Golden Gate Highlands National Park

"Golden Gate" refers to the sandstone cliffs found on either side of the valley at the Golden Gate dam. In 1875, a farmer called J.N.R. van Reenen and his wife stopped here as they travelled to their new farm in Vuurland. He named the location "Golden Gate" when he saw the last rays of the setting sun fall on the cliffs.{{cite web

| last = Footprint

| title = Rhebok Hiking Trail

| url = http://www.footprint.co.za/Ribbokdescription2.pdf

| access-date = 13 August 2006

| archive-date = 28 September 2007

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928173225/http://www.footprint.co.za/Ribbokdescription2.pdf

| url-status = dead

}}

In 1963, {{convert|47.92|km2|acre|abbr=on}} was proclaimed as a national park, specifically to preserve the scenic beauty of the area. In 1981, the park was enlarged to {{convert|62.41|km2|acre|abbr=on}}, and in 1988, it was enlarged to {{convert|116.33|km2|acre|abbr=on}}. In 2004, the park was announced to be joining with the neighbouring QwaQwa National Park.{{cite web

|last=South African Government Information

|title=QwaQwa National Park Incorporated With The Golden Gate Highlands National Park

|url=http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2004/04031813461001.htm

|access-date=13 August 2006

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165351/http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2004/04031813461001.htm

|archive-date=30 September 2007

|df=dmy

}} The amalgamation of QwaQwa National Park was completed in 2007, increasing the park's area to {{convert|340|km2|acre|abbr=on}}.{{cite web

| last = South African National Parks

| title = Annual Report 2006/07

| url = http://www.sanparks.org/about/annual/2007.pdf?PHPSESSID=gm78u2hk0u3thsq9a208bs6kg3

| access-date = 22 October 2007 }}

The park is {{convert|320|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Johannesburg and is close to the villages of Clarens and Kestell, in the upper regions of the Little Caledon River. The park is situated in the Rooiberge of the eastern Free State, in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. The Caledon River forms the southern boundary of the park, as well as the border between the Free State and Lesotho. The elevation ranges from a {{convert|1,800|m|ft|abbr=on}} plateau in the north to heights of {{convert|2,700|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the south.{{cite web

| last = Masai Mara Migration

| title = Park Entry Fees Golden Gate Highlands National Park

| url = https://www.masaimaramigration.com/safari-guide/park-entry-fees-golden-gate-highlands-national-park/

| access-date = 9 December 2022}} The highest peak in the park (and also in the Free State) is Ribbokkop at {{convert|2,829|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.

The park is located in the eastern highveld region of South Africa and experiences a dry, sunny climate from June to August. It has showers, hail, and thunderstorms between October and April. It has thick snowfalls in the winter.{{cite book

| last = Lonely Planet Publications

| title = Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland

| date = 1 November 2004

| isbn = 1-74104-162-7 }} The park has a relatively high rainfall of {{convert|800|mm|in|abbr=on}} per year.

The park is an area of rich highveld and montane grassland flora. It has more than 60 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. The park also has Afromontane forests and high-altitude Austro-Afro alpine grassland, which is scarce in South Africa. The ouhout (Leucosidea sericea), an evergreen species, is the most common tree in the park. Ouhout is a favourite habitat of beetles and 117 species occur on these trees in the park. The Lombardi poplars and weeping willows in the park are introduced species, but are kept because of their cultural and historic connection with the eastern Free State. Other exotic species in the park, for example wattle and bluegum, are systematically eradicated.

File:Sunset over the Ribbokspruit valley, Golden Gate Highlands National Park.jpg

Instead of reintroducing one of the "big five" into the park, the sungazer lizard and water mongoose were reintroduced. Twelve species of mice, 10 species of carnivores, and 10 antelope species have been recorded in the park.[http://www.sanparks.org/parks/golden_gate/conservation/ff/mammal_list.php List of Mammals present in Golden Gate] The grey rhebok and the mountain reedbuck were present when the park was established.

File:Taurotragus oryx.jpg|Eland

File:Bergriedbock 2007-08-16 201.jpg|Mountain reedbuck

File:Ourebia ourebi cropped.jpg|Oribi

File:Black Wildebeest.jpg|Black wildebeest

File:Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi.jpg|Blesbok

File:Burchell's Zebra (Etosha).jpg|Burchell's zebra

File:Antidorcas marsupialis, male (Etosha, 2012).jpg|Male springbok

File:Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus griseipes) male head.jpg|Chacma baboon{{Cite web|title=South African National Parks - SANParks - Official Website - Accommodation, Activities, Prices, Reservations|url=https://www.sanparks.org/parks/golden_gate/conservation/ff/mammal_list.php|access-date=2022-01-06|website=www.sanparks.org|language=en-ZA}}

Over 210 bird species have been observed in the park,[http://sabap2.adu.org.za/protected.php?area=NP&park=Golden+Gate+Highlands+%26+Qwaqwa+National+Par] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226120355/http://sabap2.adu.org.za/protected.php?area=NP&park=Golden+Gate+Highlands+&+Qwaqwa+National+Par|date=26 February 2014}}, downloaded 17 July 2012. including the rare bearded vulture and the endangered Cape vulture and bald ibis.

