Golden Gate, 26 – 30 December 2002
On my way back to Cape Town I spent a few days in the Golden Gate area. I stayed at De Ark game farm in the Free State, about 8 km from Clarens and about 20 km from Golden Gate National Park. Selected photos below illustrate some highlights.
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Wildebees and Blesbok running across the hills on De Ark Game Farm. Activities on the farm include hiking, horse-riding (too expensive though), swimming and bird watching. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
We were given vague directions to some bushmen (San) paintings on the farm. After some bundu bashing we found the cave with some paintings. The cave overlooks the stream. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Some of the paintings. Note the natural flaking of the sandstone around the edges of the paintings. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Golden Gate National Park (view from the vulture ridge). |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Mushroom Rock from the campsite. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Echo Ravine. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Heronry in the park – Cattle Egret, Blackheaded Herons and Reed Cormaorants. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Hanri, Helmut, Waldo, Anja at the Vulture Restaurant sign. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
The ridge at the vulture restaurant. The path comes up from the left, and the carcasses are put on the open ground on the right. Unfortunately there is no hide. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Two Cape Vultures (top left corner) eying the carcasses (front right). |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
On Saturday there was a public guided hike to Cathedral Cave. 37 people came along! |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Along the way we spotted a few Eastern Redfooted Kestrels, migrant birds from Siberia. This is a male. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
The hiking group inside Cathedral Cave. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
A little further there is a waterfall. Half the group risked a short swim through the cold murky water to go up the chain ladder while the rest watched. |
 Photo H.D. Oschadleus |
Looking up at the spectacular dome formed by the waterfall. The swim and ladder climb were worth it! |
Photo H.D. Oschadleus
Sunset at De Ark game farm.
