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The original fountain was frequented by game, and known as Mnaung (Place of the Leopards) by the local tribes. In 1840 Johannes Brits was the first person to settle in the vicinity.In 1846, Major Henry Douglas Warden, who built a tiny fort of mud and stones, bought the farm. The fort was named Fort Drury, but there are no remains left today. After 1848, another fort was built on one of the dominant hills. It was called Queen’s Fort. During this time Bloemfontein served as the key British military base on the ventral plains of South Africa. The British abandoned the town in 1854, and the flag of the new Republic of Orange Free State was raised. Bloemfontein remained the capital until the defeat in the Anglo Boer War.
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The flat crest of Naval Hill (192,5 hectares) presents several beautiful panoramic views. Naval Hill accommodates The Franklin Game Reserve with various animal species. It is the only game reserve in a city center to be known in South Africa. The Lamont Hussey Observatory, inside the game reserve, has been converted into an intimate theatre. Against the southeastern slopes of Naval Hill is the well-known white horse. The men of the Wiltshire Remount Dept as a landmark laid out the horse during the Anglo Boer War for horsemen coming in from the plains. The Bloemfontein Orchid House is situated at the western foot of Naval Hill in Hamiltonpark. The Orchid House is the most modern of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
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As South Africa’s judicial capital, Bloemfontein has become known through the years as “the central city”, “the hospitable city”, “the congress city” and “the city of roses”. All these designations indicate that it is a city in which not only residents, but also visitors and tourists can feel truly at home and welcome. With its more than 460 000 inhabitants, Bloemfontein offers adequate recreational and entertainment facilities which include public parks, swimming pools, sports fields, a game reserve, shopping malls and a zoo.
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