Golden Gate Hotel And Chalets

Golden Gate Hotel and Chalets is the main accommodation in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, set in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains in the eastern Free State. The park takes its name from the spectacular sandstone formations that glow gold and amber in the late afternoon light, and the camp is hemmed in by these towering cliffs and rolling montane grasslands.

This is high-altitude country rather than classic bushveld, and the appeal lies in its scenery, crisp mountain air and walking. Black wildebeest, blesbok, eland, springbok and Burchell's zebra graze the grassy slopes, while the cliffs are home to raptors, including the rare bearded vulture and the bald ibis. Winters can be cold, with occasional snow on the peaks.

The hotel and chalets offer a comfortable base with a restaurant and the usual facilities, and the park is well suited to hiking, scenic drives and quiet days surrounded by some of the most striking landscapes in the country.