- Noord-Kaap
- Hantam Platteland
- Tankwa Karoo National Park
Tankwa Karoo National Park, Hantam Platteland, Noord-Kaap
Space, Solitude & Tranquility
Tankwa Karoo National Park is situated close to the towns of Ceres, Calvinia and Sutherland, and is only four hours from Cape Town . The 140 600 hectares of Karoo veld, that is the Tankwa National Park, overlaps the Western Cape and Northern Cape boundaries, but with most of the Park lying within the Northern Cape Province.
This South African Reserve offers a unique destination for lovers of nature and beautiful landscapes. The soulful Karoo is well-known for travelers seeking peace and tranquility within beautiful surroundings and here you will not be disappointed. The Park, particularly in flower season is a visual delight, but this is not all it has on offer. It is a popular stopover for bird lovers who are searching for at least 18 rare Karoo endemics. There is also an abundance of reptile and invertebrate species to look out for. The park falls within the Succulent Karoo Biome, one of only 25 hotspots for both diverse plant and animal life found on earth.
Antelope such as Gemsbok and Red Hatrbeespoort share the wide open space of the Karoo land with the Mongoose and Tortoise. The landscape continues to offer something new to see, even though you have seen it a hundred times before and remains one of the Parks main features.
There are unfortunately no hiking or biking trails currently in the Park, but overnight visitors can make use of marked roads within the immediate vicinity of their booked accommodation. Day visitors are not allowed to exit their vehicles except at the two viewpoints. The park has a number of off-road tracks as well as two major 4x4 Routes for the more advanced enthusiasts.
Things to do and see
- Watervlei 4x4 Route
- Leeuberg 4x4 Eco-Trail
- Bird Watching
- Self-drive Game Viewing
- Gannaga Pass Viewpoint
- Elandsberg Viewpoint
- Stargazing
- Annual Tankwa Birding Bonanza – held in April where birders, beginners and experts have a friendly competition.
- Self-catering Accommodation
Admission
Day visitor admission fees range from R17 to R136 per person. Prices are subject to change, please contact the park directly to confirm all costs.
Gate Times
Monday to Thursday, 07h30 – 17h00
Friday, 07h30 – 21h00
Saturday, 07h30 – 17h00
Sunday & Public Holidays, 10h00 – 16h00
Find Us
The easiest route from Cape Town is via Ceres. From here, you head north on the R46 for 40km and then take the R355 towards Calvinia. After approximately 70 km, turn right on the P2250 towards Middelpos and continue for a further 75 km to reach the Park Offices at Roodewerf.
Climate
The area receives approximately 146 mm of rain annually with the majority of its rainfall occurring during the winter months.
Summer months, November to March will have average temperatures of between 15˚C and 31˚C.
Winter months, May to August will have average temperatures of between 0˚C and 15˚C.
Transport
There are daily flights into Cape Town International Airport. Car hire facilities are available at the Airport.
Contact details
Tel: +27 (0)27 341 1927
Fax: +27 (0)27 341 2814
Website