Bloemfontein, known as one of South Africa’s more relaxed and welcoming cities and a hub for furniture movers in Bloemfontein, is the designated capital city of the Free State province. Unique in it’s own way, even though it doesn’t house the normal big-name attractions one might come across in South Africa, it has a few small-scale sights to see and experience while you make your way across South Africa’s heartland. Bloemfontein has an awesome, small town atmosphere with a strong community spirit, making it a popular place for families and students alike to start their life. With the feeling of living in a small country village, Bloemfontein is for those looking for a simpler lifestyle. Use a trusted moving company in Bloemfontein for all your relocation or furniture removal needs.

Bloemfontein is known as the “City of Roses” due to the 4000 rose bushes planted in Kings Park. This resulted in an international rose festival being held every year where local and international tourists alike celebrate this man-made beauty.
Bloemfontein is home to the third oldest school in South Africa, adding to it’s rich diversity and culture.
The name of “Bloemfontein” originated from Dutch culture, meaning “the fountain of flowers”. South Africans, however, gave the city a Sesotho name, Mangaung, meaning “the place of cheetahs”.

Population
578,000

Official Languages
English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa and Sesotho

The price of moving to Cape town will vary due to a number of reasons:
• Household Size
• Insurance policy
• What vehicle you will use to move
• Additional services like packing or wrapping your goods
• What time of year it is

Related: How much do moving companies cost in South Africa?

Education

Bloemfontein is well known for it’s top notch schools, renowned for their academic achievements and well thought out curriculums. With an abundance of public, private and international schools, students have all of the materials they’ll ever need to make a success out of their education. Bloemfontein is also known for its prestigious university, the University of the Free State, where many well-known professionals and academics were born.

Sport

Bloemfontein’s residents have a very dedicated sports culture, where typical South African sports such as rugby, hockey and cricket are enjoyed by many students and residents alike. The Free State University is especially a sports hub in Bloemfontein where students can mingle and get in a good exercise in between their classes and study sessions. If you’re someone who enjoys water sports, then have no fear, as the Gariep Dam is near. Many water sports lovers spend their time here participating in activities such as jet skiing, water skiing and kayaking, soaking up the sun and spending some quality time with friends and family.

Public Transportation

As Bloemfontein is such a close knit city, public transportation isn’t as developed as it would be in other major cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. The best form of transportation will be to invest in your own vehicle, as this is very convenient and reliable to get from point A to point B. Bloemfontein does offer top quality bus services, such as Interstate Bus Lines, where public transport users can move safely around the city for a cheap price. There are also metered taxis available 24/7, but these services do need to be booked in advance to ensure you get to your destination on time.

Here, we will give a brief overview of how much the average cost of living is for such a major South African city, such as Bloemfontein. On average, Bloemfontein is about 25% cheaper than living in Cape Town. These average costs are priced to care for an individual living on their own in Bloemfontein:

Bloemfontein’s neighbourhoods are all vastly different. When moving to Bloemfontein, think about what you want from the area you live in and whether you want to be closer to the city or more rural and in a quieter area. There are plenty of great neighbourhoods to choose from, all of which have their own quirks and set of attractions to enjoy. Below are the top 6 neighbourhoods in Bloemfontein.

Universitas is one of the more popular suburbs located in Bloemfontein. With its central location, it’s a prime spot for anyone looking to be in the middle of the action. Universitats is known for its educational facilities, with schools such as Grey College and Eunice High School being top contenders in the South African educational system. Universitas is also a great location for university students to settle in, as the Free State University and the Central University of Technology are easily accessible in this area. But for those looking to start a family, Universitas offers many convenient shops such as banks, beauty salons and shopping centres to cater to the whole family’s needs.

Waverly is one of the older suburbs located in Bloemfontein, known for its stunning landscapes and tree-lined streets. Waverly was made popular due to housing the Naval Hill Nature Reserve, the only registered nature reserve located within a dense city in South Africa. Naval Hill Nature Reserve also boasts a fully-functional Planetarium! Waverly is characterized by its charming homes littered with colorful trees, where residents are delighted by the bright purple, orange and green trees that showcase the natural beauty Bloemfontein has to offer.

Baysvalley is a vibrant and up-market area, surrounded by popular areas such as Pentagon Park and Helicon Heights. This charming suburban area houses modern homes in a neat and safe environment, perfect for families and retired folk. Baysvalley has great amenities such as North Ridge Mall and the newly developed Olive Hills Estate, making Baysvalley a area where residents don’t have to travel far to enjoy local shops and various recreational activities.

Westdene is the oldest suburb located in the northern part of Bloemfontein, characterised for its “old and warm charms”. Westdene is a popular suburb, due to the fact of being so close to popular shopping malls and sport stadiums, such as the Mimosa Mall and the Loch Logan Waterfront. With a fantastic mixture of residential and business properties, Westdene offers something for everyone. Westdene is also a hub for cultural venues, where attractions such as the Observatory Theatre and the Oliewenhuis Museum offer something to those looking for a bit more creativity.

When deciding to move to Bloemfontein, the suburb of Langenhovenpark will most likely be one of your top choices. A very popular suburb, Langenhovenpark caters for the young and old with being such a well-established and affordable residential area. With such a central location, Langenhovenpark offers various shopping malls, post offices and stunning nurseries, such as the Pretty Gardens Lifestyle Centre. The suburb is also close to all of the renowned schools and universities located in Bloemfontein. And don’t forget to visit the local “Boeremark” (Farmers Market) hosted every Saturday to pick up some local delicacies.

Known for its spacious homes and beautiful gardens, Heuwelsig is a very established and sought-after area, boasting excellent schools such as Willem Postma Laerskool and Sentraal Hoerskool. Another great characteristic of Heuwelsig is that it’s close to some of the best medical facilities Bloemfontein has to offer. The main landmark located in this quaint little suburb is the diamond shaped water-tower.

There are plenty of job opportunities to be taken advantage of when deciding to move to Bloemfontein. The most popular occupations are Accountants, Technologists, Office Administrators and Civil Engineering Technologists. When deciding to work in Bloemfontein, you can expect to get a well-rounded salary of over R170k per year for someone skilled and experienced in their occupation. As Bloemfontein is home to two very prestigious universities, there are plenty of job opportunities for those young graduates looking to start their professional careers.

Bloemfontein has a relatively lower average property price compared to the rest of the major cities in South Africa. The southern suburbs of Bloemfontein cater to those who want to pay a bit less for property, but still want to reside in a more developed suburb where they have access to schools and can enjoy a low crime rate. Newer developments have started in areas such as Woodlands, Pellissier, Pentagon Park and Noordstad, making them very attractive for both the younger and older generations. Prices for properties can vary greatly depending on the suburb you choose to live in, but on average, property prices can be anywhere between R500k and R10m. The average price for a 3 bedroom house in the southern suburbs go for about R1.5m where a 3 bedroom house in the northern suburbs will cost about R2m.