Franklin Nature Reserve

Description

The Franklin Nature Reserve is a 250 hectare reserve located in the heart of Bloemfontein, Free State. Established in 1930, it is one of only two city wildlife reserves in the world.

Visitors can look forward to spotting a variety of game in the reserve namely giraffe, blue wildebeest, zebra, springbok, and eland, as well as birds like the Karoo scrub robin, fairy flycatcher, and violet-eared waxbills.

Take a drive up to the top of Naval Hill where you can enjoy a spectacular city view. An iconic feature on the east side of this hill is the “White Horse”; a sculpture of a white horse created from white painted rocks. It is believed that this sculpture was created during the Anglo-Boer War as a direction marker for the British cavalry. An urban myth revolves around the White Horse, saying that every time a maiden is kissed on Naval Hill, it moves a step forward.