Golden Gate Highlands

Highlights

The park is situated on the border with Lesotho and is about 320 km from Johannesburg. The park is situated in the Rooiberge in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. The Caledon River forms the southern border of the park. The highest peak in the park is Ribbokkop. The Golden Gate Highlands National Park owes its name to the golden glow of the sandstone cliffs in the late afternoon. Its appeal lies mainly in the dramatic scenery and hiking opportunities. The park is home to a variety of animals adapted to the highland grassland habitat, including several unusual species of antelope.

Landscape

The main habitat of the Golden Gate Highlands is the Grassland savannah.

Most of the park is highland grassland with patches of forest in gorges and ravines where it is protected from very cold conditions and fire. With 60 different species of grasses, this is the only grassland national park in South Africa.

Entrance gate