Are you planning a trip to the Drakensberg, but aren’t sure which region to visit? We highly recommend a trip to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa. This national park is located in the Free State Province (near the border with Lesotho) and is known for its spectacular sandstone formations, rock overhangs, and breathtaking scenery. Within the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, there are a variety of hiking trails, viewpoints, and opportunities for wildlife observation. In the following article, we will introduce you to the park in more detail and show you everything you can experience in a very short time. Enjoy browsing!

• General information on the location & Geography
• Getting to Golden Gate Highlands National Park
• Visitor Information
• Best Time for Hiking
• Hikes in Golden Gate Highlands National Park
• Other Activities in the Park
• The Artists’ Village of Clarens
• Accommodation in Golden Gate Highlands National Park
• Travel Tips & Packing List
• Conclusion on Golden Gate Highlands National Park

General Information on Location & Geography

The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is located in the eastern part of South Africa, in the Free State Province. The park is about 300 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg and about 300 kilometers northeast of Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State Province. The small, picturesque town of Clarens is located right next to the park and is definitely worth a visit. Here you’ll find not only numerous accommodations, but also galleries, restaurants, and cool cafés. You’ll find more about this a little further down in the article.

A special feature of the park is the golden color of the sandstone cliffs during sunset, which gives the park its name. This golden color is created by the sunlight hitting the sandstone formations. The Golden Gate Highlands National Park offers a variety of activities, including hiking, birdwatching, abseiling, horseback riding, canyoning, wildlife viewing, and photography. There are several well-marked hiking trails, which we will introduce to you further down in this article.

Getting to Golden Gate Highlands National Park

The park is equidistant from Johannesburg, Durban, and Bloemfontein and is easily accessible via a well-maintained tarmac road. A public road also runs through the park. From Johannesburg or Durban, take the N3 Highway towards Harrismith. In Harrismith, follow the street markets towards the N5 (Bethlehem).

On the N5, just before Harrismith, turn left onto the R712 and continue towards Phuthaditjhaba. Bypass Phuthaditjhaba while continuing on the R712. You will now reach a checkpoint at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. By the way, wild animals roam the park, so you should be cautious and drive slowly.

Visitor Information

Drive to Glen Reenen Rest Camp. There you will find the national park reception, where you can pay the entrance fee and park your car safely. Currently, the entrance fee for adults is R266 (approx. €13) and for children R133 (approx. €7). At the reception, you will also receive a small park brochure with the most important hiking routes and highlights (download the park brochure here). The rest camp also features a small shop, a gas station, and picnic areas.

The road (R712) that runs through the park is public and therefore open 24 hours a day. Accordingly, there are no specific gate times. However, you should avoid hiking in the area after dark. The park administration at the rest camp is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also inquire about overnight accommodations and book them there.

Best Time to Hike

Generally, you can visit the Golden Gate Highlands National Park all year round. During the summer months (October to April), the climate is mild, with maximum temperatures between 25°C and 26°C. However, it can quickly become cold in the mountains in the evenings. Most rain falls in January and December. The coolest months are June and July. At this time (South African winter), snow can even cover the mountain peaks.

While temperatures are pleasantly warm during the day in winter, they can drop below freezing at night. We last experienced mixed weather in the Drakensberg with some rain at the beginning of December. However, since we were flexible with our time, we were able to simply follow the sun and escape the rain. In the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, we enjoyed summer temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

Hikes in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park

You should definitely go on a hike in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The scenery, with fascinating rock formations, valleys, gorges, and a diverse range of flora and fauna, is truly stunning. Here are a few hikes you can do in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park:

Brandwag Buttress Trail: This hike leads to one of the most famous viewpoints in the park, the Brandwag Rock. From here you have a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

• Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
• Length: Approx. 10 km (round trip)
• Duration: 60 – 90 minutes

Holkrans Trail: The trail winds across grassy mountain slopes, passing several caves, some of which can be explored independently. Scenic viewpoints stretch along the trail, revealing the beauty of the surrounding area.

• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
• Length: Approx. 3 km (round trip)
• Duration: 1 hour

Ribbok Trail: This 2-day guided hike leads to one of the highest peaks in the park, Ribbok. The trail is more challenging and requires a good level of fitness, but rewards with breathtaking panoramas.

