The Vredefort Structure in the Vredefort/Parys area is a World Heritage Site and is considered the oldest and largest meteorite impact site. In Parys, the Parys Museum focuses on cultural, historical and geological subjects. It opened in March 1983 and was declared a national monument in May 1986. The region thus brings together a geological World Heritage Site and a museum offering different but complementary perspectives.
Parys on the Vaal
Parys lies on the Vaal River, near the N1 national highway and the Vaal Toll Plaza. Golf Island offers a special combination of riverside scenery and recreation: the island is accessible only via a suspension bridge and is home to an 18-hole golf course with views of the Vaal River. Crossing the bridge is as much a part of the town’s distinctive character as the views of the river.
Water and river landscapes
Deneysville is also associated with water activities. At the Vaal Dam, options include motorboating, pontoon boat trips and fishing charters. The Deneysville Aquatic Club was founded in 1963 by Springbok powerboat racers seeking access to the Vaal Dam. At Peninsula on the Vaal in Deneysville, boating, fishing and jet skiing are available. Together, these examples show different aspects of water-based recreation: trips in various types of boats, fishing and jet skiing.
In Kroonstad, Kroonpark Holiday Resort is situated on the banks of the Vals River. Its facilities include fishing and an 18-hole golf course. Its river setting differs from those in Parys and Deneysville: Kroonpark is on the Vals River, while the places mentioned are centred on the Vaal River or Vaal Dam.
Nature with varied highlights
Koppies Dam Nature Reserve covers 4,300 hectares and offers opportunities for fishing. Its vegetation consists mainly of mixed grassland and dense stands of sweet thorn trees; willows grow along the Renoster River. The reserve provides habitat for waterbirds and various fish species. Sasolburg Bird Sanctuary offers a different focus: walking paths, small wetlands and shaded areas make up its setting for birdwatching. The nature areas described thus differ in their landscapes and in how visitors can experience their surroundings.
Moratuwa Nature Reserve near Kroonstad combines several activities: game drives, wine tastings, hiking, birdwatching, predator viewing and fishing. The range spans active pursuits and wildlife viewing as well as wine tastings, without limiting all the experiences to the same type of place.
Traces of history and remembrance
In Clydesdale, the Holy Country Heritage Site commemorates the miners who died in the Coalbrook mining disaster. The SarelCilliers Museum in Kroonstad displays portraits and documents relating to the Cilliers family, as well as exhibitions about gold mining and the development of railways in the Free State. In the Koppies district, Vredefortweg Concentration Camp Cemetery is considered a historically significant site. These places represent different historical subjects: remembrance of a disaster, family history, mining and railways.
A designated route also connects several historical sites: the R82 Battlefield Route runs from Kroonstad to Greenlands and includes the Rooiwal battlefield. It was officially established. Those interested in the performing arts will also find the Etienne Rousseau Theatre in Sasolburg. It was designed as a multipurpose venue for drama, ballet, opera, music concerts and school performances. The Riemland Wine Route adds several wine cellars to these cultural and historical themes, where wine tastings and other activities are available.
Getting around the region
In the Ngwathe area, the Vaal River forms the northern boundary; this is also where the border between the Free State and Gauteng and North West Province runs. For getting between the towns, Kroonstad can be reached via the N1 in the direction of Bloemfontein. Parys lies on the Vaal River near the N1 and the Vaal Toll Plaza.
Discover more destinations: Villiers, Xhariep, Motheo, Fezile Dabi, Thabo Mofutsanyane, Lejweleputswa.
Return to the main travel overview: Free State.
