S1 - Ep 469 - Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 เม.ย. 2024
- Our visit to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State was immensely anticipated, and it did not disappoint. The natural beauty of the area was truly breathtaking, with towering sandstone mountains cloaked in lush green vegetation. Pausing at the various viewing points afforded us the opportunity to marvel at the magnificent gorges and valleys below, further enhancing our appreciation for the area's splendour. Although reluctantly, we eventually bid farewell to this stunning locale, filled with happiness that we had taken the time to experience its wonders. #DustBugs #dustbugstravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #goldengate #nationalpark
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![Golden Gate Highlands National Park [S1, E1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/h7F5wVWzZLM/mqdefault.jpg)
I have spent many holidays here . For me it's the loveliest place on earth. I have walked all the trails many times and done many paintings of this area. We used to stay at the hotel which in those days was affordable. Opposite the hotel is the magnificent rock outcrop called Die Brandwag. It's a lovely climb up there and what a view from the top. As for animals we saw Zebra, hartebeest, springbok, klipspringertjies among others. Thankyou for a beautiful reminder of much joy ❤❤❤
You Guys are mapping south africa on TH-cam. I'm gonna use this channel when travelling
The natural beauty of the park continues to impress. Sadly however, the same cannot be said for the infrastructure of the park itself. The place looks shabby and neglected as you remarked Curtis. I sincerely hope it can be rescued in the not too distant future to bring it back in line with our other pristine national parks. Thank you for the visit.
Agreed and it will bring the much needed economy to the Province 🙏🏽
Hi. I grew up in Skukuza. My dad worked in construction in the National Parks. He was in charge of building that dam in Golden Gate in the late 1960s if I remember correctly
Hi Sonja and Curtis. Those mountains and rock formation absolutely stunning. I must say the roads were windy but not many potholes. Nature at its best. Thanks, stay safe till the next one .❤❤❤
Hi you two! Thank you so much for taking me on this wonderful surprise to my favourite holiday hiking place in the last century! It brought back precious memories. Those mountains are uniquely spectacular. A pity you did not have more sun on the day of your visit. I'm anxiously waiting for the next surprise. Until then,
Keep safe!
What an awesome place. Love the rugged mountains. I agree with you Sonja South Africa is a beautiful country.❤😊
I friends, have not watched for some time, Golden Gate wow❤❤❤❤❤
This is indeed a Golden Gate, a beautiful part of our beautiful country. When our children were young we came through with our caravan.
Amazingly beautiful.!!!!!!!
Thankyou so much for this wonderful trip at the golden Gate Park. Would never have been to see it ourselves at our age.
Curtis you are right with the feeling of neglect. Been there about six years ago for the 1st time and also nobody at the entrance. Since then visiting Clarence ever so often. What a delightful town. Along the road some apple trees where you can stop and help yourself on fresh apples😅
I enjoyed the drive, thank u so much❤
Oooh yes. My old haunt. My mom was born on the farm Nordbrabont 1924. This farm is now part of the Golden Gate National Park. The old homestead which was built around 1860 odd has been restored and guests can stay in it. My mom and I visited it and stayed there often. I stay in the Glen Reenen caravan park. Fantastic scenery for photography. I also stay at Meiribgkloof caravan park which is close to Fouriesburg. That entire route is great for photography.
It is a spectacularly beautiful area and so deserving of its name. ⛰️😍 We covered Meiringskloof extensively in our Fouriesburg video. it sounds like you missed it somehow.
Een van my gunsteling plekke in SA, het dikwels op my eie daar gekuier en later ook saam met my maaikie. 'n Baie besonderse plek, dankie vir die herinneringe.
Wow. You have visited another national park in SA.
Drove through Golden Gate in 2021…beautiful scenery,and of cause beautiful Clarens.
Stunning views, I really enjoy being out in nature and places like where you're currently travelling through... Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
So beautiful 😊 ❤ Thank you.
Awesome scenery, beautiful sky.
Really beautiful scenery.