• Special feature: maximum 18 people (registration required)
• Difficulty level: challenging
• Length: approx. 28 km (there and back)
• Duration: 2 days with overnight stay in a simple mountain hut

Echo Ravine Trail: This trail leads through the Echo Ravine and offers you the opportunity to explore the fascinating rock formations and ravines of the region. We thought it was really cool there!

• Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
• Length: Approx. 5 km (round trip)
• Duration: 1 hour

Wodehouse Peak Trail: This hike takes you up the 2,260 meter high Wodehouse Peak and rewards you with great views.

• Level of difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Length: Approx. 9 km
• Duration: 4 hours

Other activities in the park

In addition to hiking, you can also enjoy other activities in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, such as abseiling, canyoning, horseback riding, bird watching, tennis, swimming, and water sports. The park has two self-drive loops that are paved and well-maintained. Four-wheel drive vehicles are not required for these trips. The routes are also marked in the brochure, which you can pick up at the park reception.

We explored both the Oribi Loop (4.2 km) and the Blesbok Loop (6.7 km). With a bit of luck, you might spot wildebeest, zebras, blesbok, duikers, elands, or even oribis. On these loops, you’ll also pass so-called “vulture hides.” These are small observation huts from which you can observe vultures. You can find more information here: Activities in Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

The Artists’ Village of Clarens

The small artists’ town of Clarens is located just under 20 kilometers west of the national park. The town lies at the foot of the Maluti Mountains and is particularly popular with tourists due to its picturesque surroundings and artistic flair. Clarens is known for its vibrant arts scene and awaits you with numerous art galleries, craft shops, and studios. It is said that many artists find their inspiration in the “natural beauty of the surroundings.”

Clarens is a super A great base for exploring the surrounding area. There are many outdoor activities nearby, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and water sports. The town generally has a super relaxed and sociable atmosphere. In the small town center, you’ll find great cafés, restaurants, and shops that you can discover during a leisurely stroll.

Our tips for Clarens:

• The Square (be sure to order Eggs Benedict or flapjacks)
• Picnic at the Clarens Kloof Dam
• Coffee at Bean to Clarens or Highland Coffee Roastery
• Beer tasting at the Clarens Brewery
• Bibliophile Bookshop (idyllic front garden)
• Shops around the village square
• Book activities at: Clarens XTreme and Leap Adventures

Staying overnight in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park

There isn’t much choice directly in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. You can stay overnight at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp. This camp is close to the Golden Gate Hotel & Chalets and offers small rondavels and chalets. Caravan and camping pitches are also available. Alternatively, you can check into the Highlands Mountain Retreat next door and enjoy the magnificent views from one of the eight wooden cabins nestled into the mountainside.

If you’re looking for even more comfort, the Golden Gate Hotel and Chalets (formerly the Brandwag Hotel) might be just what you’re looking for. The hotel now has 54 luxurious rooms, including single, double, and king-size rooms. A tennis court, a restaurant, BBQ area, laundry, and conference facilities are also available on-site. Also recommended is the Kiara Lodge*, which is located in the middle of the mountains and offers, among other things, a heated indoor pool, spa area, children’s playground and mini-market.

Great accommodations in Clarens

Alternatively, we can recommend you stay overnight in Clarens. This super-charming artists’ town is just 20 km from the national park and awaits you not only with great accommodations, but also with galleries, shops, restaurants, and cool cafés.

• The Clarens Country House*
• Clarens Retreat*
• The Red Door*
• Mont d’Or Clarens*
• Il Castello Boutique Hotel*
• Andes Clarens Guesthouse *
• Titanic View – Place of Peace*

Travel Tips & Packing List

Since you’re located directly in the mountains, you should always be prepared for changeable weather. A rain jacket/windbreaker is always a good idea, as are sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of drinks and snacks. Since it can get quite cold at night, you should also pack a sweater and/or a thicker jacket.

Outdoor lighting in the camps is limited, so a flashlight or headlamp* is required if you’re out at night. To spot and observe animals, we recommend high-performance binoculars. We’ve had the Nikon ProStaff 7s for 1.5 years. And of course, don’t forget your camera to photograph the breathtaking scenery. Click here for our complete photo equipment.

Conclusion on the Golden Gate Highlands National Park

For us, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is clearly one of the most beautiful national parks in South Africa. The striking, golden sandstone formations that give the park its name create a truly unique backdrop. With a variety of hiking trails, the park offers numerous opportunities to get active. We highly recommend a trip to Golden Gate Highlands National Park.