48 hours in Golden Gate

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A public holiday long weekend in South Africa was just the excuse we needed to head back into one of our favourite South African wild places, Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

Golden Gate Autumn 2015 (1)

Glen Reenen Rest Camp, where cottage 25 was our abode for the two nights we spent in Golden Gate on this trip, was a festival of autumn colours. Two horses also made themselves right at home among the accommodation units, and provided loads of entertainment to us all, most especially involving Joubert either photographing them or inviting them over.

Autumn in the glen
Peek-a-boo
Beautiful horse in a beautiful place
Autumn in the glen
Autumn in the glen
Autumn in the glen
Glen Reenen at night (April 2015)
Autumn in the glen
Autumn in the glen
Autumn in the glen
Glen Reenen Rest Camp
Autumn in the glen
Joubert de Wet, Horse Whisperer

Of course we were not going to spend our time in camp only, as beautiful a place as Glen Reenen is, and we made sure we took in as much of Golden Gate’s spectacular scenery as we could fit into two days.

Sunrise over Golden Gate
Protea Corner view point
Eland from the top of Protea Corner
Freshwater crab in mountain stream
Walking in Golden Gate
Moss

In a place this beautiful, the plentiful animal and birdlife certainly is a special bonus!

Ground woodpecker
Female Red-winged starling
Grey-winged francolin
Black-backed jackal
Red hartebeest
Blesbuck
Blesbuck
Speckled mousebird
Weaver
Red-eyed bulbul
Cape Grassbird
Black-backed jackal
Black-backed jackal
Sunrise zebras
Sunrise zebra
Plains zebra
Grey rhebuck in flight
Grey rhebuck
Blesbuck
Blesbuck
Blesbuck
Springbok
Black wildebeest
Black wildebeest
Eland

Almost exactly two days after we arrived, we set off back home to Pretoria, convinced yet again that Golden Gate is a very special place. If you’d like to learn more about Golden Gate Highlands National Park, have a read through the special blogpost we did on the Park’s fiftieth birthday.

Our new favourite route to Golden Gate, via Sasolburg, Heilbron, Petrus Steyn and Bethlehem, a distance of about 400km from Pretoria (map drawn with Google Maps)

Our new favourite route to Golden Gate, via Sasolburg, Heilbron, Petrus Steyn and Bethlehem, a distance of about 400km from Pretoria (map drawn with Google Maps)

30 thoughts on “48 hours in Golden Gate”

  1. Pingback: Our 2015 in pictures | de Wets Wild

  9. Nin S.

    I think you are very lucky to have such beautiful place to go to on a regular basis, and still there are plenty of entertainment, so many different animal to look at…. I think I will do my day dreaming job if I ever come to this place…. 🙂

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  12. iAMsafari.com

    We have not been in Golden Gate NP (yet) although it looks like a place we should visit as your enthusiasm is very contagious! We also love the contribution of your youngest team member – something our daughter has been working on very hard last trip.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Spending time together in nature is such an enriching experience, I’m sure you’ll agree Maurice?

      And I’m very glad to know we could show you enough of Golden Gate’s magic to convince you to stop over there when next you find yourselves on our shores!

      Liked by 1 person

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  13. Sheila

    Such a beautiful spot to unwind for a weekend, I’ll put this on my list of things to do when we come back to S. Africa. Looks like you had a great time. Love the pictures. Sheila

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