QwaQwa National Park National Park

Montane national park conserving high-altitude grasslands

Located in South Africa's Free State, QwaQwa National Park protects highland grasslands and rolling hills. Visitors come for guided walks, cultural tours about Basotho heritage and views across the Drakensberg foothills.

QwaQwa National Park at a Glance#

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How to Get to QwaQwa National Park#

QwaQwa lies near Phuthaditjhaba in the eastern Free State. Visitors typically drive from Bloemfontein (approx. 3-4 hours) or Bethlehem (shorter) via the R26 and regional roads-a car is the most practical way to access reserve trails and viewpoints.

Tips for Visiting QwaQwa National Park#

  • Access the park with a local guide-routes and signage within former homeland areas can be inconsistent.
  • Combine a visit with Golden Gate Highlands National Park (nearby) to see complementary landscapes-QwaQwa's cultural story ties into the Free State's broader ecology.
  • Go in late afternoon for long, warm light on the sandstone outcrops.

Best Time to Visit QwaQwa National Park#

Visit outside the winter months; spring and autumn offer temperate weather and good hiking conditions.

Southern Hemisphere summer
December-February · 15-30°C (59-86°F)
Warmer weather and green highlands-but expect occasional thunderstorms.
Autumn-spring
March-May, September-November · 5-20°C (41-68°F)
Cooler, drier conditions make for comfortable hiking and clearer visibility.

Weather & Climate near QwaQwa National Park#

Climate

QwaQwa National Park's climate is classified as Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) - Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) climate with mild summers (peaking in January) and cold winters (coldest in June). Temperatures range from 0°C to 24°C. Moderate rainfall (775 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 89 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JuneJulyAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
36°
Warmest Month
-11°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Very Good 12° - 25° 18° 126 mm partly cloudy 70% 2.4 m/s 3.0 extreme 13.6h
February Very Good 12° - 24° 18° 112 mm partly cloudy 71% 2.3 m/s 2.7 extreme 12.9h
March Very Good 11° - 23° 17° 94 mm partly cloudy 70% 2.2 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.1h
April Very Good 7° - 20° 14° 47 mm some cloud 68% 1.8 m/s 1.5 very high 11.3h
May Excellent 3° - 18° 11° 20 mm mostly sunny 61% 2.1 m/s 1.0 high 10.6h
June Excellent 0° - 15° 6° 10 mm mostly sunny 60% 2.3 m/s 0.8 moderate 10.2h
July Excellent 0° - 16° 6° 9 mm clear 55% 2.2 m/s 0.9 moderate 10.4h
August Excellent 2° - 18° 9° 23 mm mostly sunny 52% 2.5 m/s 1.2 high 11.0h
September Very Good 6° - 21° 13° 33 mm mostly sunny 48% 2.8 m/s 1.7 very high 11.8h
October Very Good 8° - 22° 15° 82 mm some cloud 56% 2.7 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.6h
November Very Good 10° - 23° 16° 107 mm partly cloudy 62% 2.8 m/s 2.7 extreme 13.4h
December Very Good 12° - 24° 18° 112 mm partly cloudy 66% 2.7 m/s 2.9 extreme 13.8h