Golden Gate National Park (Closest City/Town: Clarens)

Free State - Central Free State

Golden Gate National Park MTB

CLOSEST TOWN > Clarens

TRAIL DESTINATION > Golden Gate National Park

DISTANCE > 50km (Various)

GRADING > Intermadiate

OVERVIEW

Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the surrounding Maluti Mountains offer a selection of riding options, although the roads inside the SA section of the park are all (sadly) tarmac. However, Bokpoort-Bergwoning- and other farms in the area offer dirt riding along gravel roads, 4x4 routes and game or cattle tracks.

On your bike

Beyond Golden Gate, the rough and ready gravel roads of the erstwhile Qua-Qua homeland buck and slide along gnarly valleys and craggy horizons. In some cases, access and/or permits need to be arranged beforehand with private landowners and the national parks authorities, but generally folk up here in the Eastern Free State are friendly and down-to-earth, so the process should be relatively painless.

For a tarmac cruise from Clarens, crank along the R712 towards Golden Gate (13.4km), turning right onto the Blesbok Loop after approximately 2km. This 6.7km one-way loop climbs steeply into eland country, offering panoramic views, an inexhaustible supply of fresh air and a skittish switchback downhill back onto the R712. Hit a sharp left almost immediately to explore the Oribi Loop, a bonus 4.2km of highland cranking amongst zebra, wildebeest, mountain reedbuck and chacma baboon. A speedy 22.5km cruise back into Clarens makes for a total riding distance just shy of 50km.

Off the bike

Basotho Cultural Village Rest Camp

Game viewing drives (self driven) – it is not only the game that one get to enjoy in this part of the world, one gets to enjoy rock formation, birds, grassland and the beautiful scenery that forms part of the Drakensberg and Maluti mountains.
Museum tours – visitors get to feel the Basotho experience by tasting traditional cuisine, getting to know equipments and weapons that were used then.
Cultural route, one gets afforded an opportunity to be taken through the Basotho culture and the way of living dating back from the sixteen century to date.
Herbal trail, visitors are lead through this trail in order to be educated about the medicines that were used and are still by the African Traditional Healers.

Bowls, tennis, table tennis and snooker (at the hotel).
Horse riding available - please book at (058) 225 0951.
Absailing and canoeing available for people using Wilgenhof Environmental Education Centre

CONTACT:

Route Information: Golden Gate National Park

Telephone: 058 255 0075 or +27 58 255 1000

Website: www.sanparks.org.za

GPS: S28°30.2', E28°36.55'

Weather: {weather Clarens, South Africa}

FAST FACTS

GRADING:

An easy crank along tar, but at least it gets you out the house and into an awesome national park.

DURATION:

Around 2-3 hours in the saddle

CONFIGURATION :

A there-and-back ride with two loop options into the park.

START POINT:

In Clarens, but you could drive the 13 kays to the park headquarters and start there.

TERRAIN:

Tarmac roads (sorry about that …)

MAP:

A map of the park roads is available from Reception.

CELL RECEPTION:

Yes

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Regular park entry fees apply to riders.

FACILITIES:

Full range of amenities at Golden Gate and in Clarens

BEWARE OF:

Very cold in winter, with sudden mists rolling in across the mountains.

goldengatemap

HOW TO GET THERE

From Johannesburg or Durban, travel along the N3 Highway towards Harrismith. At Harrismith, follow the route markets towards the N5 (Bethlehem). Once on the N5, just outside Harrismith, turn left on the R712 and travel toward Phuthaditjhaba. Bypass Phuthaditjhaba whilst still travelling along the R712. Enter the Golden Gate Highlands National Park at the checkpoint. Please observe the speed limit once inside the Park. NOTE: Wild animals roam freely in the Park. Please be vigilant whilst driving, especially at night. All Camps and the Golden Gate Hotel are clearly signposted along this route.

BEST TIME OF YEAR

Very cold in winter, with sudden mists rolling in across the mountains.