Overview–southafrica

Karoo National Park

The Great Karoo, the largest ecosystem in South Africa, doesn’t appear to be anything more than vast nothingness to people driving between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Most of the wildlife that once roamed here has been eradicated, but Karoo National Park is a relatively small area where this unique habitat and its animals are protected.

Best Time to Visit

With Karoo NP’s arid to semi-arid climate, wildlife viewing isn’t much influenced by the seasons. Summer and winter have extreme temperatures, so the best time to visit is in spring (August, September) and autumn (April, May) when the days are not too hot, and the nights are mild. Blooming flowers make spring a particularly attractive time.

May to September –Dry Season – Winter

Great time for wildlife viewing
Daytime temperatures are pleasant
Spring flowers in August and September
Morning and night temperatures are cold and warm clothing is necessary
The sky is hazy with a lot of dust in the air

October to April –Wet Season – Summer

Beautiful landscapes with clear skies
Newborn animals can be found
Migrant birds are present
Daytime heat can be intolerable

Scenery

Karoo National Park is dominated by the Nuweveld Mountains and rolling plains. The scenery looks harsh in the midday sun but, towards late afternoon, the subtleties of the landscape reveal themselves when the shadows add detail and the pastel colors soften the empty environment.

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May

Aug

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Jun

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Oct

Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: Aug, Sept, April, May (Mild weather)

High Season

From: Never (The park never gets crowded)

Size

From: 831km² / 321mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Lion and black rhino have been re-introduced, but as large parts of the park are inaccessible, sightings of these animals are unlikely. Although wildlife viewing is mostly low-key, a good variety of antelope species can be seen, including springbok, gemsbok, eland, red hartebeest, and klipspringer. Also, keep your eyes open for tortoises; five different species are present.

Wildlife Highlights

Two types of zebra are found in the park: the common Burchell's zebra and the rare endemic Cape mountain zebra. The localized black wildebeest is a common companion to the zebras as both like to eat the same grass. The bat-eared fox is one of the small predators to look out for. Groups of suricate can be seen scanning the surroundings by standing on their hind feet before diving into their burrows.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in Karoo National Park is comparable throughout the year, but since the heat of the summer months (October to April) can be unbearable, the best time to visit is in the cooler winter months (May to September).

General Wheather

Located in an arid to semi-arid desert area, Karoo National Park is prone to wide variations in temperature and little to no rainfall. The park receives an average rainfall of 220mm/78in per year and is subject to periods of drought.

Although the annual average minimum and maximum temperatures are 9°C/48°F and 24°C/75°F respectively, the climate is one of extremes. Temperatures range from −15°C/−27°F on the plateau in winter to over 40°C/104°F on the plains in summer.

Winter –May to September

Winter is a time of relative drought. The nights tend to be very cold, and frost is common. It is essential to bring warm clothes. Days aren’t very warm, but it’s pleasant in the sun.

May – Average temperatures of 6°C/43°F in the morning and 20°C/68°F in the afternoon are a sign that summer is over.
June, July & August – Afternoons are mild and sunny, with an average temperature of 18°C/64°F. Nights and early mornings, however, are very cold and average just 3°C/37°F. It is essential to bring warm clothing for morning activities.
September – Warmer temperatures of 22°C/72°F in the afternoons are typical. Mornings hover at around 5°C/41°F.

Summer –October to April

Summer is characterized by intense heat, and although it is the Wet season, humidity is still low. Rain usually comes in the form of dramatic storms. Average daytime temperatures are around 27°C/81°F, but can easily peak to 40°C/104°F and higher.

October & November – It gets warmer, and rain might occur, but long periods of drought are still common. When it rains, it’s usually in the form of a storm. Temperatures are between 10°C/50°F in the morning and 26°C/79°F in the afternoon.
December, January & February – With average temperatures of 29°C/84°F (and possible peak temperatures climbing much higher), these are the hottest months. Early mornings are cool with temperatures around 15°C/59°F. Occasional showers bring a welcome break from the heat.
March & April – Daytime temperatures are cooler, with an average of 25°C/77°F. Nights are pleasant at about 12°C/54°F. March is the wettest month, but the little rain that does fall rapidly decreases in April.

Prons

Dramatic, rugged landscape
Excellent birding including Karoo specials
Very rich reptilian fauna, including five tortoise species
Fossil trail depicting geology and paleontology of the Great Karoo
Night drives and guided walks are available
Scenic drives for all vehicles and dedicated 4x4 tracks are available
Convenient stopover between Johannesburg and Cape Town
Self-catering accommodation and restaurant

Cons

Not many typical safari animals present
Far away from South Africa's main tourist attractions
Very hot conditions and harsh environment

How To Get There

Most visitors to Karoo National Park fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town.

The park is located 12km/7mi outside the town of Beaufort West on the N1 highway between Johannesburg and Cape Town and is primarily visited as a stopover on a self-drive trip. The distance from Johannesburg is approximately 1,000km/622mi, while it's 500km/310mi from Cape Town. A normal car can be used to visit the park, but many tracks are limited to 4x4 only.

The closest airport is George Airport (GRJ), approximately 250km/155mi from the park. The drive takes about 3 hours. Car rental is also available in George.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

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