This vast, dry yet beautiful landscape known as the Karoo National Park is situated in the Great Karoo and close to the Nuweveld Mountains. It was declared a national park in 1979. It now covers just under 90 000 hectares. There are 55 mammal species, 18 snake species, 5 tortoise species and more 200 bird species in the park. Mammals include black rhino, eland, red hartebeest, springbok, black wildebeest, klipspringer mountain zebra, caracal, antbear, bat eared fox etc. Accommodation offered are self-catering units or a campsite. There is a restaurant and shop at the reception area. Activities include swimming, there is a swimming pool situated at the self catering chalets, and another at the Bulkraal picnic site. A unique feature is the Fossil trail, will take you through a paved walkway with a collection of millions of years old, fossilized creatures displayed in glass cabinets. There is also a bird hide and hyena trap close to the main camp. There are also hiking trails, 4x4 trails, an Interpretive Centre displaying information and history about the park and picnic sites. Guided game drives are also available. Winters are very cold in Karoo while summers can be extremely hot. (Jan-2012).

All Year

Situated on the N1 National Road, 6km from Beaufort West town.

RESTAURANT:
Offers Breakfast : Available between 07h00-10h00.
Light Lunch: Available for takeaway until 12h00.
Dinner: Available between 18h00-21h00. (Jul-15).

ROADS:
Tarred and gravel roads. Fine for Sedan vehicles too.
Hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, as well as vehicle repair and police services in Beaufort West. Fuel available in Beaufort West.
Motorcyclists are no longer allowed to drive through the parks entrance gate and to the reception, due to the risks with the lions in the park now. (Aug-14).

SHOPS:
You can buy snacks, basic foodstuffs and curios here.

“The ancient San people had a name for the region were the Karoo National Park is situated. "Karoo" they called it in their language, "land of great thirst". They could not have described this vast, arid, stark, unforgiving and yet so awesome and dazzlingly beautiful landscape more aptly. In ancient times the "Khoi" people herding their sheep and cattle and the "San" people following their traditional nomadic pursuits of hunting and gathering, shared the "Land of great Thirst". In recent history, less then 200 years ago, vast herds of antelope and zebras roamed the rolling plains of the Great Karoo and the Karoo National Park. Old "Voortrekker" stories about herds of Springboks so large that it took them days to pass, are not uncommon. But then the first white settlers arrived and the enormous herds were slowly but surely reduced to alarmingly low levels by hunting and farming activities. a Group of people led by a local farmer named William Quinton, started campaigning during the 1950s for a conservation area in the vicinity of the town of Beaufort West. In the 1970s that the South African National Parks organization proposed the establishment of a National Park. The Town Council of Beaufort West donated 7,209 hectares of communal land, which was the start of the Karoo National Park, proclaimed in 1979.” - Chris Smit, 2009/11/24

South Africa