Vredefort - Fezile Dabi - Free State

Vredefort World Heritage Site

 

vredefort_-_vredefort_crater.jpgVredefort is a small farming town with cattle, peanuts, sorghum, sunflowers and maize being farmed. The town was established in 1876 on a farm called Visgat, on the Vredefort crater, the largest and oldest visible bolide impact crater in the world (with a diameter of 300km).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vredefort_-_vredefort_structure.jpgThe town got its name after the peaceful conclusion of a threatened war between the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The Vredefort Structure in the Vredefort/Parys area has been declared South Africa’s 7th International World Heritage Site and is recognized world wide as the oldest and biggest meteorite impact site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

vredefort_-_vredefort_explosion.jpgDating back 2,023 million years, it is the oldest astrobleme found on earth so far. With a radius of 190km, it is also the largest and the most deeply eroded. Vredefort Dome bears witness to the world’s greatest known single energy release event, which caused devastating global change, including, according to some scientists, major evolutionary changes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

vredefort_-_vredefort_mountain_biking.jpgMany activities can be enjoyed in the area on the Dome Bergland Meander. From river rafting, river tubing, abseiling, horse riding, mountain biking, archery to walking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vredefort_-_anglo_boer_war_sites.jpgOr visit the Anglo Boer War sites, the the largest wild olive forest in South Africa at Venterskroon, or a visit to a distillery where traditional South African "witblits" (extremely strong spirits) is made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring the Dome

 

vredefort_-_hiking.jpgThe Vredefort Meteorite hiking trail offers backpackers excellent accommodation and a real eco-tourism experience. This 2-day hiking trail will offer you the most scenic route through the oldest and biggest meteorite impact site in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vredefort_-_bushmen_rock_paintings.jpgMany shorter hiking-trails are also available in the Dome area. Day and overnight routes are available on a variety of terrains varying from educational but easy eco routes to mountain hiking-trails. Interesting sights e.g. undamaged Bushman rock paintings and remains of stone villages of indigenous tribes who lived in the Vredefort Dome region during the Iron Age can be seen on these routes.

 

 

 

 

 

vredefort_-_canoe_trips.jpgOvernight facilities on hiking-trails throughout the region are standard and enable the hiker throughout to enjoy the spatial scenery in the beautiful Northern Free State. Combined hiking-trails and canoe-trips are also available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vredefort_-_river_rafting.jpgRock-climbing, for the high risk adventurer and river-rafting are presented on an organized basis in the Vredefort Structure area and on the banks of the Vaal River.

 
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