Wesselsbron, Lejweleputswa

The quaint maize farming town of Wesselsbron lies about 75 kilometres south of Bothaville - worth mentioning as together they fall into what is known as the “maize triangle”, an area dominated by fields of corn and sweet corn that lend credibility to the Free State’s reputation as the “bread basket” of South Africa.

Wesselsbron, not to be confused with Wesselsbron disease - a virus that infects sheep, cattle and goats - was named after the Boer Commandant Cornelius Wessels, and lies just north west of Welkom and close to the Bloemhof dam, one of the largest dams in the country covering some 25 000 hectares and spanning over 100 kilometres.

Previously known as Oppermansdrif dam, Bloemhof dam, together with Grootdraai and the Vaal dams, are the three main dams in the Vaal River System. It lies just two kilometers from the little town of Bloemhof on the R34 en route to Hoopstad with, reputedly, some of the best fresh water angling opportunities in the country - it hosts both national and international angling championships annually.

The Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve offers the visitor over 12 000 hectares of Kalahari scrub, thornveld and large herds of black wildebeest, springbok, eland and gemsbok. The water attracts over 250 species of birds as well as beasts of a different nature that come here for the water sports, meaning that it’s a popular spot, particularly over weekends.