historic architecture and luscious green spaces, you will leave the gorgeous Bloemfontein with the longing to visit again and again.
Bloemfontein’s Sesotho name is Mangaung, which translates to “place of cheetahs”. That should come as no surprise as you can discover this big cat, as well as tigers, panthers, antelopes, hippos, and more, at the various locations, such as Bloemfontein Zoo, Cheetah Experience, and Zanchieta Wild Cat Farm.
Immerse yourself in the culture of the Free State capital, with its passion for rugby, at a museum dedicated to the sport! Discover the city’s rich artistic flair at venues such as the Sand du Plessis Theatre and Vulture Club, where you can enjoy poetry, music, stories, and comedy.
Compare and book cheap Mango flights to Bloemfontein** and popular flight routes from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein, Cape Town to Bloemfontein and Durban to Bloemfontein.
Visitors from abroad will need to apply for a tourist visa to enter South Africa and visit Bloemfontein. This visa will be issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs (telephone: +27800607190). Check with your local consular services to find out if your country is exempt from this visa.
Before leaving for South Africa, make sure to get all the routine vaccinations. You may also require vaccines for hepatitis A and typhoid, both transmittable through contaminated food and water. Other diseases to guard against include:
• Hepatitis B (transmittable through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products)
• Rabies (transmittable through the bites of infected mammals)
Bloemfontein enjoys a high level of safety, especially around the shopping malls, which are patrolled with 24-hour security. It will serve you best to remain vigilant at all times. Areas to avoid include the train station and the townships.
Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | Bloemfontein |
---|---|---|---|
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | R 100.00 | R 100.00 | R 100.00 |
Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) | R 25.00 | R 25.00 | R 25.00 |
Cappucino (regular) | R 22.00 | R 22.00 | R 20.00 |
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | R 10.00 | R 10.00 | R 10.00 |
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 38.00 | R 38.00 | R 38.00 |
You will have a choice of accommodation options in Bloemfontein that includes budget, midrange, and high-end. Many of these establishments offer secure parking, breakfast, air conditioning, and satellite television. The budget options are under R 500, the midrange from R 500 to R 1,000, and the high-end establishments are over R 1,000 a night.
The best way to explore Bloemfontein is by car. A number of car rental agencies are available at the Bram Fischer International Airport.
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