Located 165 mi/265 km south of Johannesburg, the lovely but out-of-the-way Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa has antelope and lots of birds, including the rare bearded vulture and the bald ibis.
But the main attraction is the scenery: beautiful, multicolored sandstone cliffs. Caves in the sandstone rocks have well-preserved San paintings.
Also within the park is the Basotho Cultural Village, where you can learn about traditional music, food (and beer), handicrafts and more. Plan an overnight in the park or in the neighboring village of Clarens, a well-established artists' retreat with gorgeous galleries, craft shops and cafes.
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