Know your national parks — Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
1. Location
Situated near Clarens in the Free State, the park is known for its spectacular scenery at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. Its name is derived from the shades reflecting from the sandstone cliffs as the sun hits them. The famous landmark of the park is the Brandwag buttress formation opposite the main rest camp.
2. Wildlife
Animal sightings include black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, springbok and Burchell’s zebra, as well as the rare bearded vulture, which can be spotted in and around the high mountains surrounding the park. If you’re lucky enough, you can even spot them at the vulture hide.
3. Where to stay
4. Things to do
- If you love hiking and interesting rock formations, this park is for you. Spectacular lookout points and viewpoints include Zuluhoek lookout point; Generaalskop viewpoint, the third highest point in the park; Oribi basin and Drakensberg view.
- The Van Reenen family graveyard
- The Brandwag buttress rock formation
- Vulture Restaurant
- Cathedral Cave (guided walks are available)
Did you know? An interpretive centre to celebrate the dinosaur eggs found during road construction in Rooidraai is in development.
Find more interesting information about the park here.
Information courtesy of SANParks Times: www.sanparkstimes.co.za
Photographs taken by Petro Kotze and René de Klerk
