South Africa's Camdeboo National Park

Useful Information

History

Graaff-Reinet is the fourth-oldest town in South Africa. Founded in 1786 on the banks of the Sundays River, its cultural and historical attractions draw visitors year-round. The Camdeboo National Park, previously the Karoo Nature Reserve, surrounds the town. The Karoo Nature Reserve was established in 1979 to conserve the Karoo biome and was proclaimed as Camdeboo National Park in 2005.

The area’s history stretches millennia. It is geologically and archaeologically rich, from dolerite pillars to prehistoric fossils. Evidence of Stone Age dwellers appears along the Sundays River to the Eastern Cape coast. Nomadic people created rock paintings, shelters, and tools for hunting, fishing, and wild food harvests.

Wildlife

Animal groups here are well adapted to semi-arid conditions. The 43 mammal species include antelope like springbok and kudu, lesser mammals like vervet monkey and meerkat, and carnivores like bat-eared fox. Amphibians and reptiles are also present, though reptile prefer shade during the heat of day.

Roughly 250 bird species have been documented, including ostrich, stork, rock kestrel, Diederik cuckoo, brown-hooded kingfisher, Namaqua dove, cardinal woodpecker, speckled mousebird, long-billed crombec, and ant-eating chat. Various hawk and eagle are recorded, and water birds like flamingo occur in spring and summer. The Nqweba Dam holds fish and attracts bird and birders.

Vegetation & Terrain

The Karoo is very dry, but classified as semi-desert due to annual precipitation. Plant types vary by season and altitude. Shrubland dominates higher slopes, with grassland in valleys. Succulent thicket, including aloe, is another key type.

Over hundreds of millions of years, volcanic and erosive processes shaped the park’s geology. The Valley of Desolation’s dolerite pillars and sheer cliffs are signature features, with oddly sculpted mountains such as Spandaukop forming the Karoo silhouette.

Activities

The park’s diverse landscape offers wide-ranging activities. A drive or hike to the Valley of Desolation delivers sweeping views. Day and overnight hiking trails offer excellent wildlife viewing and scenery.

Bird watching is outstanding, especially at Nqweba Dam. The dam also suits fishing, boating, canoeing, and, weather permitting, windsurfing. Two 4x4 trails of varying difficulty traverse the park.