If you are travelling along the N6 between Bloemfontein and Aliwal North en-route to East London, make sure that you have scheduled the time to stop for a while, or better yet stay over, in the charming village of Smithfield.
Renowned for the kind of hospitality that you’ll only find in a small thriving Karoo farming town, where the people are happy, their lives augmented by unpolluted skies, rural surroundings and the unique charm of the Transgariep, Smithfield invites a you to stop for a ‘big bite to eat’ at the Famous Pig Out (among other cafes and small restaurants), a chat with the locals and to browse local art offering and arts and crafts at the Red Barn Art Gallery or history at the Caledon River Museum.
Smithfield is the third oldest town in the Free State, established in 1848, and boasts many restored heritage homes and buildings, and many more in the process of restoration. There are quite a few National Monument buildings and of course the Sandstone Church dominates – as it does with all Free State towns. There are also quite a few eclectice buildings and artistic uses of paint. The ‘Artist’ contingent of Smithfield’s population is very evident even on the streets.
The countryside around Smithfield is pretty and very open, with the Maluti Mountains in the distance and vast tracts of land given over to sheep and some cattle. Outdoors activities in include horse riding and mtb down the many farm roads, birding, and exploring to find some if the San Rock Art in the countryside around Smithfield.
There is also a small golf course, known to be one of the most scenic in the Free State and some other sports facilities such as a Bowling Green and tennis courts if you are thinking of staying for a few days.
The annual Bibberchill Festival in July (Cold Chill Fest) is all about fun, sheep, food and beer. Originally publicized as including a sheep-throwing contest, which upset lots of people until the contest was revealed to be a prank to draw attention to the tiny town, the Bibberchill leapt on to the Festival scene in 1996 and has managed to stay there.
There are some charming places to stay in Smithfield and on surrounding countryside properties and farms, and Smithfield has all the basic amenities and services you will need.
Getting there: Smithfield is situated on the N6 between Bloemfontein and Aliwal North, 130km south of Bloemfontein.
