17 things to do in the Karoo National Park

By Roxanne Reid
Out in South Africa’s dry, rugged heartland lies a wealth of wild animals, fossils and geology, a profusion of soaring cliffs and sweeping landscapes that beg to be explored. You’ll spot the entrance to this special place just off the N1, about 6km south of Beaufort West in the Karoo. Ready for an adventure? Here are my top 17 things to do in the Karoo National Park.

​1. Game drive along the Potlekkertjie Loop

Mountain zebra with her foal

Despite difficult conditions in the Karoo National Park, 60-odd mammal species live here. For your best chance of seeing some of them, self-drive the Potlekkertjie Loop, especially first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon before camp gates close. Look out for predators like African wild cat and black-backed jackal. You may even be lucky enough to see lions. These apex predators historically occurred in the area and were reintroduced to their old stomping grounds in 2010. There are also caracals here, although you’d have to be extremely lucky to see one.

Some of the most commonly spotted animals include steenbok, red hartebeest, gemsbok, kudu, eland, and Cape mountain zebra. Mountain reedbuck, and grey rhebok also make their home here.

​Or drive the 13km Lammertjiesleegte route to the east of the main rest camp, a trail that lies along open plains where the sparse vegetation makes it easy to see animals as they graze. You might meet zebra, red hartebeest, gemsbok, and springbok.

Check the sightings board for the latest sightings of animals like lions

Other good places to spot animals if you’re driving a 4x4 are the 4x4 trails, like the Afsaal, Sandrivier, Kookfontein, Nuweveld, and De Hoek loops in the western section of the park. See more about these in point 5. Staying at Afsaal Cottage or Embizweni Cottage allows you better access to some of these loops.

Pro tip: check the sightings board outside the reception/restaurant building daily for hints on where certain animals like lions have been seen recently. 

2. Go on a guided night drive

Spotted eagle-owl

Guided night drives in the park’s open 4x4 leave camp after dark, a chance to learn about the ecosystem and its inhabitants from your guide. These two-hour night drives are also excellent for spotting elusive nocturnal creatures like owls, aardwolf, aardvark, honeybadger, caracal, bat-eared fox, and brown hyena once it’s dark enough to make a spotlight effective. You may even see lions. Finding some of the more common animals like Cape mountain zebra and kudu at night also gives a different perspective on their lives once everyone else is tucked up inside the rest camp.

Ask at reception about availability, and remember that Karoo nights can be seriously cold in winter so wrap up warmly. (If you’re more of a morning person, you can join an early morning drive instead.)

3. Drive the scenic Klipspringer Pass

Approaching the top of Klipspringer Pass

Even if you’re only stopping over in the Karoo National Park for one night (as many do on a road trip between Cape Town and Johannesburg), you absolutely must drive the scenic Klipspringer Pass. It was built using the ingenious dry-stone rock-stacking manner devised by Andrew Geddes Bain in the 19th century. The steeply winding 3.2km pass was built by hand between 1988 and 1991, using some 7800 cubic metres of stone. Enjoy the twists and turns, the changing landscapes along the way. Don’t miss a stop at the Rooivalle lookout point – and the Doornhoek lookout further along on the plateau – to soak in the views and appreciate the geology of sandstone, mudstone, and dolerite pillars. See more about geology in point 10.

The pass is a good place to spot Verreaux’s eagles (which used to be called black eagles) soaring in lazy circles overhead in search of their favourite meal, the dassie or rock hyrax.​

The klipspringer is fast and agile in a rocky environment

You may also see klipspringers, which will impress you with their agility on the steep slopes. These little guys can outpace any ground predator when they’re scrambling over rocky ground. Their little pointy hooves and the way they tiptoe around let them wedge their feet into the tiniest gaps between rocks. Plus, they have grippy, rubbery stuff under their hooves that helps them not to slip on rockfaces. They have two useful tricks that come in useful in the dry Karoo. One is that they don’t need to drink water; they just munch on plants to get all the moisture they need. The other is that the hairs of their coats are hollow, which keeps them comfy whether temperatures are freezing or scorching.

4. Admire the sunsets

Sunset paints the sky over the main rest camp

Stay inside the park for your best chance to see one of the extravagant sunsets for which the Karoo is so famous. Watch the colours play across the rocks, the landscape curl up for the night in sun-painted shadows. The chalets of the main rest camp look out over the Nuweveld mountains, so sitting on your stoep with your sundowner gives you an excellent vantage point. The Afsaal and Embizweni cottages (see point 16) along 4x4 loops further north-west also give you an Imax view as the sun sets fire to the sky, with the added bonus of having the visible landscape and animals all to yourself.

