Karoo National Park

Karoo National Park is situated about 500 km (311 miles) north of Cape Town, a 1000 km (621 miles) south of Johannesburg and a mere 10 km (6 miles) from the scenic town of Beaufort West. Located near the N1 highway between Cape Town and the hinterland, Karoo National Park is part of the largest ecosystem in South Africa, the Great Karoo. The Park is accessible to transport, just 10 km from both Beaufort West and the airport off the main highway-N1. The Park has an annual rainfall of about 260 mm. The plains are hot in summer and snow on the Nuweveld Mountains marks the arrival of the winter season. The vegetation, comprising of Montane Karoo grassy shrublands, Karoo grassy dwarf shrublands, Karoo succulent dwarf shrublands and Riparian Thicket falls within the Karoo-Namib biogeographical area. This is home to the once extinct Quagga (a Zebra sub-species), Cape Mountain Zebra, Springbok (present in large numbers, making it the Park's symbol). The Quagga attracts a lot of attention with its bold stripes, which establish its uniqueness from the Zebra. You can also witness a variety of mammals at the Park. Overview of Karoo National Park Towering mountains with magnificent scenic views and rolling plains, where Kudus, Zebras, Springboks, Elands, Wildbeest, reptiles (and other nocturnal animals), a wide range of birdlife, roam wild and free, welcome you to the Karoo National Park. The Park, part of the largest ecosystem in South Africa, Great Karoo, is a bird-watcher's paradise, as you can witness about 200 species of birds from the hide on the damn, where they touch down to quench their thirst from the hot semi-desert conditions of this 'land of great thirst'.Hiking and 4x4 trails take you closer to the wondeful wilderness, reminding you of ancient times, when large mammals and amphibians used to roar and roam, crouch and crawl, thudding their massive feet on the same ground you are stepping on. Their history is inscribed in the rock strata and fossils that you will find in the Park. This is a true adventure.