Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park is one of South Africa's most visually striking national parks — and it sits just 20km from the centre of Clarens. Named for the brilliant golden-orange sandstone buttresses that glow like burnished gold at sunrise and sunset, the park protects over 34,000 hectares of the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, spanning grassland, wetland and montane fynbos habitats. The park's trail network offers hiking for all fitness levels, from short family-friendly walks to full-day mountain challenges. The Cathedral Cave Trail (6km round-trip, R223 per person, guided only) leads through a spectacular natural rock amphitheatre and requires advance booking. The Wodehouse Peak Trail (10km loop) is the park's signature hike — a rewarding full-day challenge with 706m of elevation gain and views that stretch into Lesotho on clear days. Shorter options include the Mushroom Rock Walk (2.2km) and Echo Ravine. Wildlife is diverse and abundant. Black wildebeest, blesbok, eland, springbok, grey rhebok, mountain reedbuck and Burchell's zebra roam the grasslands. The park is home to breeding vulture colonies (Cape Vulture), black eagles and a wide diversity of raptors. Baboon troops are regularly seen along the road from Clarens. The dramatic geology — ancient sandstone layers deposited over 170 million years — is the park's defining character. The Rooiplaat Dinosaur Fossil Site and the Kgodumodumo Interpretive Centre offer fascinating insights into the Jurassic history of the Maluti highlands. **Visitor Information:** Entry is R60 for SA citizens, R120 for SADC nationals, R240 for international visitors. Open daily year-round. Stay overnight at Glen Reenen Rest Camp or the iconic Brandwag lodge.