I had the pleasure of being invited by South African National Parks (SANParks) to experience and cover the newly launched seven-cable Golden Gate Zipline adventure at Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State.
After more than three hours on a bus from OR Tambo International Airport, the reward was spectacular. As we approached the park, the magnificent Maluti Mountains came into view.
For someone accustomed to Johannesburg’s daily traffic jams, honking cars and concrete jungle, it was a refreshing reminder that South Africa has some breathtaking natural beauty — and that sometimes we are simply too busy to notice it.
Almost everyone on the bus was glued to the windows, snapping pictures and recording videos. It was as if the traffic had finally been replaced by something worth staring at.
We arrived at the Golden Gate Hotel and Chalets, where we were booked for two nights. After lunch and a quick meeting, we headed to the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre.
There, we watched a short documentary and explored exhibits telling the story of fossils dating back around 200 million years, including one of the oldest dinosaur embryos ever discovered.
The centre offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the region’s rich palaeontological history. Entrance costs R110 for South African visitors and R250 for international visitors.
We probably could have stayed there much longer. The dinosaur displays were so impressive that even a group of journalists — people who are normally obsessed with their phones for work — suddenly became tourists, taking pictures in front of dinosaur-shaped structures.
From there, we travelled deeper into the mountains, taking in the scenic drives, hiking trails and dramatic landscapes.
This is where some iconic films were shot.
Golden Gate Highlands National Park manager Paddy Gordon told us we were lucky to arrive on a sunny day. Just days earlier, the mountains had been covered in ice, making some areas difficult to access.
Some remnants of the ice were still visible, adding another layer of beauty to the landscape.
Then came the moment I had been quietly dreading.
The zipline.
Looking at the cables stretching across the mountains, my immediate thought was: “Absolutely not.”
The big day arrived after breakfast. We returned to the zipline, were weighed and reminded that anyone above 120kg would not be allowed to participate. We signed our indemnity forms and prepared for take-off.
What gave me a little courage was learning that we would not necessarily have to tackle all seven cables. But then I discovered that the first cable was also the longest — a terrifying 650 metres.
The shortest is just over 100 metres.
The guides fitted us with harnesses and helmets and taught us how to brake, steer and clip onto the safety lines. Then came the speeches from SANParks leadership.
Normally, as a journalist, I sit through speeches almost every day while covering politicians and community leaders. This time, however, I was less interested in the speeches. I was standing at the top of a mountain, wondering how I had got myself into this situation.
Then came a small confidence boost.
We were told the cable had been sourced from Belgium. I thought: “Well, if they went all the way to Belgium for the cable, surely they knew what they were doing.”
Then I remembered I was about to fly down a mountain.
My turn came.
Standing at the top, I knew there was no turning back.
To make matters worse, my trainers weren’t properly tied. SANParks Managing Director Property Mokoena noticed and tied them for me.
And then, suddenly, I was flying.
Someone shouted something about me “braking”. I let go.
The speed increased.
For a few seconds, I thought: “Why am I doing this?”
I looked down and thought: “If I fall, this is it.”
I said a very short prayer.
Then, just as I was approaching the end, I realised I had almost forgotten the instructions on how to slow down.
Thankfully, my brain eventually caught up with my body.
I remembered how to brake, landed safely — and was shaking.
The guides, however, told me I had made a perfect landing.
I’ll take that.
The rest of the group came through cheering, taking pictures and recording videos. The atmosphere quickly changed from fear to pure excitement.
And then came the final cables.
One of the guides told us a story I suspect I will remember for a very long time.
He explained why parachutes are used on one of the lines.
“Because that line is too fast, so the parachute slows you down.”
That was not exactly the reassurance I was looking for.
He then told us about a couple who were taking on the final line. The boyfriend had already completed it and was waiting for his girlfriend on the other side.
Just before she launched, she asked him:
“When are you marrying me?”
He apparently gave her the answer she wanted.
She took off.
But halfway down the line, something went wrong. She let go of the cable, causing her speed to increase dramatically. The guides at the other end tried to stop her, but they couldn’t.
She collided with them before coming to a stop.
Suddenly, my decision to keep both hands firmly where they belonged seemed like an excellent one.
The R6-million Golden Gate Zipline was officially launched under the theme “Experience Golden Gate from a Perspective”, highlighting the adventure while showcasing the park’s other world-class attractions.
The zipline starts at an altitude of approximately 1,300 metres above sea level and ends at around 1,200 metres. The experience is open to visitors aged six and older, with a maximum weight limit of 120kg.
But the adventure didn’t end there.
We also got to experience horse riding through the Maluti Mountains — because, as SANParks puts it, no trip to Golden Gate Highlands National Park is complete without a horse ride in these beautiful mountains.
For a first-timer, getting on a horse can be intimidating. But once you’re up there, surrounded by the mountains and riding through the landscape, the nerves slowly disappear.
We were assured the horses were well trained, which was another welcome piece of information for someone whose relationship with horses had previously been limited to watching them from a safe distance.
The following day, it was time to leave.
Looking back, this was one of my most memorable trips — not only because of the breathtaking Maluti Mountains, the dinosaurs and the horse riding, but because I actually got on that zipline.
I arrived thinking I was going to cover a story.
I left with a story of my own.
Thank you, SANParks, for the adventure.
