Highlands Mountain Retreat is set high in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, in the rolling grasslands and sandstone country of the eastern Free State. The park is named for the golden light that falls on its dramatic sandstone cliffs and buttresses, and the retreat sits among open mountain scenery at the foot of the Maluti range.

The accommodation has a self-catering character suited to walkers and those who want a quiet base in the high country. Cool, clear air and sweeping views define the setting, and the surrounding grasslands are home to eland, black wildebeest, blesbok and zebra, while the cliffs above shelter raptors including the rare bearded vulture.

This is a place for slow days spent on mountain trails and evenings watching the sandstone glow at sunset. The altitude brings crisp nights, and winters can be cold, so the retreat suits travellers drawn to open landscapes rather than classic bushveld game viewing.