When you visit the park you will see mountain zebra, oryx, common eland, red hartebeest, kudu, ostriche, springbok and with a bit luck the elusive black rhino and lions. The nuweveld portion of the great escarpment runs through the park. Philip is the author of the bradt and insight guides to south africa. Another park better known for its scenery than its wildlife, karoo national park lies in the semiarid western cape interior. His enthusiasm was rooted in the fact that in centuries past the karoo was home to millions of. His enthusiasm was rooted in the fact that in centuries past the karoo was home to millions of plains game, especially vast herds of springbok. A vast and rugged landscape, the great karoo is one of the largest natural ecosystems in south africa. Tankwa karoo national park accommodation online bookings. With 2 listings in karoo national park, our handy karoo national park map search and great low prices, its easy to book the perfect holiday accommodation for. Karoo national park beaufort west 2020 all you need to. There are a variety of activities available to guests in the park. Being the largest ecosystem in south africa, the karoo is home to a fascinating diversity of life, all having adapted to survive in these harsh conditions. Best viewing is achieved on the km lammertjiesleegte route on the plains. Approximately 63 species of mammals and 204 species of birdlife including many karoo specials can be.
With an average rainfall of 80mm a year, even a scant shower is reason for celebration. After a hectic 15 day road trip to mozambique we spent our last night at karoo national park before reaching home in cape town. If you dont book a flexible rate, you may not be entitled to a refund. It is sure to keep you entertained and leave you with a. The karoo national park was proclaimed in 1979 to protect a typical sample of this fascinating arid region. Cambridge core ecology and conservation national park science by jane carruthers. Karoo national park is a convenient stopover on the n1 route between cape town and johannesburg. Karoo national park has a very rich reptilian fauna.
We recommend booking an option with free cancellation in case your travel plans change. The fossil trail is accessible to wheelchair users. Named after the tankwa river that runs through the park as the main water provider in an otherwise. A view from the top of the great escarpment in the karoo national park near. The book is packed with personal conversations that the author had in his travels, as well as facts and information that he gleaned in his travels. Guests arriving at the karoo national park just outside of beaufort west do so generally with one thing in mind. Camping the karoo national park has a really nice campsite at the main rest camp, with grassed sites that are big enough for caravans or motor homes.
During the late 1950s a local farmer and avid birder, william quinton, campaigned for a conservation area in the beaufort west vicinity. You need to book a minimum of two nights here, and must book through the park s reception, tel 023 4152828 not sanparks central reservations. The karoo national park a hidden gem why the karoo national park is a must visit. Tankwa karoo national park south african national parks. Info boards about the geology and palaeontology of the area pack in the facts and show what the karoo basin looked like when it was still a swamp. Sanparks karoo national park public group facebook. It has a bird list of over 200 species with many karoo specials. Shop where curios and basic commodities may be purchased. The karoo national park, founded in 1979, is a wildlife reserve in the great karoo area of the western cape, south africa near beaufort west. The roads are all gravel and dirt and there is no fuel in the park, so prepare accordingly. For the karoo national park, he dives into the ancient fossil records as well as the human history of the region. Gannaga lodge is situated in 20 hectares of its own ground within the tankwa national park. We stayed in one of the family cottages which was well equipped and can comfortably sleep 6 people. Karoo national park is well over 200,000 acres in size, and provides the discerning visitor with the opportunity to discover the fragile, harsh, unrelenting, yet hauntingly beautiful karoo that has survived for millennia.
The great karoo is a vast and unforgiving landscape and being the largest ecosystem in south africa, it is home to a fascinating diversity of life, all having adapted to survive in these harsh conditions. The great karoo is a vast and unforgiving landscape. Because of the sparse vegetation game viewing in the karoo national park is easily facilitated. Karoo national park is dominated by the lofty nuweveld mountains. Experience wide open spaces and peaceful tranquility. Of particular significance are the 5 species of tortoise. Karoo national park was proclaimed in 1979 and is situated on the n1 route, 500km from cape town and 1 000km south of johannesburg. Explore the 400m fossil trail in the main rest camp to see fossil fragments, even entire skeletons turned to stone. Tankwa karoo national park is a national park in south africa. The karoo national park is a convenient stopover on the n1 route between cape town and the interior of the country. However there is also a terrapin, an agama, 2 chameleons, a monitor, 18 snakes and several geckos, skinks and lizards. The karoo national park had its origins as far back as the 1950s when local farmer william quinton was active in promoting the idea of a conservation area in the beaufort west area. The karoo national park is one of the top south african travel destinations.
