There are many ways to discover the scrubland charm of the Karoo National Park. Home to many species of birds and antelope, the park also features plant life that provides a unique backdrop for an unforgettable desert stay.
For many years, the Karoo has been a thoroughfare for travelers between Johannesburg and Cape Town. These days, the allure of the distinctive Karoo National Park – a short drive from the hub of Beaufort West – is proving to be strong enough to encourage many to spend more time in the area.
One of the reasons may be that the sparse vegetation makes game spotting relatively easy – and there is a lot of game to see! From the tiniest elephant shrews, to suricate, rock hyrax and riverine rabbit, to bigger antelope like kudu, gemsbok and eland, the Karoo National Park is an amazing place to see a huge range of animals. A good day will have you spotting some of the park’s more camera-shy residents, like the brown hyena and aardvark.
From the hide at the rest camp, bird lovers also have the chance to add some local species to their lists, including Karoo Eremomela, Namaqua Warbler (Prinia) and Pririt Batis.
If you’re looking for a short, but rewarding activity, take a walk along the Fossil Trail where the fossilized remains of some of the 26 000 mammal-like reptiles can be seen.
For adventure lovers, Karoo National Park has four 4×4 Eco trails, one of which – Pienaars Pass – was ten years in the making and was a first for SANParks. Most trails can be done in a day, but the 91km Nuweveld Trail can be split over two days with an overnight stop at the off-the-grid Embizweni Cottage, which sleeps seven.
There are also guided game drives on offer, including a 2–3-hour morning drive and a 90 minute night drive.
And nighttime is when Karoo National Park really shines – literally! Because of its remote location, there is little to no light pollution, providing an excellent opportunity for stargazing. The silence, and the wide-open spaces really lend this landscape an ethereal edge.
Accommodation options include fully serviced chalets, cottages, and family units, all of which include breakfast. For those wanting to camp, all 24 camping and caravan sites come equipped with power, communal ablutions, and fully equipped kitchen facilities. Afsaal Cottage is a rustic off-the-grid option for four people but can only be accessed by 4×4 vehicles.
- Eco-friendly 4x4 trails offer different levels of off-road challenges
- The solitude, the silence, and the unmatched stargazing
- Self-drive or guided game drive available
- The park forms part of the Great Karoo, which is home to the world’s richest diversity of desert flora
- You can find five tortoise and one terrapin species in the park
- The park is home to 22 breeding pairs of black eagles - the highest concentration in South Africa
- Be sure to check availability of the 4x4 trails, some are closed periodically.
- The 400m Fossil Trail walk is wheelchair friendly
- Pack comfortable shoes for walking inside the rest camp
