Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north-eastern Free State, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park most noticeable feature is its golden and yellow-orange hued sandstone cliffs and outcrops that glisten in the sun.
Only three hours away from Durban, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein; the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is visited by many who wish to witness the the numerous caves and shelters that showcase century old San rock paintings and explore the wildlife which includes mongeese, black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok, burchell’s zebra and over 100 species of bird. It is a place of wonder with several paleontologists finding dinosaur eggs and skeletons in the park.
But for a mountainous adventure, many choose to spend their time outdoors, hiking as many of the seven day hikes offered in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. For the more adventurous, there is even an option to embark on an incredible two-night trail. The day hikes range from 45 minutes to four hours long, winding around or up the orange sandstone cliffs, and venturing into forested ravines and grasslands.
Whilst the Golden Gate Highlands National Park looks onto the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho, many travelers choose to include a visit to Lesotho on their trip, with the capital city of Maseru positioned just over 2 hours drive away from Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
It is a hikers paradise with several trails boasting the most spectacular scenery and mountain views. Thaba Bosiu is a sandstone plateau positioned 1,804 meters above sea level. It is located between the Orange and Caledon Rivers, 24 kilometers east of the country’s capital city. The mountain is flat-topped and mountain tours run daily. Visitors are also able to visit the nearby San paintings, Ntlo Kholo (Big House) Cave, and a Cultural Village.
Maletsunyane Falls is a magnificent 192-metre-high waterfall located near the town of Semonkong. The waterfall is on the Maletsunyane River and it falls from a cliff of Triassic-Jurassic basalt.
Ts’ehlanyane National Park is Lesotho’s largest National Park and is located in the Maluti Mountains. Besides horse riding, the park boasts five walking trails that explore waterfalls, black pools, and rivers.
