Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north-eastern Free State lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
 The park derives its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the park's sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag rock, keeping vigil over the main restcamp. This 11 600 hectares of unique environment is true highland habitat, providing home to a variety of mammals – black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok and Burchell's zebra - and birds, including the rare bearded vulture (lammergeier) and the equally rare bald ibis, which breed on the ledges in the sandstone cliffs.
 The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is one of the real highlights of the Free State. Its main attractions are the massive, colourful sandstone formations, which shine golden-yellow in the evening sun, and from which the area takes its name. The vegetation in the Golden Gate nature reserve consists mainly of indigenous grassland. It has more than fifty grass species and a large variety of bulbs and herbs.
 Each of these species has its own flowering time, meaning that veld flowers can be seen throughout the summer. A visit in spring will reward the visitor with a vision of a green carpet where the Great Artist lavishly painted splashes of white arum lilies and orange-pink watsonias to compete with the red of the fire lily and red-hot pokers.
 In summer the visitor can cool off in the sun-drenched pools where sun-rays play hide-and-seek with the shadows. Never enter the park in autumn without a camera to capture the rich gold in autumn when the setting sun paints the rock golden – hence the name of the Park - and the graceful poplars splash their yellows and reds and brown lavishly for your pleasure. Don’t miss wintertime when snowfalls often create a winter wonderland. The mountain air is crisp, the crystal-clear water sweet, and the atmosphere serene and quiet.
 The numerous caves in the sandstone rocks were once shelters for the Bushmen. Many of their cave paintings are well preserved. During the Anglo-Boer War many Afrikaans families hid here from the British.
 Ribbokkop, the highest point in the park, reveals a breathtaking tapestry of red, yellow and purple hues as its warm shades merge with the cool mountain shadows towards evening. Cool highveld summers with the possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon and cold winters with occasional snow transform the park into a white wonderland. Long hiking paths lead through the quiet mountain world.
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