Bloemfontein

SA's judicial capital.

Botshabelo township.

Tolkien born here in 1892.

Started around 1854 (then the Orange River Colony had about 12 000 white inhabitants).

Johannes Brand was president from 1863 and saw the town grow to a town with rail links to the coast and a number of impressive government builings.

Bloemfontein Zoo is one of the top attractions in the city. Bloemfontein Zoo, established back in the year 1920, is well-known for its collection of primates. It is also home to the renowned Big Five along with tigers, hippos, panthers and antelope. Interestingly, Bloemfontein Zoo was a pioneer in the breeding of the liger, an interesting cross between a lion and tiger. Covering some 15 hectares, the zoo keeps about 65 mammal species as well as a grand selection of birds.