Explore the list of top ranked local tour guides in tankwa karoo national park. The park has a high concentration of verreauxs eagle. Having stayed at several sanpark establishments throughout the country, i have to say that karoo was the nicest of all. The tankwa karoo national park requires guests to drive high vehicles with tough tyres. The park lies about 70 km due west of sutherland near the border of the northern cape and western cape, in one of the most arid regions of south africa, with areas receiving less than 100 mm of average annual precipitation, moisturebearing clouds from the atlantic ocean being largely stopped by the cederberg mountains. Karoo national park south african national parks sanparks.
Many visitors to the park go there by car as this allows them the freedom to explore the park at their own leisure. The 80 000 hectare tankwa karoo national park was proclaimed in 1986. Eight cape dutch style family units, each with two bedrooms six beds in total, en suite bathrooms bath and shower, dstv limited channels, and fully equipped kitchen. The area once lay below a large inland sea, and it is renowned for its wealth of fossils dating back over 50 million years, some of the most interesting of which are displayed on the short and enjoyable fossil trail near the main rest camp. African sky offers safaris and tours which travel to the karoo national park in south africa. The karoo national park exceeded all my expectations, from the rest camp and accommodation to the wildlife sightings, picnic areas and overall natural beauty of the park. Tankwa karoo national park view availability and rates. Tankwa is found in the south west northern cape and the park has no formal gate times, but there are certain times of the year when guests are not permitted to enter. We, and third parties, use cookies for technical and analytical purposes, for marketing purposes and. The park is situated 949km southwest of johannesburg, 462km northeast of cape town and 241km north of george. The interpretive centre karoo national park youtube. Beaufort west offers its residents, visitors and tourists a variety of activities, services and accommodation. Karoo national park beaufort west 2020 all you need to know.
The karoo national park provides critical habitat for a number of karoo endemic birds, larger terrestrial species and raptors. Karoo national park is located in the western cape province near beaufort west. While tankwa karoo national park is still in a developmental and land consolidation phase, expanding from the original 26,000 hectares in 1986 to nearly 111,000 ha in 2007, it is the ideal destination for those seeking the brightest stars in africa, a once in a lifetime glimpse of a rare endemic bird or perhaps nothing more than a silence that reaches deep into the soul. Get tour activities offered by tour companies and independent travel guides in tankwa karoo national park. The karoo national park s biodiversity is huge, and this relatively small area 77 000 hectares, is home to some amazing creatures. Karoo national park a good place to visit for a 3 or 4 day break. The interpretive centre is a treasure trove of information about the history, cultural heritage and ecosystems of the karoo national park. Karoo national park is one of the best birding spots in the greater karoo. If you are looking for karoo national park holiday accommodation, safarinow has a selection of selfcatering, safari package, package deals holiday accommodation in karoo national park and surrounds. The karoo national park is one of the most interesting and fascinating national parks that can be found in south africa, if not the world. An elephantine ecosystem and home to a collection of fossils dating back millions of years, the karoo park plays host to fascinating cross section of specially adapted species, capable of surviving the areas harsh climate. Visit the karoo national park, sheep farm, or book a few nights at a guest farm to enjoy the lifestyle of a bygone era, or just overnight in the town. The karoo national park incorporates both the namakaroo and grassland biomes.
Each chapter appears to have its own incredible and unique story. Lying between the cederberg mountains and the great karoo escarpment, it incorporates. The karoo national park, founded in 1979, is a wildlife reserve in the great karoo area of. The great karoo is a vast and unforgiving landscape of which the karoo national park is but a small portion. The karoo national park is situated close to the n1 highway between cape town and the hinterland, approximately km south of johannesburg and 500 km north of cape town. After the occasional shower, the park erupts into a dazzling display of flowering succulents. It is located in the roggeveld karoo, in some of the most spectacular countryside in the northern cape, at the summit of the breathtaking gannaga pass the lodge lies 28 kilometres from middelpos on the dirt road between there and ceres. The karoo national park, founded in 1979, is a wildlife reserve in the great karoo area of the. Karoo national park sa parks south african national.
If you book into the park accommodation, it is included. This semidesert area covers an area of 750 square kilometres 290 sq mi. During the late 1950s a local farmer and twitcher william quinton campaigned for a conservation area in the. Food and water is very scarce in the semidesert of karoo national park, but nevertheless there are many animals who survive. However, should look to include black wildebeest and. Take a closer look at the unique geology and learn about the regions prehistoric history. Ive twice visited karroo national park and have thoroughly. William joseph moores father, william moore snr, was born in buckinghamshire in england and married ann dove in 1792. History willowmore was established on the farm, the willows, owned by william moore, as a trading centre in 1864 and was first named willowmoore. The karoo is a semi desert natural region of south africa. I always enjoy going to the karoo national park as the one and only camp is so well.
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