Places to stay in Bloemfontein / Manguang
Host to 5 World Cup 2010 Group matches and one Round of 16 game, Bloemfontein is widely known as the City of Roses and it doesn't disappoint. It is located pretty much bang smack in the middle of South Africa so provides a great base from which to see the rest of the country. Bloemfontein is about 400km from Johannesburg and 1000km from Cape Town. The local airport facilitates effortless travel to all corners of the country in a matter of a couple of hours either direction. Bloemfontein is also host to the greatest rugby school in the world, Grey College. Ok, so it's not "soccer", but it should be noted nonetheless as their "footie" team has done some significant damage on UK shores.
Stadium
Free State Stadium (capacity: 48,000)
World Cup Games in Bloemfontein / Manguang
Monday, 14th June 4pm, Game 10 - Group E, Japan vs. Cameroon
Thursday, 17th June 4pm, Game 19 - Group B, Greece vs. Nigeria
Sunday, 20th June 1.30pm, Game 27 - Group F, Slovakia vs. Paraguay
Tuesday, 22nd June 4pm, Game 34 - Group A, France vs. South Africa
Friday, 25th June 8.30pm, Game 48, Group H, Switzerland vs. Honduras
Sunday, 27th June 4pm, Game 51, Round of 16, 1D vs. 2C (winner = 4)
Weather in Bloemfontein / Manguang
Things to do in Bloemfontein / Manguang
Bloemfontein is South Africa's judicial capital, in which case you may feel inspired to wander past the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of South Africa. Both are located on President Brand Street which is home to a number of Bloemfontein's historical monuments and buildingsand touted as one of the most elegant and stately streets in the world. In fact, it's been designated a National Conservation area and and you can judge it's 'stately-ness' for yourself on a leisurely stroll.
And whilst we're in a cultural mood, we'd also recommend a visit to Oliewenhuis Art Museum (weekdays 8am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm). It's housed in a classic example of a 1930s Cape Dutch Mansion and the collection consists of the creations of both traditional and contemporary South African artists. There's even a cafe and a sculpure park for an artistic leg stretch.
It's the rosebushes of Kings Park the give the city it's name, 'City of Roses' - unfortunately, you're a few months early to catch them in bloom. However, the park also houses Bloemfontein Zoo which is famous for 3 things - it's primates (the zoo hit the international headlines when one of its chimpanzees, Charlie, was found to have taken up smoking), its 'liger' (a cross between a lion and a Bengal Tiger) and the fact that if offers something called Zoo Snoozes, the chance to stay overnight. If you're not going on safari, this is the probably the closest you're going to get.
If you prefer your game out of cages, then head up to Naval Hill, just north of the city centre. Not only does it offer great views of the city and the surrounding plain, but it's also home to Franklin Nature Reserve - a small game park with giraffe and zebra and the only wildlife sanctuary in the world within municipal boundaries.
Nightlife in Bloemfontein / Manguang
Lock Logan Waterfront is a good place to start your evening -- there a good selection of restaurants to get the stomach lined and plenty of bars to get the drinking started.
If you're a bit of a poser, you might want to head over to the Cubana Latino Cafe. It's definitely the place to be seen and you can indulge in a Cuban cigar or hubble bubble whilst taking in some fantastic music.
At the other end of the scale is the Stones Pub & Pool. This place is real 'spit and sawdust' but it does what it says on the tin - you drink beer and you play pool.
And no visit to Bloemfontein is complete without a few beers in the Mystic Boer. What's a Mystic Boer ? - well, you'll find out when you're there admiring the psychedelic pictures of bearded Boers on the walls. It's the city's most popular pub and hosts regular gigs by unsigned bands. Its speciality is tequila - after a few of those maybe those Boers won't be looking so psychedelic after all...
