Location

In the north-central part of Free State Province.

A fairly new town- born after the discovery (in the late 1940s) of the area's vast gold deposits - and beautifully planned on modern lines. The streets are wide, tree-lined, designed for ease of movement; there are no traffic lights; more than 20 island circles smooth the way for motorists.

Especially notable are the well-laid-out town's green areas: it's truly a 'garden city'. It also has all the visitor amenities: good restaurants, shopping malls, hotels, guest-houses, golf course, and an excellent theatre (the 750-seat Ernest Oppenheimer auditorium, in the civic centre).

The town's state-of-the-art circuit now hosts one of the premier international Grand Prix races.

Highlights

Museum

Fascinating displays focusing on the gold industry; also local history and bird life. The museum is housed in the public library.

Gold Mines

Some of the world's deepest, biggest and best known workings are located in the Welkom-Virginia area, though the industry has suffered in recent years from moderate demand and a stubbornly conservative metal price. Visitors can book their places on full-day surface and underground conducted tours.

Crafts

Make time to call in at the craft centre attached to the Oppenheimer hospital: on show and on sale is a wide and attractive range of hand-made items, crafted by physically challenged patients.

Parks

Welkom is graced by numerous well-tended open spaces, all with trim green lawns and shady picnic spots. The most prominent are Central park, Peter Pan park (for the young and young at heart), Van Riebeeck park and West park (for those who like to relax around a barbecue fire).

Bird-Watching

Underground water brought up from mining operations has flowed into a number of lakelets, pans and dams that sustain a marvelous array of aquatic and water-related birds, including a myriad pink flamingos, Egyptian geese, Muscovy ducks, sacred ibises and marsh owls.

Seagulls are a surprising presence: the waters are rather salty (from evaporation) and have attracted these marine visitors from their Indian Ocean home 400 kilometres to the east.

Most popular venues are Flamingo pan (pleasant for picnics and barbecues) and Theronia pan (boating and fishing).

Nearest towns

Kroonstad lies some 40 kilometres to the northeast; Virginia to the southeast; Bloemfontein about 150 kilometres to the south.

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WELKOM

Locations
Highlights
Nearest Towns


PROVINCES

Western Cape
Gauteng
Eastern Cape
Free State
Kwazulu Natal
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
Northern
North West