Gyps coprotheres1.jpg|Cape vulture

Bartgeier Gypaetus barbatus front Richard Bartz.jpg|Bearded vulture

Witkruisarend.jpg|Verreaux's eagle

Blue_Crane.jpg|Blue crane

Sagittarius serpentarius Sekretär.JPG|Secretary bird

Seven snake species, including the puff adder, mountain adder, and rinkhals, are found in the park.

Kopf einer Puffotter.JPG|Puff adder

Bitis atropos, Berg Adder in the Cedarberg.jpg|Mountain adder

Hemachatus-1.jpg|Rinkhals

Common carp.jpg|Carp

Trout.jpg|Rainbow trout

Barbus anoplus.jpg|Chubbyhead barb

{{Multiimage

| direction = vertical

| image1 = Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa - panoramio.jpg

| image2 = Golden Gate Highlands Sandstone cliffs.jpg

| image3 = Massospondylus egg clutch with embryos (cast), Golden Gate National Park, South Africa, Early Jurassic - Royal Ontario Museum - DSC00145.JPG

}}

The geology of the park provides very visual "textbook" examples of Southern Africa's geological history. The sandstone formations in the park form the upper part of the Karoo Supergroup. These formations were deposited during a period of aeolian deposition towards the end of the Triassic Period. At the time of deposition, the climate of the area the park covers was becoming progressively drier until arid desert conditions set in, resulting in a land of dunes and sandy desert, with occasional scattered oases. The deposition of the sandstones ended when lava flowed out over the desert 190 million years ago.

The following sequence of geological formations is visible in the park (starting from the bottom): the Molteno Formation, Elliott Formation, Clarens Formation, and Drakensberg Formation. The yellow-brown Golden Gate and Brandwag cliffs are made up of the Clarens formation. The layers in this formation are {{convert|140|to|160|m|ft|abbr=on}} thick. The Drakensberg Formation comprises the basaltic lava that flowed over the desert. It forms the mountain summits in the park. On Ribbokkop, it is {{convert|600|m|ft|abbr=on}} thick. The Elliot Formation is a red mudstone where many dinosaur fossils have been found.

The oldest dinosaur embryos ever discovered were found in the park in 1978.{{cite web

| last = Knight

| first = Will

| title = Early dinosaurs crawled before they ran

| work = New Scientist

| date = 28 July 2005

| url = https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7746

| access-date = 23 June 2009}} The eggs were from the Triassic Period (220 to 195 million years ago) and had fossilised foetal skeletons of Massospondylus, a prosauropod dinosaur. More examples of these eggs have since been found in the park. Other fossils found in the park include those of advanced cynodontia (canine toothed animals), small thecodontia (animals with teeth set firmly in the jaw), and bird-like and crocodile-like dinosaurs.

Accommodation in the park is available at Glen Reenen and Brandwag Rest camps. Caravan and campsites with all amenities are available at Glen Reenen camp. The hotel was formerly part of the Brandwag camp, but since its recent refurbishment, it is managed separately by SANParks as Golden Gate Hotel. The nearest town to Golden Gate Highlands National Park is Clarens (17 km to the west), but Phuthaditjhaba is also easily reached by a good tar road, driving through the access gate to the east of the park.

File:Golden Gate Hotel.jpg|Golden Gate Hotel

File:Basotho Cultural Village - Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Jihoafrická republika - panoramio (1).jpg|Basotho Cultural Village landscape

File:Basotho Cultural Village - Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Jihoafrická republika - panoramio.jpg|Basotho Cultural Village hut

This park will be included in the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, Peace Park.

• QwaQwa National Park (incorporated into Golden Gate Park as the QwaQwa homeland no longer exists).

{{reflist|2}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.sanparks.org/parks/golden-gate-highlands South Africa National Parks] Official site.

{{Biodiversity of South Africa|proare}}

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Category:IUCN Category II

Category:Protected areas established in 1963

Category:National parks of South Africa

Category:Protected areas of the Free State (province)