5. Drive a 4x4 trail

Near the start of the Pienaar's Pass 4x4 trail

My favourite 4x4 trail in the Karoo National Park is the 6km Pienaar’s Pass route to the middle plateau, though it’s definitely not for sissies. It was the park’s first 4x4 trail and has an interesting history.

It was built by farmer Kowie Pienaar and four farm workers in the 1940s and 50s. Oom Kowie farmed at Stolshoek, the original farmhouse next to what is today the Ou Schuur Interpretive Centre (see point 9). He was a tough old nut, but sick and tired of having to take a three-day horseback ride from the main farm to check on his stock on the middle plateau in the Nuweveld mountains. So he decided to build his own road. It took ten years and a fair amount of dynamite to achieve. The story goes that he was a bit of a penny-pincher, so he used to set the dynamite on short charges then reverse like greased lightning back down the pass before they exploded. Brave man.

It’s a very steep, narrow and rough pass, with sharp fall-aways on one side so definitely not for beginners or people who are afraid of narrow ledges or heights. You need to get a permit from reception to do this trail, and it will cost you R384 per vehicle (July 2025 price). It spits you out just above the curls and twists of the Klipspringer Pass (see point 3), so you can either turn left and back to camp down the Pass or turn right and continue towards the Doornhoek picnic site (see point 14) and Potlekkertjie Loop (see point 1).

Other 4x4 trails in the park include the Afsaal Loop (about 13km, 1 hour) and the Nuweveld Loop (52km,3-4 hours), both of which branch off from the Potlekkertjie Loop. The De Hoek Loop (12.5km, 45min) branches off the Nuweveld Loop and is a good route to follow if you’re booked at the free-standing Embizweni Cottage. The Kookfontein Loop (7km, 30min) and Sandrivier Loop (7km, 30min) are two other options. Staying at Afsaal Cottage (a lovely little converted shepherd’s hut, see point 16) on Afsaal Loop, or Embizweni Cottage on the De Hoek Loop gives you better access to these 4x4 loops. There are some waterholes along the way and we’ve seen eland and lion in this section of the park, not to mention an abundance of Cape mountain zebra, springbok, kudu, eland, gemsbok, and red hartebeest.

These loops aren’t highly technical routes but you do need to take it slowly, have high clearance and 4x4 for sandy areas, rocky sections and riverbed crossings. You don’t need to book or pay a fee to do these trails, but I’d advise you to check with reception before you leave about conditions along the way.

6. Explore the Fossil Trail

The Fossil Trail is an informative look into the Karoo's ancient past

Walk the 400m Fossil Trail in the main rest camp to see fossil fragments, even entire skeletons turned to stone. Info boards about the geology and palaeontology of the area pack in the facts and show what the Karoo Basin looked like when it was still a swamp. You’ll meet some creatures who lived here 255 million years ago, from small insect-eating hunters like modern-day lizards or shrews to terrifying gorgonopsians. These were the super-predators of the Late Permian Period and the first carnivores to actively chase down their dinner and kill with sabre-like fangs. Bonus point? The trail is wheelchair friendly.

Read more about how to become a fossil

7. Wander along the Bossie Trail

Moraea polystachya flourishes in the Karoo's difficult conditions

Explore the 800m Bossie Trail at the main rest camp to learn about the Karoo’s rich diversity of succulents and other plants, such as aloes, crassulas, the spiny klapperbossie, num-num, Karoo violet, and boegoekaroo. The Karoo National Park incorporates both the Nama-Karoo and Grassland biomes. The short walk up the trail provides you with lots of info and some exceptional views back over the main rest camp towards the Nuweveld mountains. 

8. Go mountain biking
Got your mountain bike with you and feel like squeezing in a quick ride? Tackle the 2.7km Sylvester single track MTB route. It’s right in the main rest camp, which is cordoned off by an electric fence to keep you safe from the likes of lions. Just a heads-up: it’s only for overnight guests, so day visitors will have to sit this one out.

The trail is named after Sylvester the lion, a bit of a legend around these parts. He pulled off not one, but two great escapes from the park in 2015, keeping rangers on their toes as he roamed the surrounding veld. In 2016, they moved him to Addo Elephant National Park, where he finally gave up the jailbreak life and settled down for good.

You can read all about Sylvester’s extraordinary story at the Ou Schuur Interpretive Centre (see point 9).

