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This
is a region of vast grassy plains and endless
vistas, where the visitor can enjoy the open blue
skies - star-studded at night - and the fresh
unpolluted air. The Gariep Dam is situated in
the southernmost corner of the region and offers
excellent recreational facilities and opportunities
for anyone wishing to escape city life.
The
Xhariep is a vast, open grassland fed by the broad
river the San called the !Garib (great river)
which forms the southern border of the region.
It was named the Orange River by settlers who
had orange in their flag and saw the colour in
the murky expanse of this 2 000 km long source
of life that cuts through dry lands and forms
the natural southern border with -the Cape. Further
north is Motheo which is dominated by the capital
city Bloemfontein, literally meaning the “flower
fountain’, and also known as the “city
of roses’. Bloemfontein is the business
and cultural hub of the Free State and expresses
the cultural diversity for which the province
is well-known. To the west beyond the sculptured
lawns, impressive buildings and floral embankments,
lies the semi-arid Xhariep, dotted by dams and
covered by sheep and cattle farms. The east, stretching
up to the Drakensberg Range, abounds with parks
and reserves.
One
should not be fooled by the tranquillity of the
Transgariep Region - underneath the atmospheric
serenity lie incredible journeys and unforgettable
opportunities waiting to be experienced. These
range from the sheer thrill of the hunt on any
of the many game farms, the outstanding nature
reserves offering their absorbing animal, plant
and bird life, or just to enjoy the excellent
facilities at the many holiday resorts in the
area. And then there are the journeys. The journeys
leading you directly into the hearts of the people
and country alike. Follow the preserved trails
of Bushman antiquity and feel the magical presence
of a nearly extinct people; so are the historic
footsteps of other cultural groups in the region.
The charm of small town mythology brings one closer
still to the rhythms of the earth, to a natural
order, to a way of life perhaps intended for us
all.
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