Highlands Mountain Retreat

Hinging on the edge of the Free State’s gorgeous Maluti Mountain range are 11 600 hectares of stunning highland terrain known as the Golden Gates Highlands National Park. An ecosystem unlike anything found in any other game park, the diverse cross section of bird and animal life found in this area alone could be tantalising to the enthusiastic camper, but with facilities such as the Highlands Mountain retreat, guests are ensured a magical getaway, tucked into the majestic mountain landscape.

Accommodation is provided in four cottages, with one bedroom and a double sleeper couch in the living area each, as well as en-suite bathrooms, televisions and fireplaces, and a verandah and braai (barbecue) area. Family-sized units are available for accommodation, fitted with one double bedroom and two single beds, a fully equipped kitchen, and wheelchair accessibility. Guest facilities include a log fired hotel pub, picnic site and braai (barbecue) facilities, a general dealer and filling station, curio shop, restaurant, coffee shop and ladies' bar.

Cathedral Cave is just a short, guided walk away, and guests are invited to check out the beautiful natural attractions in the area - this section of the Golden Gates Highlands area is home to various intriguing, entertaining or historically significant sites and attractions, such as the Van Reenen family graveyard, the Brandwag buttress rock formation, a natural swimming pool which guests are free to visit at their leisure, and a host of lookouts and viewpoints atop of which guests can survey the entire area and spot that elusive Bald Ibis without having to get too close.

Guests arriving in search of exquisite natural attractions will not be disappointed at the Golden Gates Highlands: famous for its blesbok, duiker, Black Wildebeest, eland and springbok populations, as well as Grey Rhebok, steenbok and Red Haartebeest, and an extensive bird population including Cape Vulture, Bald Ibis, Jackal Buzzard, Verreaux’s (Black) and Martial Eagle, Bearded Vulture, Lanner and Peregrine Falcon.

Domiating the topography of the area, Themeda-Festuca veld forms a motif to the Golden Gate’s grass and woodland areas, complimented by sloping patches of Leucosidea sericea (ouhout) and isolated Protea woodlands (Protea caffra, P. roupelliae and P. subvestita).