9. Visit the Ou Schuur Interpretive Centre

One of the displays at the Ou Schuur Interpretive Centre

Spend some time at the Ou Schuur Interpretive Centre near the campsite to learn about the history, people, plants, geology, ancient and modern animals of the area. Leave your car in the parking area then walk across a wooden suspension bridge to get there.

There are taxidermy specimens of bat-eared fox, black eagle, riverine rabbit (the only one you’re likely to see in the park, they’re so rare) and caracal as part of an exhibit about diversity in the Karoo. There’s also info about rock art and the food that early people ate. And Sylvester the jailbreak lion (see point 8) has his own storyboard.

I particularly like the room with photos and living memories of people who grew up in the 1940s and 50s in the area that is now the park. There are also some old bits of farm equipment outside. And don’t miss the info boards outside; find fascinating tidbits like that studies have found some 65 species of ant in the park.

10. Read stories in the rocks

Rooivalle on Klipspringer Pass is a good place to appreciate the rock formations

Here in the Karoo, it’s no surprise that geology – the rock formations, mountains and landscape – takes centre stage. The park stands on rocks of the Beaufort Group, which date back to the Permian Period some 255 million years ago. You’ll see mudstone, sandstone and dolerite sills and dykes. Take a drive along the Klipspringer Pass (see point 3) and stop at the Rooivalle lookout to appreciate their beauty, and see how erosion has sculpted the rocks and koppies. Or drive along one of the 4x4 trails to appreciate the middle and upper plateaus of the mountains (see point 5).

11. Go birding

The endemic Karoo korhaan blends into its background - until it opens its mouth!

Visit the bird hide at the small dam near the main rest camp to see water birds, sometimes including dabchicks, herons and red-knobbed coots in a frenzy of nest building, as well as weavers and red bishops. Sadly, vegetation has encroached on the views from the hide in recent years but it’s still worth a visit for keen birders.

The park has more than 200 species of birds, including African rock pipit, longbilled lark, short-toed rock thrush, and Layard’s titbabbler. It’s also a haven for endemics like Karoo lark, red lark, Sclater’s lark, Karoo eremomela, cinnamon-breasted warbler, and Namaqua warbler. A walk around the rest camp or campsite can be rewarding for smaller species. Bigger birds you might spot on your drives around the park include Karoo korhaan (their sound epitomising the call of the Karoo), kori bustard (the largest flying bird in the country), and Verreaux’s eagle. Look for breeding pairs of these eagles along the cliffs. We’ve often seen them in the Klipspringer Pass area.

If you’d like to combine your love of birding with a little healthy competition in support of a good cause, join the SANParks Honorary Rangers’ Birding Weekend in the park in October. The annual event can be a lot of fun, with great prizes to be won, all while raising funds that go towards conserving this special birding destination. To find out more and book your place for this year, email Japie Claassen on [email protected]

12. Meet the Karoo tortoises

Leopard tortoise in the campsite

The Karoo National Park is home to five tortoise species, which is the highest density of species for any equivalent area in the world.

The leopard tortoise is South Africa’s largest tortoise species, growing up to 60cm long. It’s the one you’re most likely to spot in the park, perhaps even in the campsite. The much smaller tent tortoise loves to chomp on mesembryanthemums and other Karoo succulents that occur in its semi-arid habitat.

The tiny Karoo dwarf tortoise (also known as the Karoo padloper) only occurs in the Great Karoo, while the angulate tortoise is a feisty tortoise wrestler. Males use their extended gular shield – a projection under their chin – to engage in combat, flipping rivals onto their backs during territorial or mating disputes.

​The greater padloper also lives in the park. Despite its name and the fact that it’s the largest of the Homopus tortoises, it’s not exactly a giant, averaging just over 10cm long.

PS: the park is also home to 59 reptile species and eight amphibian species.

13. Gaze at the stars
Revel in an evening of stargazing here in the Karoo, where the skies are dark and the air clean. Walk away from the lights and buildings in the main rest camp or campsite and look up to appreciate the star-freckled sky, especially on nights with no moon. Even better, book a stay at Afsaal or Embizweni cottages (see point 16) to get further away from light pollution and enjoy your stargazing in solitude and silence. Magical.

