Parys in the Northern Freestate is less than an hour’s drive (120km) from Johannesburg. It is very unlikely that there is another town in the country, who can boast so many different activities in sport and adventure as in the case of the Freestate town of Parys. The river rafting trips are offered on the most popular rafting stretch in South Africa. Rapids are between grade 1 and 3. It includes “
Big Daddy” and the world renowned “Gatsien” rapid. Rafting options include nature paddles, an experience fit for anyone. Some historical buildings include the Anglican Church, built in 1915, of blue granite blocks. The beautiful Dutch Reformed Church dating back to 1899, and the Parys Museum, housed in the old magistrate’s office opposite the Town Hall. It was built in 1904 and proclaimed a provincial heritage site in 1986. Seventeen kilometres from Parys near Venterskroon you will find the largest wild olive forest in South Africa. There is a beer breweries near Parys where honey beer, various ales, stout, buchu beer, weiss beer, pilsner and porter beer are being brewed. The town acquired a reputation as an arts and antique hub. Many well-known artists, antique dealers and craftsmen have made Parys their home. In the famous Breë- and Water Street you will find a large and diverse variety of art galleries, antique and gift shops as well as fabulous pieces of art, crafts, gifts or memorabilia from the turn of the previous century. There are a number of restaurants and coffee shops which cater for an exciting and diverse culinary experience. You will even find such delights as typical South African “vetkoek” “boerekos”, afval, sausage rolls and “pap and wors”. Only in Parys you will find the largest indoor arena in the Southern Hemisphere for the S.A. Boerboel Championship, Horse shows and cattle shows to name a few. The first and only pre-teen and teen holiday resort in the Free State were the children can enjoy activities such as stalk the lantern, mountain biking, hiking trails, river rafting, raft building, wall climbing, low ropes course, restaurant competitions, obstacle course, game drives, life skills, bird watching and much more. The Parys Dome Adventure Festival is unique in being the only festival held in a world heritage site called the Vredefort Dome. It is one of the top outdoor festivals in South Africa which includes the ever popular Dragon Boat race. The Vredefort Dome-area is filled with engaging ways to learn and practise the skill of teamwork. The unique topography and geology of the area and the presence of the Vaal River resulted in a diversity of flora, which attracted vast amounts of fauna to the area. This, together with the shelter available, resulted in a diverse cultural heritage and which make it cultural and historical treasure cove. The Vredefort structure (better known as the Vredefort Dome Heritage Meteorite Impact Site) is currently described as the World’s oldest and largest impact structure and was declared South Africa’s seventh World Heritage site in July 2005. The structure was formed 2020 million years ago when an asteroid of 10 kilometres in diameter collided with the earth at a speed of 30 000km/h. The Vaal River is the oldest river in the world though not nearly as old as the crater. It was born when Karoo sediments covered the crater. Only at Parys you will find rapids in the river. Leeukop Quarry is the largest of seven such quarries in the area and the only place on earth where you will find pink granite. A visit to one of two gold mines will prove to be very interesting indeed. You walk through a tunnel of 1.5 kilometres. The tunnel was dug by hand and the mine is probably one of only two gold mines in the world, on top of a mountain. Hiking trails guarantee interesting sights e.g. undamaged Bushman rock paintings and remains of stone villages of indigenous tribes who lived in the Vredefort Dome region during the Iron Age can be seen on these routes. The Vredefort Dome-area is truly a birdwatcher’s paradise. During sunset game drives in wild life conservancies and surrounding areas you will also have the opportunity to see a variety of birds. Horseback riders will find the terrain in the Vredefort Dome-area varies from bushveld to unspoilt ravines and wooded hillsides, some of which are wilderness areas and only accessible by foot or horseback. At the cheetah breeding centre you can experience feeding time and watch how these wonderful cats devour their food. The Vaal River offers various extremely popular spots for fly-fishing and catching yellow fish. Experience the fascination of free flight in a hot air balloon and enjoy a panoramic view over a scenic countryside inside a crater. The Vredefort Dome-area offers a splendid stargazing opportunity to do a bit of celestial wandering. Archery is one of the many activities on offer, which is an enjoyable and entertaining sport. A great variety of mountain biking trails can be found in the Vaal River valley, in the farmlands to the south of Parys and along the heights of the Dome Bergland. Go quad biking through valleys, indigenous forests, streams, over scenic mountains and witness the amazing wildlife. You will find absailing in the Vredefort Dome an exhilarating adventure activity.
