Africa
South Africa
Free State
Parys
Things to do in Parys
Vredefort Dome
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Vredefort Dome

See all things to do
See all things to do
Vredefort Dome
4
#2 of 18 things to do in Parys
Points of Interest & LandmarksGeologic Formations
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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About
Mountains, River, Bushveld and rugged beauty draw visitors to this unique World Heritage Site. A geological treasure trove, white water rafting, Africa's wildlife, Bushveld, trillions of stars, amazing sunsets, and wonderful people. Only 90 minutes from Johannesburg but a whole different world. There are a wide variety of accommodation venues available including camping and caravan sites. Use of a registered guide is well advised for an informative tour. Heritage Site tours range from 90 minutes to full day outings.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
76 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
19
Average
6
Poor
4
Terrible
6
Jacek B
2 contributions
Vredefort Dome tour from Kopjeskraal Country Lodge
Mar 2023 • Friends
Google maps guide to a wrong place. The World Heritage site is elsewhere and is best accessed from the Kopjeskraal Country Lodge. The guide Christo Meyer is very passionate and knowledgeable.
Written 26 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gene R J
Silver Spring, MD9 059 contributions
Crossing the Vredefort Dome from Potchefstroom to Bethlehem.
Feb 2023
After visiting Potchefstroom, we turned south on Rt. P89 passing the gentle hills of the first “collar” of this huge caldera, until spotting the “Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site i 10 KM'' sign. It pointed east on a slow dirt road descending into the hills of the last “collar” into a river valley. Halfway was the World Heritage Site Property Management Office(posted Mon-Fri 8h00-16h00) so we continued on, passing guinea fowl, a warthog and fenced Lesser kudu until reaching the paved Rt. R53 into Parly. After crossing the raging Vaal River, we entered the Free State on Rt. R59> Rt. R271. For the next 3 hours we drove 236km over the caldera, eroded and leveled after 2 billion years into a relatively flat 3000’ high farming plain speckled with grain elevators and huge grasslands with cattle pastures. After Kroonstad, the R76 highway is slowed by long road repairs, then potholes approaching Bethlehem, where much of the undulating landscape has been molded into wide terraces. Soon, rocky hills mark the end of the caldera which is finalized by Lesotho's taller mountains in the distance.
The Wikipedia “Vredefort impact structure” article begins with an outer space view of the area we crossed today, giving an appreciation of the scale of this site.
Written 18 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gino
Johannesburg, South Africa11 contributions
At least we had a good time in Parys town market for the day.
Aug 2021 • Family
Firstly we didn't find the place. Went on a wing to see new places ant took a day drive. To our suprice Google maps took us to a dead end through some dirt road into a farm area. To top it all we thought we were the only ones, only to find 3 other families in the same position.

If this place does exist, please update Google maps accordingly!!!!
Written 9 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyager-FR13
Marseille, France32 contributions
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Feb 2021
A place that is not necessary known at the level it should be.
This is the oldest and largest meteorite crater in the world (well to be precise 2nd oldest as an Australian crater is now the oldest). But 2.2 billions years old is still very old !! :)
very interesting places to see and understand what that impact has created that is still visible more than 2.2 billions years after that meteorite crashed on Earth.
Written 21 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
San
2 contributions
Good outing
Dec 2020 • Solo
I did a tour with Dome Impact Tours (Gustav Engelbrecht). I really enjoyed it. The tour was for the whole day and Gustav used his car so it was good value for money at R610. A lot of information was covered from history of the Anglo Boer war to the gold rush. Gustav's knowledge of the area and its geology is excellent. We even saw bushmen rock carvings. It was a wonderful day.
Written 21 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roddy P
Johannesburg, South Africa901 contributions
Wonderful and worth a day trip
Dec 2020
Its a beautiful outdoor (and a bit of indoor) activity. The area is fascinating and almost unbelievable in its geological history and concept. We went with a local guide who we followed around - Graham Atkinson (he is based at Otters Halt in Parys). He is deeply knowledgeable as well as very accessible and at R365.00 for a half day per person it was money well spent
Written 14 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandeep Singh
Durban, South Africa65 contributions
Major chapter in the the formation of our world
Nov 2020
The crater was formed over 2 billion years ago, when a meteor hit earth. The meteor went deep into the earth before exploding and forming a dome at the site of the explosion. The explosion causes a ripple of 3 rings, with the furthest one being 150km from the centre. There's theories that the impact is the reason for the tilt in the earth. and the impact also caused the continental drift.

I did a tour with Christo Meyer from Kopjeskraal Lodge. The tour includes a brief history not he impact crater, followed by a drive to up to a view point with 180 degree views of the crater, where Christo shows you the expanse of the first of the 3 rings formed by the impact.

Note, you will not see any specific dome or crater. The dome has been flatted with 2 billion years of corrosion - you will just see hills and the rocks that were thrown out after the explosion.
Written 26 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mariusb69
Alberton, South Africa38 contributions
Dome tours
Aug 2020 • Couples
We toured the Dome with a seasoned tour guide, who is very knowledgeable of the area and the history. We made use of a local tour guide from Dome Impact Tours. What a wonderful experience and very interesting.
Written 8 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CharleenLast
Johannesburg, South Africa4 contributions
Vredefort Come Area and surrounds
Mar 2020 • Couples
Awesome scenery. Lovely places to visit. Well worth it to follow the "off the beaten track" routes and see the relativelyunknown beauty if our country
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Qmom
Johannesburg, South Africa6 contributions
Beautiful Scenery
Feb 2020
We like viewing geographical sites. We drove to Parys on a first Saturday of February so that we could enjoy the market there. Then drove the Vredefort Dome route. Well worth our time.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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VREDEFORT DOME: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Vredefort Dome
Vredefort Dome is open:
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