14. Pack a picnic

Doornhoek picnic site is a shady area along the Potlekkertjie Loop

Stop at Doornhoek picnic site on the Potlekkertjie Loop or Bulkraal on the Lammertjiesleegte route for your morning coffee and rusks, a picnic or braai. We love the Doornkraal picnic site as a welcome pitstop on an extended drive from the Klipspringer Pass and then down the Potlekkertjie Loop. There are braai grids, picnic tables and benches, and clean toilets at both picnic sites. The Bulkraal picnic site doubles as the day visitor area and also has a swimming pool. It can get very busy on summer weekends so visitor numbers may be capped; you need to get there early. By contrast, we’ve sometimes been to the Doornhoek picnic site to find ourselves the only people there for anything but a quick toilet stop.

15. Cool off in the pool

The swimming pool at the main rest camp, Karoo National Park

Bulkraal picnic site on the Lammerjiesleegte route north-east of reception has a pool, perfect for cooling off on hot summer days. There’s also a lovely swimming pool at the main rest camp, beyond cottage 28 at the top of the hill. This pool is for residents only, unlike the Bulkraal pool, which is open to day visitors as well. And yes, ‘residents’ includes campers although it’s a bit of a longer schlep for campers to get there.

16. Stay at Afsaal Cottage

Afsaal Cottage, a converted shepherd's hut, has its own waterhole

I love the Karoo National Park’s cottages at the main rest camp. They have everything you need, including a stoep with great views of the Nuweveld mountains. But if you have a 4x4 vehicle, a fabulous choice for something different – and much more private and therefore tranquil – is to book a night or two at Afsaal Cottage, about 35km from the main rest camp.

This renovated old shepherd’s hut on the Afsaal 4x4 route accommodates two adults (and two kids at a push, but once the camp beds are set up there wouldn’t be much room to move around). A small waterhole is lit up at night so you can enjoy 24-hour game viewing from your verandah. The cottage is rustic, with a braai unit, solar lights, a gas fridge, gas burners for cooking on the stoep, all the crockery, cutlery, glassware, and pots you need. You have to go outside to a separate flush toilet at the back and there’s a gas geyser for hot-water showers. A steep climb up some wooden stairs gives you access to a small platform from where you can watch the waterhole and enjoy the stars. There’s no cellphone reception; rather kick back and enjoy a braai, watching wildlife, and some stargazing (see point 13).

If you’re a bigger group of six or seven people, you can get a similar off-the-grid experience by booking the Embizweni Cottage on the De Hoek Loop of the Nuweveld 4x4 trail about 50km from the main rest camp. There’s only one bathroom, but two bedrooms – one with a double bed, the other with a double bed and single sleeper couch. There’s a double sleeper couch in the lounge. Like Afsaal, Embizweni has a private waterhole.

You need to book a minimum of two nights at either of these cottages. Book through the park’s reception, tel 023 415-2828, not SANParks Central Reservations.

​17. Relax at a really nice campsite 

Campsites with shade trees at Karoo National Park (photo: SANParks)

Pitch your tent at a really pleasant campsite, with spotless ablutions, paved or gravel sites with shade trees, braai unit, and lots of birds like mountain wheatear, Karoo scrub-robin and lesser double-collared sunbird to keep you from getting bored. You may even get a visit from a couple of leopard tortoises. For a full list of Karoo National Park accommodation options, see my Karoo National Park guide here.

You can book for both the main rest camp and the campsites through SANParks Central Reservations, tel (012) 428-9111, email [email protected]

Best time to visit the Karoo National Park
The Karoo National Park is a land of extremes. Whether you’re a fan of scorching heat, freezing cold, or something in the middle, it’s all here and it’s up to you what you can handle. Summers (October to March) can get crazy hot, hitting up to 40°C or a little more. Sometimes a thunderstorm rolls in to cool things off a bit, but don’t count on it too much. The place only gets around 220mm of rain a year, so it’s pretty dry.

The park is particularly beautiful in August/September when it bursts into bloom

Winter is a very different story. June and July can be freezing cold, with temperatures dropping below zero. You might even get some snow dusting the mountain tops. And the cold winds in winter are no joke, with June, July and August being the windiest months. Beaufort West, just next door, holds the South African wind speed record of 186km/h.

Our personal favourite times to visit are autumn (April/May) and spring (August and especially September). An added bonus in spring is a profusion of wild flowers. If you choose to visit during the depth of winter or in high summer – and we have – just remember to pack appropriately for the conditions. Think warm hats, scarves, jackets, and gloves in winter, and lots of water, sunscreen, shorts, T-shirts, swimming cozzies, and perhaps an ice towel in summer.


For more about the nitty-gritties of this lovely park, see my post Karoo National Park: everything you need to know.

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