Although the Free State province doesn’t attract the same tourist numbers as other scenic spots like the Western Cape and Mpumalanga, it is a fascinating destination with lots of attractions and activities on offer.
The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is one of the Free State’s major natural highlights, and a great spot for traveller’s who enjoy the great outdoors. It’s also just a 2-3 hour drive from Johannesburg, which makes it an ideal self-drive getaway for the visitor with a few days to spare.
Scenery and Adventure
‘This 12 000 hectare park is one of the country’s greatest natural assets in any season,’ says park manager Johan Taljaard. ‘Autumn paints the scenery in gold, orange and red, whilst spring changes the mountain slopes almost overnight to an unreal florescent green. Summer offers mellow warm green summer days with thunder storms and winter might just surprise visitors with a brilliant white snow blanket.’
He says the high mountains, cosy valleys and majestic sandstone rock formations make Golden Gate a must-see destination for anyone visiting the Eastern Free State. It’s also a great adventure destination.
‘This mountainous park, with its clear skies and crisp air, is ideal for hiking, horse riding, abseiling, canoeing on the dam, game and bird watching, or for doing absolutely nothing specific, just enjoying the tranquillity whilst feeding your soul on the scenic beauty,’ he says.
Nature’s Playground
Taljaard points out that Golden Gate is a protected grassland area, the only national park of its kind in South Africa. ‘Grassland is one of the most threatened habitats in Southern Africa,’ he says. ‘But that’s not the only reason for the parks attraction as the geological formations in the park are world renowned and it also has the world’s oldest fossilized dinosaur eggs and embryos.’
Covering a diverse habitat, Golden Gate is home to a wide range of fauna and flora. As it does not have the Big Five, hiking adventure trails to its rocky outcrops and deep valleys to view alternate game is a safe option.
‘Apart from the normal Highveld grassland antelope, including eland, black wildebeest, rooi haartebeest, blesbok, grey rhebok and mountain reedbuck, there are also zebra and a few pairs of the highly endangered Oribi,’ explains Taljaard. ‘The park also has a feeding area for vultures, and the endangered bearded vultures, Cape vultures and bald ibisses can be seen regularly.’
Golden Gate Must-Sees
Culture
‘History buffs love Golden Gate,’ enthuses Taljaard. ‘The cultural resources in the park spans from mid to late Stone Age through to Basotho and early Settler, with numerous sites that are in the process of being developed for tourism. The Van Reenen Family Graveyard is also very interesting.’
Scenic Beauty
When it comes to scenic beauty, Ribbokop is the highest vantage point in the park, and no matter what the season, breathtaking views are part of the deal. Other than this, Golden Gate has a number of look-out spots, including Generaalskop and Zuluhoek. And don’t forget the Brandwag buttress rock formation.
Adventure Activities
In terms of activities, you may want to try out one of the many walking trails through the area. A favourite is the guided walk to Cathedral Cave or, if you want something a bit more challenging, the 31 kilometre Rhebok Trail is an option. Additional activities include horse-riding, kayaking, abseiling and mountain biking.
Bird Watching
For those who love bird watching and photographic safaris, Golden Gate will not disappoint. So bring your binoculars and camera.
Nearby Attractions
- Clarens, crammed with artists, is great for weekend getaways.
- At Bokpoort Horse Farm you can learn to be an African cowboy.
- Hiking in nearby Lesotho with local communities is a wonderful way to get to know about authentic African cultures.
- The Sandstone Route from Clarens to Ladybrand is a gorgeous scenic self- drive route.
Accommodation
There is a variety of accommodation available in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Possibilities include the Glen Reenen Rest Camp or the luxury Highlands Mountain Retreat. The Qwa Qwa Rest Camp, which evokes an 18th century Basotho Village, is still a work in progress and should be ready for use by the end of 2007.
If you want the best of both worlds, book into one of the quaint bed and breakfasts in Clarens where you can enjoy fantastic restaurants and shopping combined with game viewing and hiking adventures in Golden Gate.
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