GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK & GOLDEN GATE HOTEL - SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS & ACCOMMODATION (Maluti Mountains, North Eastern Free State.)

This is the last of our features on our beautiful National Parks in South Africa, but there are way too many to mention, each of which we should at least see once in our lifetime, and hopefully pick a few to visit regularly, they are all incredible features of this majestic place we live in that we still take for granted.

Please meet the gracious...

 

This is seriously the perfect movie set for a film set for a gladiator war, you know that old untouched scenery that is majestic and speaks more than the story, and becomes the main actor in the movie because it takes over with its presence....that, that's what this is, pure perfection. 

Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north eastern Free State, close to the Kwa-Zulu Natal side of Lesotho,  lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. 

The park derives its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the parks sandstone cliffs, an incredible feature, and especially the imposing Brandwag rock, which keeps vigil over the main rest camp. 

This 11 600 hectares of unique environment is true highland habitat, providing home to a variety of mammals, including Black Wildebeest, Eland, Blesbok, Oribi, Springbok and Burchell's Zebra, as well as many birds, including the rare bearded vulture, and the equally rare bald Ibis. 

Ribbokkop, the highest point in the park, reveals a breathtaking tapestry of red, yellow and purple hues as its warm shades with the cool mountain shadows towards the evenings....this is mesmerising natural beauty.

Special ares of interest are the Van Reenens Family Graveyard, the impressive Brandwag buttress rock formation, the Vulture Restaurant, Cathedral Grave, as well as ZuluHoek viewpoint, Generaalskop viewpoint, Oribi Basin and the Drakensberg view, all very beautiful and interesting. 

And staying here is awesome, there are so many in-park options, and well priced too. 

There is the Glen Reenen Rest Camp, with Rondavels, Longdavels and Guest Cottages, as well as camping. 
Then there is the Basuto Cultural Villge Rest Camp, which closely resembles and 18th century Basuto Village. 

There is also the Highlands Mountain Retreat, which is the luxury camp in Golden Gate, and we also have the Noord Braband Historic Guest House, but we choose to feature the GOLDEN GATE HOTEL. Its perfect for all needs, and its setting is simply stunning. 

The hotel is formerly known as the Brandwag Hotel, and is a luxury accommodation that has always been synonymous with the Golden Gate with a wide spectrum of services and facilities, which is stretched out onto the 34 adjacent fully-equipped chalets. 

Recently renovated, the hotel is nothing short of fabulous luxury. 

To find out ore about the Park please visit them @ GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK, and to view their extensive accommodation options, go to GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK ACCOMMODATION...you wont be sorry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Golden Gate Hotel

 

 

 

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CHAPMAN'S PEAK & CHAPMAN'S PEAK BEACH HOTEL

Fighting off the temptation to do yet another report on something in Cape Town, but the fingers that type this seemed biased. Its been decided by the powers that if we choose to finish off a 'Breathing Space' segment in a TRAVEL & RELAXATION section of our Wellness Trail, there is only one final destination, ANYWHERE NEAR MOTHER MOUNTAIN. We at least avoided her this time, you'll see her anyway....its like going home and not seeing Mom, never gonna happen, but we just wanted to remind you of Dad, Grandma, and the Kids. 

Mom ALWAYS wins right?!. 

Meet CHAPMAN's PEAK, beauty at its finest, with a view that travels, it takes you places, it has many sides, literally, which makes it unfair, but mother spoke of her favourite child, and this was the one she chose for us to talk about. 

Chapmans Peak Drive even has its own website, yes, its called www.chapmanspeakdrive.co.za, such an organised little road isn't it?! Now if you take a little peak, haha, at this fabulous site, you'll find that the Mignon's that Chappy employed to look after the website have included all the activities surrounding the this beautiful part of Cape Town, events, galleries and more. Have a squizz. 

We think if you're going to make the effort to go there, go everywhere that is touched by the peak, and everywhere it leads to, TAKE IT ALL IN, give it a few days. But mostly, and our original point, was this, take this in, go for the drive, and stop often, get out your car, and just watch, listen to what Mother Nature has to say, she'll tell you more than you think...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annd look we found this video, so clever, its called a cyber drive, LOVE IT!

We hope when you come visit that you'll stay, over night at least once, and being the fairest Cape, there are poo-loads of places to stay, but we rather like this one, 

The hotel is situated at the foot of the world-famous Chapman's Peak Drive, in the beautiful valley of Hout Bay, yet another place to visit and take in, truly another one of our gems.

Its 20min from Cape Town's city centre and 45 Min's from the airport and wine routes, but distance and time never really matters in Cape Town, does it, you are meant to get lost in time, and on the drive, and never be on time for anything. 

The hotel has an awesome restaurant known for its Calamari, enjoyed on the large sun-drenched terrace with even better views of the bay, beach and valley. In fact, Calamari at the Chapman's Peak Beach Hotel was voted as one of the Top 20 Things to Do in Cape Town, and the hotel is known as one of the Top 3 in Hout Bay. 

Find them @ www.chapmanspeakhotel.co.za

 

 

 

  

 
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