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Cities/Towns: Deneysville, Edenville Frankfort, Heilbron, Koppies, Kroonstad, Oranjeville, Prys, Sasolburg, Tweeling, Viljoenskroon, Villiers, Vredefort.

The Northern Free State region or Fezile Dabi District constitutes a strategic agricultural region, producing inter alia a considerable share of South Africa's grain crop. The 300 km² Vaal Dam between the Free State and Gauteng is not only the main source of water to South Africa's industrial heartland, it also is the inland water mecca of South Africa, offering boundless opportunities for all types of water sports. Proximity to Gauteng allows one to reach this area within one hour's drive from leaving OR Tambo International Airport. Excellent accommodation facilities and game farms and camping sites for the adventure junkies cater for a wide range of accommodation needs.

In the Northern Free State one can challenge the white waters of the Vaal River in a raft or canoe, or sail at a leisurely pace through the fertile, willow tree-lined valley with the fish eagle's cry of Africa in your ears. Around the Vaal Dam are four yacht clubs and various boat chandlers, boat builders and repair yards, while powerboat junkies regularly ply the waterways of the Vaal, Wilge and Vals Rivers. Many of the attractions centre around Deneysville and the Jim Fouché Resort near Oranjeville. The Kroonpark Resort at Kroonstad on the Vals River disposes of an impressive indoor pool and large festival grounds.

There is more on offer to the outdoor enthusiast with hiking routes that vary from easy to rugged mountain rambles in the Vredefort Dome. Untouched San paintings and ruins of settlements of people who lived in the area during the iron age are to be seen on these trails.

The Vredefort Dome being 200km in diameter is the third largest meteorite site in the worldand a declared World heritay Site. Rock climbing and abseiling can also be arranged in the Dome area, which, in fact constitutes an adventure tourist mecca.

In the 19th century the area comprising more or less the present Heilbron, Frankfort, Petrus Steyn, Lindley and Reitz was known as the Riemland, named after the countless game herds which roamed the fertile velds - today the scene of prosperous stock farming including cattle, sheep, etc.

Sasolburg is one of South Africa's outstanding examples of foresight and successful planning and is today not only one of South Africa's major industrial centres, but the Sasol Group of Companies is also a business player of global stature. Sasolburg as town is also leading as regards to environmental awareness since statistics show there are more trees and shrubs in the town than people. Having won the Administrator's Trophy for the Most Beautiful Large Town in the Free State several times, the time and effort which has gone into the beautification and conservation of Sasolburg is an example worth following.


Must-sees in a nutshell

• Vredefort Dome at Vredefort
• Riemland Museum at Heilbron
• Green Mealie Tea Garden in Kroonstad
• Golf Island at Parys
• Gallery 88 Art Gallery at Sasolburg
• Highveld Gardens at Sasolburg
• Tractor Museum at Viljoenskroon
• Sailsure Week in September at Deneysville
• Vintage car exhibition at Edenville
• Sandstone NG Church Frankfort
• Boskoppie predator farm near Kroonstad

For further information, contact: Tel: 016-976 0765 / Fax 016-973-3903

A number of significant developments in the tourism industry in the Fezile Dabi District, i.e. the northern Free State, point clearly to development taking place in leaps and bounds. Attributes like the Vredefort Dome Area, developments at various venues on the banks of the Vaal Dam, new golf estates and other developments at Parys, further roll-out of a number of tourist routes, the increase in weekend visitors from especially Gauteng, awareness and upgrading initiatives taken by the District Municipality, etc. are but a few examples of how the tourism potential of the region is consistently coming to fruitition.

With the promising growth in the local weekend market and the newly declared Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, comes the need for more responsible tourism business practices and greater sustainable utilization of the region's natural and cultural resources. The advent of "mass tourism" holds promise of great financial rewards for many businesses and facilities, but often this growth and promise is achieved at the expense of the environment and of the culture, customs and traditional beliefs of host communities.

Continued tourism awareness programmes will address standards in hospitality (SAT Grading) as well as host community's responsiveness to tourism in the region. Hence the slogan of Fezile Dabi District for tourism is: "Be tourism efficient".


Vredefort Dome Gateway Information Centre

The Gateway Information Centre at Vredefort that is presently being constructed in terms of a Social Responsibility Project by Fezile Dabi District Municpality will be the main entrance from the South to the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site. It is situated at Vredefort on the turn-off corner of the R59 to Viljoenskroon.

The centre will provide for the following:

• Information Centre
• Information Desk and Visitor Foyer
• Administrative Offices (2)
• Small Auditorium (50 persons) for educational purposes
• Built-in view point on Vredefort Dome Structure by telescope or star-gazing from roof on second level
• Geological library
• Exhibition space for geological & biodiversity displays and permanent exhibitions (butterflies, etc.)
• Internet café
• Souvenir shop
• Catering facilities (kiosk only)
• Public toilets (space for extension available)
• Informal trade section. The Trading Post is positioned near the main entrance for exposure to by-pass traffic from the R59 with a separate parking area. The design was done in such a way that it can easily be extended in future should the need be identified.
• Parking area
• Outdoor arena with stage (can also be extended)

Dome Adventure Festival

The annual Dome Adventure Festival at and around Parys takes place in October each year. Presented by the Parys Development Forum, the Festival offers 18 different sports disciplines attracting some 3 000 participants. These are carefully selected to complement the theme of adventure tourism. Sports disciplines include amongst others flying (SA National Flying Rally & Precision Championship 10-15 October), golf, squash, dragon boats, road running, jukskei, karate, quads, tennis, rowing, power boating, etc.

There are also lots of exhibitions, an art route, a display of vintage cars and entertainment shows and competitions.

For more info, visit www.domefest.co.za or www.parys.co.za or (056) 811 4000.


Crater Cruise Cycling Festival

Outdoor enthusiasts are looking forward to South Africa's largest mountain-bike race, the Colorpress Crater Cruise, takes place the second weekend in October every year at Parys and the surrounding Dome Area.

The Crater Cruise weekend consists of the following: The 85 km Colorpress Road Master Blaster on the Friday - a road cycling event for 50 plussers only / The 105 km Colorpress Crater Cruise on the Saturday / The 56 km Colorpress Crater Cruise on the Sunday (the Mazda Marathon for women and a half-marathon for all others interested).

Entries can be done online at www.cyclelab.com or for further information log onto www.cratercruise.co.za.


Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site management

The Vredefort Dome Inter-Provincial Steering Committee is coordinating the development of the Site according to relevant international standards. This is done in collaboration with three different components viz. Technical experts, Communities and Landowners. Aspects covered include: presentation of the Vredefort Dome Integrated Management Plan; nomination of members of the Liaison Structure, Chairperson and Secretariat; and branding of the Vredefort Dome.


Deneys Spring Festival

Spring Day, 1 September, each year is celebrated with a bang at Deneysville on the banks of the Vaal Dam with a spring festival with stalls of every kind, much to eat and drink, a jumping castle and a variety of fun activities for children and great prizes of all sorts to be won.

Especially over weekends Deneysville overflows with visitors and even more so with spring to be celebrated formally.

For more info, contact Tel (016) 371 1529 or 083 653 2503.