Bloemfontein is located in central South Africa and is the judicial capital of the nation (the city of Cape Town is the legislative and Pretoria the executive capitals). Bloemfontein (or Mangaung in the native Sesotho language) is a friendly and warm city known for its quiet and easy way of life. Famous for its annual rose festival that attracts thousands of tourists, Bloemfontein has a reputation for its flowers and is also called “The City of Roses” amongst South Africans. Other attractions in the city include The National Museum (with an extensive collection of fossils), Boyden Observatory (a unique astronomy centre), the famous Dam of Tears (that used to be a concentration camp), the Cheetah Experience (where tourists from all ages get a chance to interact with wild animals), and the Queen’s Military Museum that originally housed an Artillery base.
There are around 400,000 thousand people living in Mangaung and even though the city is rather small, there is so much to discover and do. From power shopping in one of the city’s malls like the Northridge or the Mimosa Mall, to art and entertainment venues like the Sand du Plesis Theatre. And if you want to experience some real African music and dancing head down to the Oolong or the Cuban Lounge for a late night drink with some friends. Bloemfontein has a wealth of history, culture and architecture, as well as numerous museums and monuments that will satisfy everyone.
The Free State Stadium will be the hosting stadium of all matches played in Bloemfontein for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Mangaung has some of the most colourful and fanatical football supporters in the country, and this is why it is scheduled to host the last (and probably most important) game of the South African team in the Group phase against France.