Wow how beautiful. Never knew of this place
One of my favorite drives going thru golden gate. You covered alot in this episode. I have stayed at the GG hotel. It's 3 star and has a European vibe in my opinion....the views are stunning. What a lovely video 🎉thanks🎉
The feeling of neglect and not much happening is not new, I’ve experienced it way back when I visited. The natural surrounding however makes it worthwhile to visit.
Very nice trip. Nature is wonderful and so the scenery. Absolutely a piece of nature at its best.thank you for takung us there. Next one i will be there
Al wat ek Kan se.........awesome awsome awesome.!!!
Pragtig
So glad you visited my childhood playgrounds. The van Reenen family were house friends of my grand parents. Their house used to be where rhe Glen Reenen office and shop is therefore the name.
Stine buildings, i saw a lotvlike thatvin my recent visit to Lesotho😂
The Drakensberg escarpment, you must be close to Lesotho. Lovely landscape. I had thought Hansie Cronje crashed here, but that's closer to the Cape. I still remember that day.
I wonder if the camping site is still there, across Glen Reenen Restcamp ? The last time I was there, was back in 1999 and before that, 1986 on a school outing at the Brandwag Restcamp. It appears that things may have gone a bit backwards, since I last visited, from what I can see in your video.
The campsite is still directly opposite the bungalows of the Glen Reenen Rest Camp and we showed it in our video. It's the area where the dinosaurs and other steel animals were displayed on the grounds. We weren't allowed to enter that section though. You must've had great times there. We definitely got a neglected vibe in the Park, which is a great shame. ⛰️😏
@@DustBugsTravel I meant to say neglected, sorry. It is a pity that the shop was not open, as there is many things to see and buy inside. I just saw the bit of the campsite, I didn't see earlier in your video. I enjoyed great times and memories there. 👍
I forgot to mention that on my last visit in 1999, the park rangers had a mascot, a female ostrich, roaming the entire campsite. She was tame, very friendly, extremely clever and she greeted me every morning, when she came around... And I remembered her name that the park rangers gave her so well (Ntswe was her name) ! 😊
Baie dankie vriende.
Hi guys what a surprise crazy mountains and views mind blowing the no wonder its a national Park hardly saw another car this type of freedom is a privilege. The history of surrender Hill new one on me so interesting the wildlife even though space was still amazing. The hotel and chalets looked impressive. The little family cemetery was in good nick is this the Vanreenens who the pass is named after? So lovely to see a row of stunning oaks. SA really does have it all !!! Thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one
There is just nothing that beats natural beauty and the Golden Gate Highlands National Park has it in abundance. We were rather overwhelmed at all the rolling hills and incredible rock formations, it was fantastic! ⛰️😍 I don't believe it's the same Van Reenen who the Van Reenen's Pass was named after. I read on Wikipedia that the 'pass is named after Frans van Reenen who owned the farm Sandspruit at foot of the pass.' He could very well have been a distant (or close) relative of the Golden Gate Van Reenens. I'm so glad you enjoyed Golden Gate with us. 🚙😁
Thanks Curtis it's much appreciated
I wonder if the van Reenens of Golden Gate are related to Frans van Reenen after whom the village of van Reenen (and nearby pass) on the border between the Free State and KZN is named?
I wasn't able to find a connection during a brief search online earlier, but I would imagine there's a real possibility that they were distant, and perhaps even close, relatives. 🙂
The South African name for those vultures is Lammergeier (but they don't hunt lambs - although I think the old folk all over their range killed them on the supposition that they did). They like bone marrow, and will grab a bone, fly up high above some rocks, and then drop it (deliberately - to break it open so they can get at the marrow). Clever birds, nê? :D
For some or other reason the "official" English name for them is the "Bearded Vulture" (they don't occur in England, so I don't get how that name got imposed upon them). They do occur in the Alps, but are very rare, still, due to all the human persecution they've suffered.
