Golden Gate Highlands National Park

The wind had not abated and the atmosphere had a pink-brown hazy hue from all the dust. Patches of road showed evidence of a shower but not enough to settle the dust.

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This was our first over-night visit to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and also the only one of the 19 national parks we did not visit during our year-long travels. We were treated to a thunderstorm soon after we arrived and checked in at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp; what a relief!

We were slow getting out of bed the next morning and eventually set out on our planned hike to Wodehouse Peak, which, according to the rudimentary map should take 4 hours.

It is always such a wonderful experience to hike in the Drakensberg; we enjoyed the views and the plants and the birds and just being in a ‘park’ again. Seeing the abundance of ‘sweet’ grasses like Rooigras (Themeda Triandra), which are absent where the veld is overgrazed, was so refreshing. It was interesting to see how resilient this comparatively unspoilt area is in the face of the current drought. Here was healthy looking veld where all we had seen over the past few days was dusty earth eaten bare by livestock!

Brandwag Buttress
Brandwag Buttress
Sandstone overhang en route to the Brandwag Buttress
Sandstone overhang en route to the Brandwag Buttress
Red-chested Cuckoo
Red-chested Cuckoo

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At the Brandwag Buttress the wind was blowing so hard that we did not dare venture too close to the edge! The next section of the route is a long climb along an exposed ridge so we decided to turn back. With the force of the wind it would be unpleasant and hazardous. We went back the way we came, detouring into the Boskloof ravine for lunch.

Wild Pink (Dianthus mooiensis)
Wild Pink (Dianthus mooiensis)

We were keen to go birding so were up early the following morning and left camp after coffee, choosing the Echo Ravine route. It was a beautiful, crisp morning and the birds were out in force. We even saw a Bald Ibis flying off his roost as we entered the ravine.

Cape Grassbird
Cape Grassbird

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Our breakfast spot - Echo Ravine
Our breakfast spot – Echo Ravine

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View of the Glen Reenen campsite. If you look carefully you will spot Ufudu…
View of the Glen Reenen campsite. If you look carefully you will spot Ufudu…

We left the campsite and took a slow, bird-watching drive out of the park towards Sterkfontein Dam, our next destination.

Langtoon Dam with Mushroom Rock in the background
Langtoon Dam with Mushroom Rock in the background

Our last point of interest was at the Vulture Hide. We were in for a treat indeed! There was a Bald Ibis feeding and we were the only people in the hide.

Golden Gate Vulture Hide
Golden Gate Vulture Hide. Thankfully the glass keeps the flies and smell at bay!!!

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As we decided to leave a Cape Vulture circled to ‘inspect the runway before landing’! Needless to say we stayed. A Pied Crow later joined the party.

Cape Vulture
Cape Vulture

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We reluctantly left the hide after about an hour!