As much as Instagram’s a great platform for cat pictures and brunches, it’s also rather great for couch travellers. Speaking of which, welcome to our new feature entitled Pretty Cities of Instagram where each week we’ll take a look at some of the best snaps of cities as seen from the lenses of Instagram users across the world.
This week, we venture inland from the warm coastline of Durban, to the frigid golden countryside of the Free State, and its largest city, Bloemfontein.
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As South Africa’s judicial capital city, Bloemfontein is rich in history and architectural heritage, but it’s not known as the City of Roses, or the city of cheetahs (Manguang) for nothing.
Bloemfontein, as with most cities in South Africa, still struggles with inequality. This snap is a bitter-sweet but beautiful portrait of a man standing atop a rubbish mound with the sunset at his back. Image: Jason Marais.
A photo posted by Jason Marais (@jason_marulo) on
Thanks to its height above sea level, Bloemfontein’s ambient temperature regularly drops below freezing in winter. Still, if you’re brave enough, you can snap sunsets like this. Image: Raising Flags Productions.
A photo posted by Francois Prinsloo (@raisingflags_productions) on
Sitting in the heart of the country, Bloemfontein is often a stop for weary road-users between Cape Town and Johannesburg. One of South Africa’s major roads — the N1 — slices it in half as a result. Image: Ntinoh Msibi.
A photo posted by I’äm Ntíñöh Msïbí (@ntinoh_msibi_2) on
The Free State is a big rugby-mad region in South Africa, and Bloemfontein is its heartbeat, regularly playing hosts to the Springboks, its own Super Rugby team and a steady stream of Currie Cup youngsters. The Free State Stadium is the cathedral. Image: Wiehank.
South Africa A vs Saxsons #bloemfontein #rugby #southafrica
A photo posted by Wiehan Klopper (@wiehank) on
Bloemfontein’s Nelson Mandela Statue on Naval Hill is another huge tourist attraction, and a definite Instagram hotspot. The statue, erected in 2012, stands eight-metres tall. Image: Czwe.
#Bloemfontein #SiteSeeing #MidibaDance #BareTouchingHisHand #Tall4Days Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
A photo posted by Czwe (@czwe_shabs) on
What would a visit to the city of cheetahs be without, well, seeing a cheetah? Image: Beth Morgan.
A photo posted by Beth Morgan (@bethrosemorgan) on
With just under 400 000 people living within its borders, Bloemfontein is one of the country’s smallest major cities. It’s no less gorgeous from the sky, though. Image: Karen Heydenrych.
A photo posted by Karen Heydenrych (@kayhey72) on
Do you want your snaps of your city or town to be featured in this series? Be sure to tag us on Instagram using our @BurnMedia handle.
Feature image: South African Tourism via Flickr