Here's what Wiki says about them: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearded_vulture
Fascinating stuff! I was so hoping there would be carcasses on the day of our visit. I'm sure there's a lot more activity then. It was great to see three or four all the same, although they were very far away. 🦅 Clever indeed! Their behaviour reminds me of the seagulls that threw shells down from high up to extract the juicy insides.
hi there. Stayed in Highlands mountain retreat in May 2023( you froze past turnoff) Wooden chalets at about 2300m altitude…could see Harrismith….The vulture hide is such an opportunity missed. They rarely on donated carcassses from Farmers…easily accessible and great opportunity for photographers…Sadly the less food goes out, the less vultures come…The Farmers in KZN are putting out carcasses and get hundreds of vultures
I see what they meant by cashless .You dont pay😂😂
Please come see Virginia in the Free State 🙏🏽
We've been there many times. I only got to the top of the Golden Gate mountain twice in my older years. When I was younger, I was too afraid to go up the ladder to reach the top. Sorry that you didn't focus on that area. There are also many stunning paths to walk, but sorry for Sonia, who wouldn't have been able to accompany you on those paths.
If I remember correctly, we once drove right through Golden Gate to Natal.
We can never be sorry about anything we choose to see on our travels. Our attitude is one of gratitude for every single moment we can be out in nature and on the road, and much more so in a National Park. We specifically mentioned in our video that we had a limited time in the Park, but didn't want to exclude it. We're so grateful that we got to experience the beauty that we did, it's a spectacular place. ⛰️😍
So sad that the shop was closed. 25 yrs ago it was fully stocked, then you know who took over. 😢 they are sadly unable to run a shop without messing it up.
Yawn, you don't even know why the shop is closed but you've already jumped into conclusion, FYI Sanparks also runs the Kruger park and all the shops are operating.
who took over
@@RagedContinuum if you are South African you will know :)
Hi julle 2, dit is so jammer julle het omgedraai na julle die stuk pad geneem het by Groottoondam verby. Julle moes weer regs gedraai het met die grootpad Harrismith se kant toe. Julle het so n groot deel van die berge misgeloop. Dit is asemrowend en die pad vol kronkels. En hoekom mag ons nie jou vrou ook sien en leer ken nie. Sal goed wees as julle ook nie deur die dorpies met n spoed gaan nie. Ons wat die platteland ken, weet hoeveel is daar te sien wat julle misloop. Sal dalk n goeie idee wees om by elke dorpie se munisipale kantore of inligtingsburo te gaan navraag doen oor alles wat daar in hulle dorp te sien is.
Sien uit om haar ook te sien in jou videos. En gun julle die tyd om net by n eetplek te stop en iets te ete te kry en weer asem te skep. Groete
Zibbith
Thank you for your comment and for watching our video. 🚙😁 We prefer exploring on our own, since the regular tourist attractions aren't what interest us the most. As you and every other viewer can choose exactly how they wish to travel, so we choose exactly how we wish to travel. We would never even dream of criticising others' travels and telling them what to do on their travels. That's completely beyond me. 🤷🏻♂️
Our goal is to see as many places in South Africa as we can safely in the limited time we have on the roads and that is exactly how we will continue. We live in the Western Cape, which is very far away from the Eastern Free State, so when we spend the time and the money and take time off work, we'd like to make sure we see as much as possible. While it may not be what you'd like to see, we're very grateful for everything we get to see. If you happen to visit any place for the first time, you would also not know all the places others who do know the area well, would know. We have long ago made peace with the fact that we will never get to see everything in every town or place and we're totally fine with that. That's not our goal. We don't have the luxury to spend a whole day or multiple days in any place while we travel so far away from home. We're happy to eat and snack while on the road.
My wife, Sonia, isn't keen on being filmed and I'll respect her decision until she hopefully changes her mind one day. It is entirely her decision and I'm certainly not going to pressure her. We choose to share our travels with those folks who may enjoy them for what they are. I completely understand if you don't enjoy them, but we're having a ball of a time seeing new and familiar parts of our beloved country. 🇿🇦😍
Gebore en groot geword in die Oos Vrystaat en dit is die mooiste deel in die Vrystaat.
n Mooi tyd om die deel te besoek is Maart / April dan is dit herfs tyd en winter wat oppad is. Fotograaf kan dan die mooiste fotos neem.
It is indeed an incredibly beautiful part of the Free State. Our visit was on a mostly cloudy day in mid-March of this year. 🚙🏔