We reached Golden Gate National Park, which is known less for its animals than for its stunningly beautiful surroundings, on October 4th, 2024, after a drive of 370 kilometers. The camp at the entrance to the park is surrounded by rocks that shine in all kinds of red, rusty red and ocher tones in the evening light. Our eyes once again saw something extraordinary. We slipped into our sleeping bags at 9.30 pm., because we knew we would get up early the next morning.

Wake was at 6.15 am. Getting up is easy when the sun is shining and the heating is humming. (The thermometer showed a few degrees below zero – no wonder since we were at 1,912 meters.) A hot espresso woke up our spirits and a muesli strengthened us for the day. There were almost four hundred kilometers ahead of us and on the way to the Kruger National Park.

Mahangu fought his way up the pass, which is at an altitude of 2,140 meters. (If the engine is cold, its performance is severely affected!) We enjoyed the early morning drive that took us through the foothills of the Drakensberg. Afterwards we went through a landscape with rolling hills on a plateau that lies at 1,400 to 1,600 meters. We also got to see animals today; but mostly they were cows, cattle or sheep. We will see wild animals tomorrow when we drive into the Kruger National Park…

PS: If you want to know more about Golden Gate National Park, read here.