South Africa's Tankwa Karoo National Park

Useful Information

History

It is hard to believe that the Great Karoo once overflowed with water. Carbon dating and archaeological evidence indicate that this area was a vast inland sea hundreds of millions of years ago. Tankwa Karoo National Park was proclaimed in 1986 and added to the South African National Parks portfolio. The conservation area grew from about 27,064 hectares to roughly 146,373 hectares through subsequent land additions. The Bushmen first inhabited it, followed by Khoe pastoralists who moved livestock with wildlife migrations.

In the 1700s, Trekboer settlers began using the area for grazing, though the arid land proved challenging for cattle. Overgrazing damaged the soil, and the park was initially closed to the public. Since proclamation, conservation of endemic fauna and flora has been the main focus. South African National Parks prioritized the area by acquiring high-biodiversity land and surrounding farms to enlarge the conservation area to its current extent.

Wildlife

Smaller mammals, such as the steenbok and klipspringer, and larger antelope, including Cape mountain zebra, grey rhebok, kudu, springbok, and eland, reside in the park and are most common in the eastern reaches. Various antelope species were reintroduced to restore the natural ecology, and some animals — including gemsbok, red hartebeest, and springbok — were fitted with radio collars to monitor movements.

The reintroduction program started in June 2004 with Cape mountain zebra, gemsbok, red hartebeest, and springbok, with further springbok and eland added between 2010 and 2012. An aerial game census in 2013 indicated that animals had reproduced and spread across the park. You might even spot the elusive leopard. Over 180 bird species frequent the region; birders should also watch for Verreaux’s eagle.

Vegetation & Terrain

Tankwa Karoo National Park is situated in the Great Karoo, a vast semidesert that receives too much rainfall to be a true desert. It falls within the Succulent Karoo Biodiversity Hotspot, one of the world’s richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant life, and is home to exceptionally diverse succulent flora.

Vegetation types include the Central Tanqua Grassy Plain, Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld, Tanqua Escarpment, Succulent Karoo, Roggeveld Karoo, Tanqua Wash Rivers, and Nieuwoudtville Roggeveld Dolerite Renosterveld. Approximately 1,500 plant species occur only in the Succulent Karoo biome, and the display after seasonal rains draws many visitors.

Activities

The self-drive game drive is the most common activity in Tankwa Karoo National Park, letting you observe animals, bird species, and plants at your own pace. Collect a current species list at reception to know what to look for. Two 4x4 routes — the Leeuberg 4x4 Eco-trail and the Watervlei 4x4 Route — are available; other off-road tracks should be attempted only by experienced drivers. Gannaga Pass and Elandsberg viewpoints are easily accessible.

Bird watching is popular, with the annual Tankwa Birding Bonanza held in April. Oudebaaskraal Dam is a favored spot for waterfowl. Altogether, around 187 bird species are recorded, with several endemics, so pack binoculars. Hiking and cycling are permitted but not on marked trails; exercise caution and keep to roads for safety. The vast landscape offers excellent photographic prospects.