The 56th NAMPO Harvest Day themed “Agriculture in a Digital Age” will be held from 14 to 17 May at Nampo Park, Bothaville, Free State.

Arrive early 

Normally, a ‘traffic jam’ in Bothaville and its surrounds means getting stuck behind a combine harvester for a few minutes.

This sleepy rural atmosphere changes radically for the four days of the Nampo event. Upwards of 80 000 visitors descend on the small Free State town over this period and the daily queue of cars can mean a wait of half an hour or longer.

Remember to make a mental note of where you park, otherwise you might struggle to find your car amongst the ocean of vehicles at the end of the day. Consider heading home at around 3pm to avoid sitting in traffic when leaving the grounds.

DIRECTIONS TO GET TO NAMPO QUICKLY AND SAFELY:

• N12 Potchefstroom → Klerksdorp → R30 Bothaville/NAMPO Park;
• R727 Kroonstad → Bothaville, use the R76 and turn left to Bothaville on R727;
• R59 Parys → Viljoenskroon → Bothaville, turn right at the T-Junction on R30 Orkney/NAMPO Park;
• R504 from Wolmaransstad → Bothaville, road is under construction. Route has stop and go sections.

Roads to avoid:

• R59 Viljoenskroon → Vierfontein R76 (under construction)

Sunscreen and a hat

Wear comfortable shoes

The Nampo showgrounds are large, spread-out and rather dusty in parts; exploring the exhibits and stalls require a considerable amount of walking and standing. Wear comfortable shoes.

Feeling hungry?

Vetkoeks, boerie rolls, sosaties, burgers, the famous jafels, curry-and-rice, delicious home-made treats and much more are available. The Fanie Ferreira Hall can seat 1 200 people simultaneously and for people in a hurry there are 22 specialised and general takeaway stalls.

What not to miss

Don’t leave Nampo without visiting the Farmer’s Weekly stall (Nampo Hall, Stands 67 & 84), where you can meet some of the faces behind South Africa’s oldest and most trusted farming magazine.

You can also buy exclusive Farmer’s Weekly merchandise at the stall from hats to shirts to discounted magazine subscriptions. Keep an eye on our social media accounts for special promotions at Nampo.

The mechanisation displays are also not to be missed. Practical demonstrations of planting, harvesting and tilling equipment are a must-see if you’re thinking of buying new equipment or simply wanting to catch up on the latest technology.

The livestock exhibition features a comprehensive display of cattle, sheep, goat and horse breeds.

If you’re interested in seed cultivars, make sure you pop in at the Nampo seed plots close to the Caltex hall.

The Engen tractor museum makes for an interesting visit and the 4×4 demonstrations always draw large crowds.

If you have an interest in home decor, plan to spend some time at the Sampi halls, for gifts, art and decor.

Airfield

Nampo has a take-off and landing strip manned by an air traffic control officer during the day, but the airfield is not registered and is used at your own risk. Be advised that there is considerable air traffic over the Nampo five-day event.

Runway length: 1 200m – grass
Width: 20m x 20m, clean on all sides
Height above sea level: ± 4 500
Air traffic control times: 7am to 5pm
Traffic pattern: left-hand turn
Airspace: Radius S27° 13’ 36”, E26° 41’ 00”, five nautical miles (9k); height above ground 914m.
Radio frequency: 120,2 MHz; call sign ‘Nampo Tower’

Finally…

Be sure to buy the Farmer’s Weekly Nampo preview issue – the cover date is 10 May, which will be available in stores and online on 3 May.

The issue will feature a review of equipment on display at Nampo as well as a map of Nampo to help you find your way around the showgrounds.

For more information about Nampo, visit nampo.co.za. 

Let us know you’re at #Nampo2024 by tagging @FarmersWeeklySA on your photos and videos on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or X (formerly Twitter). 

This article has been updated with new dates and info.