Enjoyed for its safety, tranquillity and access to all amenities, the suburb of Fichardtpark in Bloemfontein is an ideal sojourn when visiting this city located in the heartland of South Africa.
Fichardtpark is a mere 5km² in size, however, the suburb is treed and well laid out. Two fine schools, hospitals, clinics, churches and shopping facilities are situated in Fichardtpark. The University of Free State is within close proximity as are Bloemfontein’s major attractions and the national highway.
With average annual temperatures of 16° Celsius, the climate is mild, however, winter evenings occasionally drop to 0° Celsius. Fichardtpark experiences summer rains with July being the driest (and coldest) month. A visit at any time of the year is recommended.
Top 6 reasons to visit Fichardtpark
1. Begin your walk of the city at the historic Hoffman Square with its war memorials and open space, then to the grand City Hall, stroll on over to the First Raadsaal (council chambers) still standing with original dung floors, through the city parks and end the walk at a restaurant overlooking the lake at the Loch Logan Waterfront.
2. Perfect your golf swing at the Fichardtpark Driving Range before attempting a round at the 18-hole Schoeman Park Golf Club where visitors are welcome. The course has a number of water hazards to keep any golfer on their toes!
3. Spoil the family with a trip to the Windmill Casino nearby. Gamble, play video games, try out tenpin bowling and enjoy a lunch at one of the five restaurants. The resort host regular events, check their website to see what’s on.
4. Take a township tour through Mangaung where you will visit various historic sites before stopping in at a social club and ending the tour with a traditional meal at a township pub. Learn to speak Tsotsitaal, a combination of Sesotho, Tswana and Afrikaans with a bit of slang in the mix.
5. If you are looking for a great fishing spot, the Tierpoort Dam is a 20 minute drive south of Fichardtpark. The resorts on the dam welcome day visitors to catch carp and make use of their recreational facilities for a small fee. Remember to organise a fishing permit in Bloemfontein before setting off.
6. Get your host to arrange tickets to watch the Knights cricket team in action at the Mangaung Oval. Evening games are spectacles with alternate entertainment during breaks, a host of prizes on offer and plenty of excitement on the field of play.
Transport
Fichardtpark is 16km from the Bram Fischer (Bloemfontein) International Airport. There are a few car rental companies located both at the airport and in Bloemfontein city centre, otherwise order your rental online. Metered taxi operators are available throughout the city and Uber intends to begin operating here in the near future. Main bus liners servicing the Johannesburg-Cape Town route stop in Bloemfontein.
Did you know?
Zola Budd, born in Bloemfontein, was a young athletics sensation who broke several world records before the age of 18 and took centre stage at the 1984 Olympics after being granted British citizenship in record time. Budd always ran barefoot. Local taxi operators use the idiom ‘Zola Budd’ to refer to their speedy minibuses.
The Church of Kopimism has a following in Bloemfontein. This church believes in illegal sharing of digital files, causing outrage amongst those opposed to piracy. The church’s sacred symbols are CTRL-C and CTRL-V (copy & paste) and their mission is for file sharing to be given religious protection.
