Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park is named for the brilliant shades of gold and ochre cast by the sun on its sandstone cliffs, creating one of South Africa's most visually stunning landscapes. Located in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains in the Free State, the park is a scenic wonderland quite unlike any other South African national park. Covering 340 square kilometres of highland grassland and sandstone formations at altitudes between 1,892 and 2,829 metres, Golden Gate supports rare species including the bearded vulture (lammergeier), bald ibis, grey rhebok, eland, and black wildebeest. The park contains important San rock art sites and serves as a base for hikers tackling the famous two-day Ribbok Trail.