Around 2.023 billion years ago, the Vredefort Dome was formed by a meteorite impact. It is the oldest and largest known meteorite impact structure on Earth. In the area of Vredefort and Parys, the Vredefort Structure was declared South Africa’s seventh international World Heritage Site. This geological history gives a journey through Fezile Dabi an unusual sense of time; alongside it, rivers, nature reserves and historic sites turn the focus to quite different subjects.
Rivers and Nature Reserves
When it comes to water, it is worth paying close attention to the names: in Moqhaka, the Vals River is associated with water sports and fishing; in Kroonstad, Kroonpark Holiday Resort lies on the banks of the same river. Near Parys, several nearby islands are associated with the Vaal River. Vals and Vaal therefore refer to different rivers within the destination.
Koppies Dam Nature Reserve lies 12 kilometres east of the town of Koppies in Fezile Dabi District. Fishing is among the activities available there. Wildlife found in the reserve includes buffalo, white rhinos, gemsboks, waterbucks and springboks.
Moratuwa Nature Reserve covers 1,500 hectares and is part of the larger Ghoya Conservancy. Its activities include game drives, wine tasting, hiking, birdwatching, predator viewing and fishing. The nature destinations therefore also differ in the activities associated with them: at Koppies Dam, fishing and the wildlife mentioned above are in focus, while Moratuwa offers a broader range of activities.
In Steynsrus, Riverside 4Ă—4 Hiking refers to a 4Ă—4 route for vehicles, motorcycles and mountain bikes. This is a different kind of activity from the hiking and nature-watching opportunities mentioned for Moratuwa.
Cultural History in Museums and Landscapes
The Sarel Cilliers Museum is on the first floor of the public library in Kroonstad. It contains portraits and documents about the Cilliers family; other exhibitions focus on the gold mining industry and the development of railways in the Free State. The subjects therefore range from family history to mining and transport history.
The R82 Battlefield Route offers a different glimpse of history. It was established from Kroonstad to Greenlands and includes the Rooiwal battlefield. The Vredefortweg Concentration Camp Cemetery in Koppies District is considered a site of significant value. In the Heilbron area, the Kwantitise battlefield, also called Vegkop Battlefield, is considered a major tourist attraction. The historical range thus extends from a named route to a cemetery and a battlefield. The cultural landscape of Moqhaka Municipality also includes the home of Zaccheus Richard Mahabane.
Regional Routes
The Riemland Tourism Route offers another perspective on the area: it is a self-drive route through the northern part of the Free State and Fezile Dabi District, where travellers can discover the local attractions. It takes you beyond individual places to a wider area. The river, nature and cultural themes mentioned here offer different starting points for exploring Fezile Dabi according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Deneysville, Parys, Sasolburg, Kroonstad, Frankfort, Xhariep, Motheo, Lejweleputswa.
For the main travel overview: Free State.
