Beplanningsriglyne vir buitelugrekreasie in 'n nasionale park, met spesiale verwysing na die Golden Gate Hoogland Nasionale Park

English: This study was approached from the following points of view; Natural recreation resources are being utilised by man to an increasing extent and it is expected that this utilisation will escalate in future. Due to increasing population numbers and economic development, more and more natural areas are losing their recreational value. Thus, there is a risk that the limited number of protected natural recreation resources, such as national parks, wilderness areas and other nature reserves, may become subject to over-exploitation. To prevent the latter, comprehensive planning and management of outdoor recreation in such areas is essential. To obtain the necessary perspective and insight, related literature and research results were reviewed. Both ecological and psychological principles, as well as the recreational carrying capacity of natural areas werre examined in order to lay down principles for the effective planning and management of natural areas - effective in the sense that a high-quality recreation experience can be offered to the recreationist, ànd that the natural qualities of the specific resource can be preserved. The role of the National Parks Board as supplier of recreational opportunities in South Africa was examined in order to point out shortcomings and problems in this regard. Following this, a description of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park was given - firstly with regard to the history, establishment and physical features of the Park, and secondly with regard to the infrastructure and some aspects of management in the Park. Two different questionnaires were distributed amongst the visitors to the Park for a period of 12 months in order to determine demographical data, visitor use patterns, preferences, needs and shortcomings. The one questionnaire was distributed to the general visitors, while the other questionnaire was distributed only to the users of the Rhebuck Hiking Trail. Statistics on the utilisation of the Park were also collected by using registers and reports. Some of the most important findings arising from the above-mentioned were as follows: I The Park receives an increasing number of visitors and it is expected that visitor numbers will steadily increase in future. II The most popular outdoor activities in the Park are those which are nature-orientated, while the most popular indoor activities tend to be more passive. III A number of shortcomings were found with regard to the recreation facilities of the Park. Among them are the need for better ablution facilities in the caravan park, a filtered swimming pool, better route markers along the trails as well as an interpretive trail. IV As regards the Rhebuck Hiking Trail, it was found that the route is too strenuous for the average hiker, that it is not marked clearly enough and that the map of the route is insufficient. Most hikers seemed to be satisfied with the standard of the overnight hut. There also seems to be a need for a longer hiking route in the Park. V Most visitors were of the opinion that the number of visitors to the Park should be limited during peak seasons and that further development in the Park should be undertaken only after careful consideration. Som of the most important recommendations are: i that a multi-disciplinary approach be followed whenever park planning is involved; ii that every national park should have a distinct zoning plan for outdoor recreation; iii that the National Parks Board should adopt a clear, uniform policy with regard to the provision of outdoor recreation facilities and services in the national parks, and that an infrastructure for the advancement of outdoor recreation in the national parks should be established; iv that entry gates should be constructed at the two entry points to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park; v that the caravan, camping and picnic terrains in the Park should be re-planned and that better ablution facilities should be provided; vi that a few more trails should be provided in the park, that all trails should be clearly marked and that an interpretive trail should be provided; and vii that the Rhebuck Hiking Trail should be re-planned and extended to a four-day route, with two- and three-day variations.