Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains in the northeastern Free State, Golden Gate Highlands National Park awaits.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park offers a perfect escape to recharge in the stunning Maluti Mountains. Here, you can hike, go horseback riding, explore ancient caves, and more, all surrounded by the breathtaking golden glow that defines the landscape. Bird enthusiasts can visit the “vulture restaurant,” a bird hide where vultures gather to feast. The Basotho Cultural Village takes you back in time, where a chief shares mqombothi (sorghum beer), his wives offer traditional foods, and a healer provides insights into African spirituality.

Antelope Species in Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Explore the unique antelope species in the park. For the complete mammal list, see our resources.

• Black Wildebeest
  Smaller than the blue wildebeest, these stocky grazers live in parks and reserves. Both sexes have horns and emit a loud “ge-nu” call.
  • Lifespan: 20 years, Mass: 113-159 kg, Height: 1.14 m
• Blesbok
  Highveld dwellers, known for standing in groups facing the sun. They can tolerate cold and often run upwind when disturbed.
  • Lifespan: 10-12 years, Mass: 59-80 kg, Height: 93 cm
• Common Duiker
  Often solitary and shy, this browser is mainly nocturnal but sometimes active during the day.
  • Mass: 12-16 kg, Height: 60 cm
• Eland
  The largest African antelope, these social animals are strong jumpers and make a distinct clicking sound with their hooves.
  • Lifespan: 15 years, Mass: up to 90 kg, Height: 150-175 cm
• Grey Rhebok
  Found in small groups on grassy mountains. Only males have horns, and their movement resembles a “rocking-horse” motion when fleeing.
  • Mass: 18-23 kg, Height: 70-76 cm
• Mountain Reedbuck
  Prefers mountainous areas, living in small herds and using rocks for cover.
  • Mass: 22-27 kg, Height: 63-76 cm
• Oribi
  Found alone or in pairs, these inquisitive antelope prefer short grass.
  • Mass: 14-20 kg, Height: 51-66 cm
• Red Hartebeest
  These grazers form large herds and are capable of surviving long periods without water.
  • Mass: 150-160 kg, Height: 120-137 cm
• Springbok
  Known for impressive leaps, springbok are both grazers and browsers with excellent eyesight.
  • Mass: 36-50 kg, Height: 78-84 cm
• Steenbok
  The smallest antelope in the park, known for its swift, zigzagging movements and large ears.
  • Mass: 12-14 kg, Height: 50-56 cm

Birdlife of Golden Gate

The Bearded Vulture, often seen as an emblem of Golden Gate’s highlands, is one of the many large bird species that soar among the towering cliffs of the region. Other notable birds include the Black Stork, Bald Ibis, Cape Vulture, Black and Martial Eagles, Jackal Buzzard, Lanner and Peregrine Falcons, and the Common Kestrel. Common smaller aerial species include the Black and Alpine Swifts, often sighted against the rugged landscape.

The park is also home to a number of high-altitude bird specials. Keep an eye out for the Greywing and Redwing Francolins, Mountain, Mocking, and Buffstreaked Chats, the Sentinel and Cape Rock Thrushes, and the striking Orangebreasted Rockjumper. Other notable birds include the Rock Pipit, Ground Woodpecker, and three unique cisticolas: Ayre’s, Wailing, and Lazy. Among the nectar-loving species, look for Gurney’s Sugarbird, Malachite Sunbird, Greater and Lesser Double-collared Sunbirds, and the Drakensberg Siskin.

Vegetation of Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park stands out as South Africa’s sole national park dominated by grassland, supporting more than 60 different grass species. The park’s plant life can be categorized into grassland and woodland/forest types, heavily shaped by climate. The Afromontane forests grow in the park’s sheltered ravines and gorges, where adequate moisture and protection from harsh weather and fire allow these forests to thrive.

In valleys and on southeastern slopes, you’ll find Ouhout (Leucosidea sericea) woodlands, along with pockets of Protea woodlands featuring species like Protea caffra, P. roupelliae, and P. subvestita. Two primary veld types dominate here: Highland-Sourveld and Themeda-Festuca veld. As you hike, you may notice the twisted, aged appearance of the Ouhout trees, with flaking bark and soft, hairy leaves. This unique tree, also called Oldwood, is the most common tree in the park and supports an array of beetle species — 117 in total, across 35 different families.

Natural and Cultural History of Golden Gate

Archaeological evidence, such as stone tools and rock paintings, points to the Khoisan as the region’s earliest inhabitants, living under Golden Gate’s rocky overhangs that provided natural shelter. With the arrival of the Basotho and later European settlers in the 19th century, the Khoisan eventually left the area. European settlers arrived in the 1830s, establishing homesteads and interacting with the indigenous tribes.

In 1837, a group of Voortrekkers, led by Piet Retief, ventured through the area, including a well-known pass called Liebenberg’s Kloof. At that time, game was abundant, and Voortrekker hunters returned with wagons full of venison and hides. However, the peace was disrupted by raids led by warriors under Shaka and Dingaan of the Zulu Kingdom and Silkaats of the Matabele, which left many indigenous communities displaced.

As European settlers moved in, disputes over land between the Basotho and settlers became common. To establish borders, Governor Sir Percy Wodehouse set boundary markers on the Rooiberge in 1846, one of which still stands today on Wodehouse Kop. The area later came under British rule after Sir Harry Smith’s proclamation and was involved in the struggles that defined the Free State-Basotho border.

Golden Gate’s significance continued into the Boer wars, during which local farms suffered destruction, and residents faced turmoil. Some, like the Cilliers family, hid in nearby caves rather than go to British concentration camps. After the Anglo-Boer War, the ravaged land showed scars from the intense fighting, with parts of the park still barren where Boer ammunition wagons were burned to prevent British capture.

The Golden Gate Highlands National Park was formally established in 1963 when the government bought the land, expanding it over the years to its current size of 11,630 hectares. It now borders Qwa Qwa National Park and Lesotho, preserving both the natural beauty and rich history of this iconic South African region.