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Nestled deep within South Africa, on the cusp of the Drakensberg mountains, lies a national park that has earned renown with local and international tourists alike for its spectacular landscapes and golden sunsets. Located in the Free State province and near the border of the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, Golden Gate Highlands National Park offers an enticing mix of outdoor activities, wildlife viewing, cultural education, and comfortable, sustainability-oriented accommodation.
As one of South Africa’s 19 national parks, Golden Gate is most famous for its eroded, ochre-coloured sandstone cliffs and outcrops that tower over the park’s visitors. Spectacular in their own right, these geological features come alive at sunset when the sun’s setting rays cause them to appear to glow as if lit from within, giving the park its evocative name.
A conservation-led wildlife experience
If you can tear your eyes from the beauty of the cliffs, there’s much to see elsewhere – and it all links to sustaining our natural diversity. Two tarred self-drive loops give visitors the opportunity to spot various wildlife species, such as South Africa’s national animal, the Springbok, and the country’s largest antelope, the eland, with zebra and wildebeest dotting the landscape too. Guests may even catch the sight of baboons leaping from rock to rock, and hear their unmistakeable barks echoing off the cliffs.
Twitches will find much to enjoy with over 140 bird species making their home within the park’s confines. A variety of guided and unguided hikes throughout the reserve are good ways to see the rare and iconic Bearded Vulture soaring on thermals high above, but birders should keep their eyes open for the many buzzards, falcons, kestrels, and swifts that live in the park too.
South African National Parks’ (SANParks) employees contribute to conserving this precious biodiversity and preserving the unique wildlife and landscapes that draw visitors back time and time again. Golden Gate promotes eco-friendly tourism practices, including tourist education, conservation-minded guided tours, and accommodation facilities that minimise environmental impacts on their surroundings. Wilgenhof Environmental Education Centre, for example, offers dynamic educational programmes managed by experienced staff – all centred on various conservation and nature-related themes.
Energy efficiency and self-sufficiency
Golden Gate has also made considerable efforts towards managing its carbon footprint by reducing its energy consumption. Attention has been paid to both small detail-oriented items, such as using LED bulbs throughout park facilities and accommodation, to bigger projects like installing solar panels that heat water for guests.
The park is also self-sufficient with regards to various internal systems. Its electricity supply is not reliant on the municipality, providing a degree of independence from ‘load-shedding’ power outages.
An internal reservoir with its own filtration systems and wastewater treatment facility feeds the park, ensuring the reserve can manage its water quality and provide visitors with clean water throughout its premises.
Community development and local sourcing
Golden Gate Highlands National Park places a strong emphasis on community and skills development. While 200 professionals comprise its permanent staff, employment programmes involving firefighting, alien plant removal, wetland rehabilitation, and basic infrastructure work can add another 400 temporary staff at any given time. The majority of the accommodation and hotel staff are from surrounding communities, with the same applying to product suppliers.
Park employees are guided down career paths that are best suited to their interests and talents with the opportunity to develop and grow into their own. “It’s very important in terms of sustainability that you have the right people, with the right training, in the right places,” says Paddy Gordon, Park Manager, Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
It's this commitment to sustainability-led practices that sees visitors to Golden Gate Highlands National Park soak in its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity, while also positively contributing to the local economy and minimising the impact on their natural surroundings.
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