Description of the attraction
Golden Gate Highlands National Park, which means Golden Gate Park, is a state nature reserve in South Africa. It is located in the northeastern part of the country and gets its name from the amazing brilliant shades of gold on the sandy cliffs, especially from the play of light on the Brandvag cliff. This area is famous for its landscapes, pleasant climate, hospitable and cozy hotels.
Golden Gate National Park was established in 1963 to protect sandstones from destruction that were once a haven for the Bushmen. Travelers can see a large number of well-preserved rock carvings. The Golden Gate Park also boasts a wide variety of rare endemic flowers that include several species of rare lilies.
This nature reserve is one of the last refuge for rare species of animals and birds, such as the bearded vulture and the bald ibis, which only nest in the Cathedral Cave. The park is also home to a variety of mammals, including Burchell's zebra, black wildebeest, gazelle and the endangered Oribi antelope. Bird watchers can observe 140 species of birds at close range, from specially equipped sites.
Golden Gate Highlands Park is a real highlight for travelers. The vegetation of the reserve consists mainly of wooded ravines, gullies and flowering meadows.
Guests can visit a variety of attractions such as the Van Reene family cemetery, the impressive Brandwag buttress rock formation and the Cathedral Cave, which is one of the finest examples of natural sand arch formation by water, wind and temperature fluctuations over millennia. A lot of fossil bones of dinosaurs, roots, ferns were also found in the territory of the National Park. In 1973, for the first time in history, fossilized dinosaur eggs were found here. Archaeological excavations are ongoing on the territory of the reserve.
Places of interest to visit the park include the Generalskop viewpoint, the Basotho Museum located in the park. Museum visitors can taste traditional Basotho cuisine, visit exhibition halls that tell about their culture, weapons and way of life. A very interesting exhibition about plants used by African folk healers.
The park has various nature trails for walks lasting from 1 to 5 hours. Visitors can also explore the caves, swim in the clear Glen Reenen mountain pool with natural slide, or go horse riding and tennis.
