Lejweleputswa reveals its distinctive character through a variety of discoveries: an annual agricultural show, motorsport history, a significant archaeological site and places connected with the history of the Free State. Exploring the region therefore offers not just one theme, but several reasons to learn about its places and past.
Agriculture and motorsport
Grain SA’s NAMPO Harvest Day is held annually outside Bothaville. It is one of the largest privately owned agricultural exhibitions in the Southern Hemisphere. The permanent site was established outside Bothaville in 1974 for the event and is now called NAMPO Park. If you plan to include NAMPO Harvest Day in your trip, check the latest event dates in advance.
The district’s motorsport history offers a different experience: Phakisa Freeway is located between Welkom and Odendaalsrus. The venue has a 4.24-kilometre road racing circuit and a 2.4-kilometre oval track. The road racing circuit is longer than the oval. From 1999 to 2004, Phakisa Freeway hosted six rounds of the South African Motorcycle Grand Prix in the MotoGP championship. For motorsport enthusiasts, the venue combines technical details with a clearly defined chapter in racing history.
Archaeological site and historic places
Florisbad is a fossil-bearing spring mound where an archaic skull of a modern human was found. The skull is dated to around 260,000 years ago. The site is important for understanding the emergence of modern environmental conditions and the origins of modern humans in southern Africa. Its designation has also involved several stages: Florisbad was declared a National Monument in 1995; today, the site is designated a Provincial Heritage Site and is intended to be declared a National Heritage Site.
Poplar Grove Battlefield, near Boshof, tells a different kind of story. On 7 March 1900, Christiaan de Wet ambushed British troops there as they advanced on Bloemfontein. The Chris Van Niekerk Museum explores the history of Afrikaans folk dance, known in Afrikaans as “volkspele.” At the Jan Wessels Museum, you can learn more about the history of the Free State. Together, these places offer different perspectives, from a specific event in 1900 to dance traditions and regional history.
Nature and finding your way around the district
Natural areas are also part of Lejweleputswa’s character. Palmietpan Game Reserve is home to numerous wildlife and bird species. Soetdoring Nature Reserve lies on the banks of Krugersdrift Dam. Palmietpan Game Reserve is home to numerous wildlife and bird species, while Soetdoring Nature Reserve lies on the banks of Krugersdrift Dam.
For orientation, the N1 runs through Ventersburg and Winburg. Winburg is also home to the Voortrekker Monument.
Discover more destinations: Motheo, Thabo Mofutsanyane, Northern Free State, Fezile Dabi, Xhariep.
Back to the main travel overview: Free State.
