SANParks.org Forums

She is out & about at the moment, but I can give you a link to the 2009 vacation album.
I even have some panoramic photos there, easiest seen if you download them.

Hi Forumites,
Not only did I get the information I asked for but also some photo lessons. Thank You DavenJan and DuQues. Morkel777, have a great trip.

I was there thursday, friday and yesterdaymorning. Golden Gate is a beautiful place but for wildlife there isn't that much to see. For landscaping one or two days is enough, it is not a big place.
For hiking it is an excellent place and then you can spent more days.

I looked for the vulture restaurant and found the trailhead with the sign but indeed no hides so photographing them real close will be impossible i guess unless you bring a portable hide like a tent.
It is not like that place in Giant's Castle wich i still have to go to. ...
But i think they will start feeding in may.
Don't know if it is allowed to bring your own meat for the vultures.

Hi Bart47,
Thank You for the added info. I would think that by adding a simple hide the Park would appeal to more people. I was attracted to the area by reading about the Vulture Restaurant. Most of us don't have many opportunities for this type of photography.

There used to be a hide near the graveyard but it burned down. The HR's had plans to rebuild it, but they may not have the funds, at least I haven't heard of it being rebuild.

As for wildlife, if you are not a birder, and staying in Glenn Rheenen or the hotel it can be less appealing. If however you are in the Retreat you are on the right side of the mountain, and will see plenty, and reasonably near to very near.
Up towards the Basotho cultural village we saw plenty eland, zebra and such.
I'm not sure what it will be like at the farmhouse, but it could be very good as it's quiet there.

For walks it is absolutely perfect!
And then you have the option to photograph the little things, like snakes (missed all) spiders, reptiles plants etc.

So no Big 5, but landscapes to dream of, and very good for a relaxed do-vacation.

The vulture restaurant/feeding site forms part of a larger feeding programme that spans the Maluti-Drakensberg region, both in the Lesotho and South Africa sides. The objective of it is to provide a safe source of food across the mountain range and associated areas. Carcasses are put out on a regular basis primary source being cattle and horses from the neighboring farmers. Should there be no carcass available then we source from within the park. A ‘clean’ carcass that is free of medication such and anti-inflammatory is important due to the lethal effect they have on the birds.

Access to the site is via the Oribi loops to the vehicle parking area at the base of a small ridge. Walk up the ridge and you will see the feeding site. The tourists are restricted to the ridge. This is so that the birds are not disturbed whilst feeding.

We have Bearded Vultures flying over the site almost on a daily basis (environmental conditions dependant).