The Free State National Botanical Garden, located just outside Bloemfontein covers 70 hectares, and is home to about 400 species of plants, largely native to Free State and Northern Cape Provinces and Lesotho. Near Bain's Vlei, the garden was established in 1965, around 10 km north of downtown between picturesque dolerite rocks. 140 bird species, 50 mammal species, and 50 reptile species live in the park. A wild olive tree (Olea europaea subsp. africana) there is probably more than 200 years old. The herbarium preserves 50,000 species. There is also a bird hide, a dam, and wide lawns.^[1][2]

Free State National Botanical Garden
Type	Botanical garden
Location	Bloemfontein
Coordinates	29°03′08″S 26°12′39″E / 29.05222°S 26.21083°E / -29.05222; 26.21083
Area	70 hectares (170 acres)
Established	1965; 59 years ago (1965)
Administered by	South African National Biodiversity Institute
Hiking trails	4
Species	400
Website	Free State National Botanical Garden - SANBI