BLOEMFONTEIN: THE PROPERTY HAVEN OF CENTRAL SOUTH AFRICA

Motorists that travel past Bloemfontein sometimes wonder why people would choose out of their own free will to live in Bloemfontein. They tend to think that Bloemfontein is a place where ultra-conservative, Afrikaans-speaking, uninformed people live in their comfort-zone of rugby, braaivleis and racism. Before you get caught up in generalizations, consider this:

1. In 2006 Dan Pienaar, one of the northern suburbs in Bloemfontein, was voted by the readers of Finweek the most sought-after suburb in South Africa. Adjacent to Dan Pienaar is Pentagon Park, Heuwelsig, Waverley, Hillsboro and Woodlands Wildlife Estate.
2. People choosing to live in Bloemfontein, choose to do it mainly because of the excellent reputation of the medical doctors and medical facilities in Bloemfontein, as well as its famous and well-known schools. Grey College is situated near the University of the Free State in Universitas, as well as Eunice High School for girls. Here are also two universities and the faculty of Medicine of the University of the Free State is one of the best in South Africa. Langenhoven Park is 5 minutes’ drive from the University, and Langenhoven Park is a very popular suburb amongst the students.
3. Bloemfontein is well-known for its friendly people, and one can be assured of friendly service in shopping malls in and around Bloemfontein.
4. People in Bloemfontein also tend to work sparingly with their money and look very well after their property, and it is seen in the way that the gardens and houses are kept, as you will see in suburbs like Waverley, Woodland Hills, Fichardtpark and Heuwelsig.
5. The Free State is the third largest province in South Africa, but it has the second smallest population and the second lowest population density. Bloemfontein has about 500 000 inhabitants, and has recently started to extend to the west (suburbs like Langenhoven Park, Woodland Hills) and to the south (Pellissier).
6. Bloemfontein is one of the very few cities in the world where one can find a wildlife reserve right in the middle of town (near the suburbs Arboretum , Navalsig and Waverley). Here antelope, giraffe and wildebeest can roam freely.
7. The Boyden Observatory just outside of Bloemfontein has the third largest operational telescope in Africa, and it is accessible to the public. (Maselspoort)
8. J.R.R. Tolkien, the famous writer of the trilogy “ The Lord of the Rings”, was born in Bloemfontein in 1892. Here is even a Tolkien trail through the city where one can see where Tolkien lived, where he was baptized, and one can visit his father’s grave. Visit the Hobbit House Hotel in Westdene to have a real Tolkien experience.
9. Bloemfontein is also the judicial headquarters of South Africa, in that the Supreme Court of Appeal, the only one in South Africa, is situated here.

Not counting that Bloemfontein is known as the city of beautiful roses, that we have one of the lowest crime rates in the country, and that Bloemfontein is centrally situated in the whole of South Africa, one must come to Bloemfontein to experience this small city’s peace and quiet. So, next time you pass Bloemfontein, hit the brakes and surprise yourself with our friendly city. It’s the best kept secret in South Africa.