SANParks.org Forums

Thank's Ginie , Oumie and Lam

I have never been in snow or very cold conditions before, but If it is an once in a lifetime experience I think I should to give it a try.
Can you please tell me what time of the year does the snow normally fall??? (months)

We were there in the beginning of July

Snow in SA is very unpredictable. We were at GG in late October 2000 - in the snow. The snow was only higher up the slopes, although within easy walking of distance of the van Reenen campsite.

Just got back from a wonderful camping trp to Golden Gate... Didn't go on any walks though, very lazy - just went sight seeing and shopping for goodies at Clarens. Didn't even look up birds and things, just said ooo thats pretty.

The campsite is beautiful!


We were below giant cliffs. It was pretty cold though at night.

The place is beautiful, the only gripe I have with the Glen Reenen campsite is its proximity to the public road that passes through the park... there werenoises coming from the road all night. When we got there we were the only campers and it was quite spooky.

The next nights were better when more people arrived - Saturday morning was a bit odd - there was a half marathon and we were woken up at about 5h30 by loud 80's type music on a PA system playing at the start of the race.

The toilets were also a bit tacky - seem to be used by passing motorists and their passengers who fill up at the petrol station.

Otherwise a beautiful place.



Oh and unlike at the Kruger - I could push my tent pegs in with one finger! (but no one cleared my braai ash in the morning)

Thanks Goldbug.

Hi uptowngirl,
I saw your posting for the first time today where you asked about Golden Gate.
Golden Gate is really a very special place if you are looking for walks and short hikes. It also gives a different perspective of the country. The sand stone is really something special. I once heard the Eastern Free State described as our country's best kept secret.
If your main object is game viewing then it might not be the most productive.
I have stayed there a number of occasions and find it magic, but then it has been when my main objective has been walking and hiking.

Yes golden gate is quite nice , especially for its range of fairly easy walks , which are not "easy and boring" , but have brill views .
As far as game viewing goes , it is mainly antelopes to be seen ,
with unusual ones like oribi there also .

If you are interested in walks and hiking then there is also the Natal Drakensburg Park.

Special birds include the Bearded Vulture - a must see, even for non-birders

Very valid points .

Make sure you bring warm clothes and sleeping bags , always expect very cold evenings , even well into summer

It has been some time since we camped there last , so I did not want to comment on ablution conditions , but when we stayed there they where not great at all , not what one expects from a sanpark .
I would seriously consider staying there again if this
could be improved , but no amount of convincing will get myself or my family to stay at a camp site with bad ablutions .

Oh and how could I not mention the bearded vulture , this is a major highlight to see one of these huge and impressive vultures soaring amongst the mountains

Can someone tell me what is the driving time from the Butha Buthe / Caledonspoort Gate to Golden Gate Park?

We will be in Lesotho (I was a Peace Corps Volunteer there and will be visiting the village I lived in near Butha Buthe) and I am thinking we can go out that border crossing to the Park - but I need to know how long a drive that is ...

Thanks!

Hi LisaSeattle and welcome to the forum!
It is about 55km (35miles) from Butha Buthe to The Golden Gate National Park via Clarens. It should take you about half an hour to get there, but you will still have to go through the border crossing from Lesotho to South Africa and that could take a while. All in all, I would safely say an hour to get to Golden Gate.

Enjoy your trip!

has the qwa qwa reserve been fully incorporated into golden gate highlands np yet? and if so, what are the plans for it, projects etc?

Hi BB
Don't know whether you've received info on this yet, but this is what I read in the latest "Weg" wildlife mag
Although GG & Qwa-Qwa nature reserve has been officially 1 new nas park since 2003, in practice the park are still being run by 2 authorities ie. SanParks & the dept of enviromental affairs of the Free State. Apparently the snag are between the Free State prov gvmt & the local Basotho people which lives in the Qwa-Qwa area. Sanparks apparently says they are waiting for the province to find a solution.

This is resulting in another delay for the important establishment of the Maloti-Drakensberg transfrontier park between SA & Lesotho.

(Translated in short)

Thanks Luislang, though its always the same: someone always has to make evrything that much harder for SANParks