Central SA
Explore CSA’s gems this Tourism Month with OFM: Vredefort─── ZENANDE MPAME 13:00 Fri, 12 Sep 2025
Tourism Month is celebrated annually in September and provides a heightened month-long focus on the importance of the sector to the South African economy.
Vredefort is a town 15 km southwest of Parys. It was established in 1876 on the farm Vischgat, proclaimed in 1881, and became a municipality in 1890.
It is famous for the Vredefort Dome, an impact structure in the surrounding sedimentary rock.
In Vredefort, accommodation ranges from self-catering chalets to camping on the riverbank. There’s white-water rafting, great fishing, game viewing, tame animals for the children, playgrounds, trampolines, pools, and even midweek specials.
“For you, Vredefort might just be a name on a road sign or a place you once passed through without remembering you even stopped there. But for me, it is my whole life,” said Vredefort organist Erna Rademan.
“Just outside town, toward Viljoenskroon on the R59, you’ll find the Phirimane Wedding Venue, a prime venue situated at the foot of the Vredefort Dome, which has hosted more than 267 weddings and functions.
“With three-star accommodation along the Renoster River, you can enjoy fishing, hiking, and cycling. The R59 is quiet, perfect for cycling, while every gravel road leading off it offers adventure for mountain bikers.”
Source: Plekname van Suider-Afrika (Protea Boekhuis, 2020)
