The only proclaimed National Park that protects the grassland biome in South Africa, the Golden Gates Highlands National Park plays a quiet role in conserving the most neglected biome from the point of view of conservation. With more than 50% of the water supply of South Africa coming from this area, it’s more important than ever before!
Hello and welcome to the tenth episode of Know Your Nature! A free ReWild Africa newsletter released exploring the National Parks of South Africa (and beyond). Know Your Nature aims to showcase off-the-beaten-track parts of Africa, and to encourage the support of our natural heritage #PreservationBeforeRestoration
Golden Gate Highlands National Park ⚜️
Hidden within the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the North-Eastern Free State lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The Golden Gate derives its name from the sun rays of the setting sun that casts a soft shade on the west-facing sandstone cliffs and turns them into a glowing gold colour.
🌾 Conservation & the grassland biome
Simply explained, a biome is what makes up the environment of a particular place. It is the community of plant and animal life that makes up a major habitat like jungle or tundra. It is this habitat that determines the animal species and relative abundance and scarcity. The Biomes of Southern Africa are Grassland, Savanna, Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo, Forest, Fynbos, Desert and Albany Thicket.
Golden Gates National Park is within the grassland biome and holds the potential benefit to support huge numbers of game. Within Golden Gates, there are 10 antelope species which are the eland, red hartebeest, black wildebeest, blesbok, springbok, mountain reedbuck, grey rhebuck, grey duiker, steenbok and the threatened oribi.
The Grassland Biome of South Africa is critically endangered and it is the biome in South Africa most urgently requiring conservation attention. Human land-use activities have had a major impact upon the available natural resource base resulting in a huge transformation in our landscape.
Habitat loss and fragmentation are mainly responsible for the current biodiversity loss or species extinctions occurring worldwide. ReWild understands the urgency for the conservation of our precious grasslands. The best way we can start having a positive impact on our environment is through knowing our Nature, and building a common environmental ethic, where we become conservationists and stewards of the land in which we live.
Have a look here at what the Endangered Wildlife Trust is doing to protect these threatened species. It is through supporting solutionaries such as the Endangered Wildlife Trust that we may begin to turn the tide on ecological loss.
💦 Water catchment and a growing transfrontier area
Golden Gate is situated in one of the most important water catchment areas in South Africa, around 50% of SA’s water comes from this area. Therefore conserving these grasslands is integral for the health of both Ecological systems and social communities. Excitingly, Golden Gate Highlands has become an integral part of one of South Africa’s Transfrontier Conservation Areas, the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Project. The Area covers 14 740 km² of the mountains that straddle the north-eastern border between Lesotho and South Africa (see map below - #7 TFCA).
Peace Parks Foundation explains “this cross-border protected area preserves the globally important biodiversity and cultural value of the entire region. This vast stretch of land is home to almost two million people, contributing to an explicit goal of the TFCA – to make a positive difference in the livelihoods of people by ensuring that they benefit from nature-based tourism”.
As we begin to Know Our Nature, we can begin to further value where our water comes from, and the necessary steps we must take to build transfrontier areas for both preserving the biosphere & heritage for future generations.
🗺 Transfrontier Parks of Southern Africa:
Below is a map of Transfrontier Parks, which are defined as an area comprising two areas, which border each other across international boundaries and whose primary focus is wildlife conservation... The authorities also undertake to remove all human barriers within the transfrontier park so that animals can roam freely.
We highly recommend adding this park to your bucket list!
A big thank you to Drive South Africa, SAN Parks and SA Tourism for making this project a reality.
If this has moved you - please consider supporting the park and/or sharing this article with a loved one.
Watch on and wild regards,
Elvi the Elephant