Golden Gate National Park, Free State Province

The Golden Gate Highlands Park is superb. Apart from stunning scenery, the park is in immaculate condition. The trails are well maintained and although some are quite strenuous, the views are well worth it. We stayed in the Highlands Camp, which is stunning up against the mountains. It’s really worth the visit!!!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and I was blown away by the natural beauty of the park. Despite paying for park entrance, I was surprised that no one checked our tickets. However, this did not detract from my overall experience in any way. The park was incredibly well-maintained and the facilities were clean and modern. I appreciated the park's commitment to preserving the natural environment and ensuring that visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. One of the highlights of my visit was hiking through the park's stunning mountain trails. The views were absolutely stunning and I felt completely immersed in nature. It was an experience that I will never forget. I would highly recommend visiting the Golden Gate Highlands National Park to anyone who loves the outdoors and appreciates the beauty of nature. It truly is a hidden gem and a must-visit destination for anyone traveling in the area.

Wonderful nature! Calming and peaceful. Amenities could have been better though... one element of oven did not work, electrical blanket on two beds did not work. But a wonderful stay nonetheless.

Beautiful and picturesque. Drove around to enjoy the scenery. Not much wildlife but beautiful mountains and scenery.

What a view with a capital V! The majestic Maluti mountains, very nosy baboons not aggressive, but do not approach as they are still wild at heart, watching out over the small van Reenen cemetery. Even fossils of years gone by Dinosaur tour transporting your back in time. Closer to nature, you won't easily get.

Excellent experience in nature. One of the most beautiful mountains one can find. I would like to recommend to use the Harrismith route to Golden Gate Highlands and Clarens. Road much better, only a few potholes. Enjoy!

One of, if not the best hiking experiences I have ever been on. The overall Maluti Mountain range is simply gorgeous with its vastness being overwhelming at times. The hiking trails, particularly up to the Brandwag Buttress, is varied and interesting, with the area seeming like a whole new country just begging to be explored. I would recommend bringing a bag to help pick up some of the litter that is scattered throughout the trails

What a beautiful place with the most spectacular views We were on a family trip to Clarens and had to come to this national park. I’ve heard of the national park before but never expected it to be so vast and beautiful with its orange mountains. Lots of people were camping as it was festive season so the camping area was quite full. We needed to use the toilets and it was surrounded by monkeys. It was obvious that they were used to human interaction. I was so fascinated by this place that we decided to drive through and spend more time here, as we left Clarens for the Eastern Cape. Will be returning for sure.

Golden Gate National Park has been on my to do list for a number of years now and finally got a chance to visit. What a beautiful, scenic part of the Country. We decided on the Holkrans hiking trail as it was classified as short and suitable for young families. The first 100m or so is strenuous as it is a steep climb however, once you get to the top, it flattens out and is pleasurable. There are two caves to view which are accessed by a set of ladders. Once the caves are visited, be sure to hike a little bit further, there is a great viewing point with two benches were you can stop for a snack. Just be careful of the drop off on the other side as there are no railings. Overall , highly recommended for novice hikers as it is short and scenic.

We had a great hike here and so great being in nature!! Wonderdul caves! Lots of different hikes to choose from. Ours was much tougher than expected but very rewarding. Ensure to ask about the toughness of hikes when embarking on one. Some routes were not parked too well so use the map and natural geography to assist you: