Golden Gate Zipline: New adventure at Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Visitors to Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa's Free State can now add a new adventure to their itinerary: the Golden Gate Zipline, a seven-cable zipline experience taking visitors across the park's spectacular mountain landscape.

The new attraction gives travellers another way to experience one of South Africa's most scenic national parks, combining an adrenaline-filled activity with views of the distinctive sandstone cliffs and surrounding highlands.

Seven zipline cables across the Golden Gate landscape

The Golden Gate Zipline consists of seven zipline cables and platforms, with the longest cable stretching approximately 650 metres.

The experience starts at an altitude of around 1,300 metres above sea level before finishing at approximately 1,200 metres. The complete adventure takes about one hour, making it relatively easy to fit into a day of sightseeing, hiking or driving through the park.

At R650 per person, the zipline provides a different perspective on Golden Gate Highlands National Park and could be particularly appealing to travellers looking to add something more active to their visit.

Who can use the Golden Gate Zipline?

The attraction is open to visitors aged 6 years and older.

There is also a maximum weight limit of 120 kg, so visitors should take this requirement into account when planning their activity.

The zipline operates daily from 09:00 to 16:00, with the last tour departing at 15:00.

A new activity for a Golden Gate itinerary

The zipline complements the park's existing attractions rather than replacing them. Golden Gate Highlands National Park is already known for its scenic drives, hiking trails and mountain landscapes, while the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre provides an additional family-friendly attraction.

For visitors staying overnight, the park's accommodation options also make it possible to combine the zipline with a longer exploration of the area rather than treating it as a short stopover.

For families, the minimum age of six also makes the attraction potentially suitable for trips with older children, subject to the weight restriction and the operator's safety requirements.

Is the Golden Gate Zipline worth adding to your trip?

If you're already visiting Golden Gate Highlands National Park, the zipline offers a relatively straightforward way to add an adventure activity to your itinerary. The seven cables, mountain setting and 650-metre longest run should make it particularly attractive to visitors who want more than scenic drives and hiking.

It also gives travellers another reason to spend time at Golden Gate Highlands National Park rather than simply passing through the park on a wider Free State and Drakensberg road trip.

Golden Gate Zipline at a glance:

• Location: Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State
• Price: R650 per person
• Duration: Approximately 1 hour
• Number of zipline cables: 7
• Longest cable: Approximately 650 metres
• Minimum age: 6 years
• Maximum weight: 120 kg
• Operating days: Daily
• Operating hours: 09:00–16:00
• Last tour: 15:00

For travellers planning a visit to Golden Gate Highlands National Park, the new zipline is therefore worth considering alongside the park's hiking trails, scenic routes and other visitor attractions. 

 

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Western Cape: The World's longest zipline opens outside Caledon! [update #3]

update (16 September 2024): K3 - the longest zipline in the world - is officially open for bookings!

update (13 September 2024): SA Forest Adventures has announced that K3 - the longest zipline in the world - has successfully completed its first test flights! Bookings for the zipiline open on 16 September 2024, at 17:00. We'll keep you posted!

update (04 September 2024): SA Forest Adventures has announced that test runs are currently underway and an opening date will be announced soon.

South African adventure company SA Forest Adventures has announced that after years of planning, and the Covid-19 pandemic, the world's longest zipline is finally set to open. The "K3" zipline, which is 3.2-kilometres long, will - weather permitting - commence operations within the next month. The "K3" zipline is located just outside Caledon in the Overberg region in South Africa's Western Cape.
Caledon is situated on the N2, about 115 kilometres by road from central Cape Town. At Caledon the N2 is met by the R316 from Arniston and Bredasdorp, and the R320 from Hermanus. It is also located on the Overberg branch railway line, 141 kilometres by rail from Cape Town station.

Once the "K3" zipline is up and running, developments on a record breaking 5 kilometres zipline might commence on the same property.

Western Cape: The World's longest zipline to open outside Caledon!

The Overberg region outside Caledon in South Africa's Western Cape will soon be home to the World's longest zipline. The new attraction will be operated by South African adventure company SA Forest Adventures and Mossel Bay Zipline, which operates the longest over-ocean zipline in the world in Mossel Bay. The installation of phase 1 of the zipline named K3 started last month. The thrilling ride will be more than 3 km in length and an estimated 500 meters from the ground at its highest point. K3 is expected to be operational later in the 2021/22 summer season. 

Once phase 1 of K3 has been succesfully opened, developments on a record breaking 5 km zipline might commence on the same property.

The Garden Route's longest and highest ziplines opens in the Garden Route National Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks) in partnership SA Forest Adventures launched
"Knysna Ziplines", the Garden Route's longest and highest zipline, on 15 September2020. Located in the Knysna Lakes section of Garden Route National Park between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, "Knysna Ziplines" offers scenic views of the Kranshoek Gorge, the ocean, fynbos and indigenous forests. The zipline, which is 2.2km in length and reaches heights of more than 200m, will start operating with four lines, increasing to six lines by the end of 2020. The official opening takes place on 18 September 2020.

"Knysna Ziplines" initially got the thumbs up to proceed with construction in 2017 but were disrupted by the 2017 Knysna fires. Work restarted in late 2018 and was completed just before COVID-19 related lockdown started in March 2020.

Garden Route: The world's longest over-ocean zipline set to open in Mossel Bay! [update]

update (24 January 2020): The Mossel Bay Zipline in Mossel Bay has started operations today!

The town Mossel Bay on South Africa's famous Garden Route is set to become home of the longest over-ocean zipline in the world. Opening in Februray 2020, the Mossel Bay Zipline will stretch about 1.1km from the St Blaize trail to the deck of The Shark Lab aquarium at the Point in Mossel Bay. According to Mossel Bay Zipline, adventurers will be able to glide "over the ocean at speeds of up to 80km/h" and will enjoy an uninterrupted views of Mossel Bay, the famous lighthouse, the cliffs, the ocean and even possibly some marine life. A ride on the zipline will initially cost R450 per person. No children under 6 years old are allowed to ride the zipline, nor are pregnant women or people heavier than the weight restriction of 120kg.

Cape Town: One of Africa’s longest & highest Ziplines has been reopened!

One of Africa's longest and highest ziplines, Cape Town Ziplines, has been reopened in Cape Town following a 19 month closure due to a legal battle. The adventure facility offers 2.3 km of slides with some being as long as 500m and some as high as 155m. The duration of the zipline tour, which also includes an exhilarating 4x4 trail up the mountain, is approximately 1:30 to 2:00 hours.  


Cape Town Ziplines forms part of SA Forest Adventures product offering. It is located on the the Silvermist Mountain Lodge Estate in Constantia, Cape Town. Cape Town Ziplines is accessible from all major transport routes including the Cape Town City Hop-on Hop-off Tour (Stop 21 Constantia Nek Wine Bus Tour Change Point, +- 300m from the stop down the Hout Bay Road on the left).

Cape Town: One of Africa's longest zipline tours to open in November 2014

One of the longest zipline tours in Africa will open its doors in Cape Town 01 November 2014. Cape Town Ziplines, located in the Silvermist Mountain Lodge Estate within the Table Mountain National Park, offers 2.3 km of slides with some being as long as 500m and some as high as 155m. The duration of the zipline tour is approximately 2hrs30; Cape Town Ziplines is open 7 days a week with tours every hour from 9:00 till 17:00 in summer. Cape Town Ziplines is a division of SA Forest Adventures.

Silvermist Mountain Lodge Estate is situated on the forested Southern slopes of Table Mountain and within the Table Mountain National Park. The estate is accessible from all mayor transport routes including the Cape Town City Hop-on Hop-off Tour (Stop 21 Constantia Nek Wine Bus Tour Change Point, +- 300m from the stop down the Hout Bay Road on the left).

Africa's longest double zipline to open near Addo (Eastern Cape)

Africa's longest double zipline will open in the Sundays River Valley near Addo, located about 1 hrs from Port Elizabeth, on 01 September 2014. The zipline runs 60m over the Sundays River, which is known to South Africa's fastest-flowing river when in flood. With a lenth of about 500m the "double zipline" flies two riders over the river at up to 60 km/h depending on your weigh. An automatic breaking system stops your motion as you approach within 40m of the end of the zipline. A ride with the zipline costs R200/person (guides & equipment included; allow 1hrs). For more info about the zipline and all other adventures offered by "Adrenalin Addo", visit their website! Enjoy!

Post by Adrenalin Addo.