Golden Gate Highlands National Park lies in the Maluti section of the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. It is named after a facing pair of sandstone cliffs that tend to glow golden in the late afternoon light. In addition to offering great walking in dramatic highland scenery, the park houses a superb dinosaur interpretation center and supports many highland antelope and birds.
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Best Time To Go
- October to May (Beautiful scenery)
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High Season
- October to March (Only busy during school holidays)
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Size
- 116km² / 45mi²
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Altitude
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1,719-2,813m /5,640-9,229ft
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Pros & Cons
- Stunning scenery and many self-guided hiking trails
- A good place to see highland birds and antelope
- Africa’s top dinosaur interpretation center
- Plenty of accommodations in the park and nearby artists’ village of Clarens
- Little-visited, off-the-beaten-track destination
- Malaria-free
- Small circuit
- Public road runs through the park
- Limited variety of wildlife
Wildlife
Golden Gate isn’t a prime wildlife destination. Indeed, none of the is present. It does, however, support several large mammals associated with . The is often seen grazing together with . Other antelope include , , , , and . The most common carnivore is . highland birds include , and .
Scenery
Golden Gate is South Africa’s only grassland national park. Most of the park consists of , with 60 different grass species identified to date. It also contains forest patches, but these are generally confined to gorges, ravines and other areas protected from severe cold and fire. The impressive Brandwag Buttress is a photogenic sandstone rock formation best seen in the glow of the setting sun.
Activities
Hiking is a popular activity, with a choice of eight different trails ranging in length from 1km/0.6mi to 28km/17mi. There are also two short wildlife-viewing loops that can be undertaken in any vehicle. Other activities include abseiling, horseback excursions, swimming in a natural rock pool, and visits to a Basotho cultural village. Opened in 2025, the superb Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre includes fossils, interactive displays and life-sized model dinosaurs.
Weather & Climate
The cold of winter arrives in May and lasts until September, with average daytime temperatures that rarely exceed 16°C/61°F. This is known as the Dry season. The sun shines most days, and snow falls on rare occasions. In summer, which stretches from October to April and coincides with the Wet season, the temperature gets a lot warmer. There’s also quite a bit of rain in the form of afternoon thunderstorms.
Best Time To Visit
You can see animals year-round, though they’re not very prolific or diverse. The park is all about the landscape, which is particularly attractive in the Wet season (October to April), but be prepared for some rain. There are many small trails, which can be explored at any time, but serious hikers might prefer conditions during the cooler months of the Dry season (May to September).
How To Get to Golden Gate Highlands NP
Golden Gate is the only national park in the Free State province. It lies 20km/12mi east of Clarens, a charming artists’ village that forms a popular long-weekend retreat from Johannesburg. The easiest way to get to Golden Gate is to the 320km/199mi from Johannesburg, which takes 3½ to 4 hours*. Most visitors to South Africa fly into Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), which has plenty of car rental outlets.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Health & Safety
Golden Gate is generally safe to visit in our opinion. For more information, please read our malaria and vaccinations page for South Africa, and our general ‘Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions’ page: