‘Maize Capital’

Bothaville, the official ‘Maize Capital’ of South Africa, is situated in the northern part of the Free State Province. The town lies on the banks of the Vals River between the North West Province (Orkney and Klerksdorp) and the Goldfields (Welkom and Odendaalsrus). The town can be described as the jewel of the summer grain area, and serves one of the wealthiest agricultural districts in the country. NAMPO, the National Maize Producers’ Organisation, has it’s Headquarters in Bothaville and it is here where the main policy decisions with regard to the maize industry are made. The organisation has successfully developed the Nampo Harvest Day Farm outside Bothaville. This farm serves as the venue for the annual Nampo Harvest Day, staged during May, which is the second largest privately organized and owned agricultural exhibition in the world. This show attracts approximately 30 000 visitors from all over the world. A Maize Capital Food and Witblits Festival is also held annually in October. This festival captures the spirit of the town and the district and serves as an excellent weekend breakaway for the city dweller. Bothaville has a proud history dating back to 1891 when ‘Bothanaria’ was established as a church town.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Klerksdorp 60 km

Altitude: 1291,13 m above sea level

Average Rainfall: 50 mm – 600 mm in spring and summer

Average Temperatures

Summer Min -3°c – 0°c; Max 28°c – 35°c; Winter Min -3°c – 0°c; Max 10°c – 18°c

Banks

Absa (ATM), Fnb (ATM), Standard (ATM)

Dams: Allemanskraal, Bloemhof

Rivers: Vals, Vaal

HISTORICAL VIEW

Doornkraal War Memorial

Granite monument in memory of the Boers killed in a surprise attack by British soldiers in November 1900.

Rider Memorial

This marble Anglo Boer War memorial in front of the Dutch Reformed Church was made in Italy.

ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events

Nampo Harvest Day – May

Maize Capital Food and Witblits Festival – October, this festival captures the spirit of the town and the district and serves as an excellent weekend breakaway for the city dweller.

Arts & Crafts

Anker Leather Goods, Casmia Florest, Metal Magic, Papillon, Picasso’s, Stols Rose, Tarentaalbosch, Thusanang, Viljoen Roses and flowers

Middelbult Farm

Breeding of true Arabian horses. Miniature roses and vegetables are also grown for the export market.

Nampo Harvest Day Farm – Open Daily

Sadat Horse Farm - View gracious Arabian breeds

Stols Rose Farm - For export roses

Africar Toy Cars

Wire cars, made to resemble in the finest detail real BMW and Mercedes models. View on the maize farm, Vienna

Vlaklaagte Estates - For export miniature vegetables

‘Witblits’ Still / Tasting

A copper vat from which ‘Witblits’ (white lightning), a potent alcoholic brew, is distilled.

Accommodation in and around Bothaville