Maria Moroka Game Reserve

Free State Game and Nature ReservesThe Maria Moroka Game Reserve

One of the only game reserves named after a woman - Dr Maria Moroka was a hero from the struggle against apartheid – the Maria Moroka Game Reserve lies close to the large mountain, and little town, known as Thaba Nchu, roughly 70 kilometres outside of Bloemfontein.

The Maria Moroka Reserve is also one of several nature reserves in the Free State that has, as its heart, a large dam.

This particular dam is called the Montloatse Setlogelo Dam and it is set in amongst soft grassy plains, wooded hills and a wide open, almost constantly blue, sky. Of course it is the large Thaba Nchu (black mountain) that predominates in the Maria Moroka reserve that also lies close to the Lesotho mountains.

On the plains you will find zebra, black wildebeest, the white rhino and a variety of antelope that include springbok and red hartebeest.

Impressive are the sightings, sometimes of large flocks, of blue cranes, whilst the 8 kilometre hiking trail to the mountain is easily do-able on a day visit and not beyond the average hiker.

You can both walk and drive in the reserve and there are picnic spots for sunrise breakfasts or lunch time feasts, whilst the dam is a popular spot to launch a boat for sundowners or to catch a fish or two. Also take a game drive with an experienced ranger.

Visit the reserve as a day trip from Bloemfontein or if you are en route between Bloemfontein and Lesotho. The N8 that links one with the other also passes through the southern parts of the town of Thaba Nchu, and takes one to the Thaba Nchu Sun.