The long-awaited Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre in South Africa’s Free State province is finally nearing completion. According to the Department of Tourism, construction of the new visitor facilities is expected to be finished by early 2026, marking the end of a project that has faced multiple delays over the years.
Funded through the Department of Tourism’s “Working for Tourism” programme, the new visitor centre will form the heart of the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, one of the planet’s most extraordinary geological landmarks. The centre will feature interactive geological displays, educational exhibits, and audiovisual presentations that tell the story of the world’s largest verified meteorite impact structure.
Located about 120 kilometres south-west of Johannesburg, the Vredefort Dome boasts a radius of approximately 190 kilometres and offers striking evidence of an impact event that took place over two billion years ago. This cataclysmic collision reshaped the Earth’s surface and left behind the immense ring of hills that can still be seen today.
During an oversight visit to several tourism infrastructure projects in Gauteng and the Free State, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism confirmed that the Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre is now 96% complete.
Committee Chairperson Ronalda Nalumango stated that the project is on track for completion by February or March 2026.
“There were some issues with the previous contractors, but those have been resolved with the appointment of a new team,” Nalumango said. “All buildings have been erected, and the Department of Tourism is working closely with Wits University to finalise the visitor facilities.”
Once open, the Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre is expected to become a key tourism and education hub for the region, offering visitors an immersive introduction to the geology, history, and cultural heritage of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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