Welcome to an often over-looked part of South Africa.

The Friendly N6 Route covers a vast area, from Bloemfontein in the north to East London in the south, a distance of more than 600km. It spans two of South Africa's most beautiful provinces.

The Friendly N6 includes an awful lot, which is offered by people that are not yet faced with the pressures of mass tourism. You get a myriad of friendly "volk" and diverse scenery and experiences, at, what we believe to be, very affordable rates. All of this in an environment that is both Malaria and Bilharzia free.

The Free State

With tourism in the Free State opening its doors to the international community, visitors to this, the third largest province in South Africa bordering the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, are warming up to its sometimes hidden, but well kept splendours. Bloemfontein, the capital and often referred to as the heart of the Free State, offers visitors a vast selection of activities and tourist attractions. On your way south you will find an area rich in culture, history and natural beauty.

The Eastern Cape

Where else can you ski down the only snow covered slopes, surf the biggest waves and find the "BIG 5" in Africa. The Eastern Cape, the second largest province in South Africa, has it all! Along the The Friendly N6 you will find world-class game viewing, accommodation and a wide selection of activies to enjoy.

A Tour of the Route

Driving from inland to the sea

Bloemfontein City - this is a well laid out city that has some interesting Art Galleries and fascinating Museums - Military and the National Anglo Boer war Museum, to name just two! The city boasts a vibrant Waterfront experience and a first world theatre - The Sand du Plessis. The shopping experience in Bloemfontein is also spectacular - in such places as the modern Mimosa Hall.

The Bloemfontein Zoo is a must with an excellent big cat section - where can you compare a selection of the world's big cats with our African selection - don't forget Max the Chimp who has featured around the World on CNN and others- in his efforts to give up smoking.

For more information on different tours you could do worse than visit the Tourism Centre - easily found next to the zoo and a major sporting stadium -look forthe high mounted stadium lights. Before your first odd 20 km have past, you will see a farm stall on the right, which sells biltong, curried fish and other selected refreshments.

Reddersburg - a typical Karoo Town with some interesting Churches. The town has a large retirement home and serves the local agricultural community. The butcher at what was once a petrol station - right on the N6 - has a growing reputation for his products.

Smithfield - which likes to market itself as being halfway to almost anywhere in South Africa has a growing expatriate community from the likes of Gauteng and the Western Cape. If you approach the town at night and look-up you will see a large mounted cross on the mountain. The famous painter, Sir Thomas Baines passed through this town over a hundred years ago and immortalised one of the local ancient rock art sites. The town boasts some interesting curio, antique and craft shops. Note the painted rubbish bins in a town that has revitalised itself with new energy.

From here it is not far to Bethulie - a pretty little town that boasts some world-class artists among whom is a potter who is reputed to sell his work in New York. Bethulie was also the site of one of the Anglo Boer War Concentration camps and has a memorial that can be visited. What is interesting is that this whole memorial was moved when Lake Gariep was built - as it was feared that it would be covered - an eventuality that did not happen. The town has an interesting museum that is well worth a visit.

Continuing along the N6

Soon you cross the Caledon River. This river, along with the Orange, feeds into Lake Gariep - making it the largest Lake Dam in South Africa. There is a provincial game reserve nearby aptly called "Tussen Die Riviere "- (between the rivers). It is one of three reserves that Lake Gariep enjoys along its banks.

For more information about this route, visit http://www.friendlyn6route.co.za/