The Free State is situated on flat boundless plains in the heart of South Africa. The rich soil and pleasant climate allow a thriving agricultural industry. With more than 30,000 farms, which produce over 70% of the country's grain, it is known locally as South Africa's breadbasket. The province is high-lying, with almost all land being 1,000 metres above sea level. The Free State lies in the heart of the Karoo Sequence of rocks, containing shales, mudstones, sandstones and the Drakensberg Basalt forming the youngest capping rocks. The Drakensberg and Maluti Mountains foothills raise the terrain to over 2000 m in the east. Mineral deposits are plentiful, with gold and diamonds being of particular importance, mostly found in the north and west of the province.

In the northeastern Free State, nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti mountains, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is the province's prime tourist attraction. The park gets its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the spectacular sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag or Sentinel Rock, which keeps vigil over the park. The little town of Clarens close to Golden Gate Highlands National Park has old sandstone buildings, art galleries, and many B&B's, Self catering and Hotel accommodation.

Brandwag (The Sentinel)

The sandstone of this region has been used for the lovely dressed-stone buildings found on the Eastern Highlands, while decoratively painted Sotho houses dot the grasslands. Some of South Africa's most valued San (Bushman) rock art is found in the Free State, particularly in the regions around Clarens, Bethlehem, Ficksburg, Ladybrand and Wepener.

South Africa Accommodation

Durban Accommodation, Durban Guest House, Durban Hotels, Durban Self-catering accommodation, KwaZulu-Natal Accommodation, KwaZulu-Natal Hotels, KwaZulu-Natal Bed & Breakfast, Ramsgate accommodation, Ramsgate hotel, Ramsgate guest house, Ramsgate B&B, Ramsgate self-catering accommodation, Richards Bay Guest House, Richards Bay hotels, Richards Bay self catering accommodation, Richards Bay B&B, Cape Town Accommodation, Cape Town Hotels, Cape Town Guest Houses, Cape Town Bed and Breakfast, Cape Town self-catering accommodation, Cape Town holiday homes, Bloubergstrand accommodation, Bloubergstrand Hotels, Bloubergstrand Guest House, Bloubergstrand Bed and Breakfast, Bloubergstrand self-catering accommodation, Bloubergstrand holiday homes, Blouberg accommodation, Blouberg Hotels, Blouberg Guest Houses, Blouberg Bed and Breakfast, Blouberg self-catering, Blouberg holiday homes, Green Point accommodation, Green Point Hotels, Green Point Guest Houses, Green Point Bed and Breakfast, Green Point self-catering, Green Point holiday homes, Simon's Town accommodation, Simon's town Hotels, Simon's town Guest Houses, Simon's town Bed and Breakfast, Simon's town self-catering accommodation, Simon's town holiday homes, Camps Bay accommodation, Camps Bay Hotels, Camps Bay Guest Houses, Camps Bay Bed and Breakfast, Camps Bay self-catering, Camps Bay holiday homes, Eastern Cape Accommodation, Eastern Cape Hotels, Eastern Cape Guest Houses, Eastern Cape Bed and Breakfast, Eastern Cape self-catering, Eastern Cape holiday homes, Port Elizabeth accommodation, Port Elizabeth Hotels, Port Elizabeth Guest House, Port Elizabeth Bed and Breakfast, Port Elizabeth self catering accommodation, East London bed & breakfast, Rhodes Guest House, Graaff-Reinet Accommodation, Graaff-Reinet holiday accommommodation, East London guesthouse, Karoo accommodation, Karoo guest house, Rhodes Guest House, Graaff-Reinet Accommodation, Graaff-Reinet holiday accommommodation, Northern Cape accommodation, Northern Cape hotels, Northern Cape Guest house, Northern Cape self catering accommodation, Okiep hotel, Okiep guesthouse, Okiep bed & breakfast, Okiep self catering accommodation, Okiep holiday home, Springbok accommodation, Upington accommodation, Upington hotel, Upington guest house, Upington bed & breakfast, Upington holiday accommodation, Colesberg accommodation, Colesberg hotel, Coleseberg guest house, Colesberg self catering accommodation, Colesberg holiday accommodation, Gauteng accommodation, Gauteng hotel, Gauteng holiday accommodation, Gauteng b&b, Johannesburg accommodation, Johannesburg hotel, Johannesburg b&b, Johannesburg guest house, Johannesburg holiday accommodation, Pretoria accommodation, Pretoria guest house, Pretoria b&b, Pretoria hotels, Pretoria self-catering accommodation, Magaliesberg accommodation, Magaliesberg guest house, Magaliesberg b&b, Magaliesberg hotel, Magaliesberg holiday accommodation, Mpumalanga accommodation, Mpumalanga guest house, Mpumalanga hotel, Mpumalanga holiday accommodation, Sabi Sand accommodation, Sabi Sand hotel, Kruger Park guest house, Kruger Park game lodge, Sabi Sand Self Catering accommodation, Kruger Park accommodation, Kruger Park hotel, Kruger Park guesthouse, Kruger Park bed and breakfast, Kruger Park holiday accommodation, Kruger Park game lodges, Wakkerstroom inn, Wakkerstroom holiday accommodation, Wakkerstroom holiday home, Wakkerstroom guest house, Limpopo accommodation, Limpopo guest house, Limpopo hotel, Limpopo b&b, Greater Kruger Park lodge, Greater Kruger Park game lodge, Greater Kruger Park guest house, Greater Kruger Park self catering accommodation, Greater Kruger Park b&b, Bela Bela Warmbaths accommodation, Bela Bela Warmbaths guest house, Bela Bela Warmbaths b&b, Bela Bela Warmbaths hotel, Bela Bela Warmbaths self catering accommodation, Swartwater accommodation, Limpopo game lodge, Limpopo self catering accommodation, Limpopo holiday accommodation, Limpopo inn, Limpopo campsite, Limpopo self catering chalets, Free State accommodation, Free State hotel, Free State b&b, Free State guest house, Parys accommodation, Parys bed and breakfast, Parys hotel, Parys self catering accommodation, Parys inn, Gariep Dam accommodation, Gariep Dam hotel, Gariep dam guest house, Gariep Dam lodge, Gariep Dam holiday accommodation, North West Province accommodation, North West Province lodge, North West Province holiday accommodation, North West Province self catering accommodation, Brits holiday accommodation, Brits game lodge, Brits hotel, Brits guest house, Brits b&b, Potchefstroom holiday accommodation, Potchefstroom hotel, Potchefstroom guest house, Potchefstroom self catering accommodation, Potchefstroom b&b, Garden Route accommodation, Knysna self catering accommodation, Knysna b&b, Knysna Guest House, Garden Route holiday accommodation, Garden Route hotels, West Coast accommodation, West coast hotel, Langebaan hotel, Piketberg holiday accommodation, Piketberg inn, West Coast bed and breakfast, Paternoster holiday accommodation