Karoo Rest Camp
Karoo National Park
Nama-Karoo biome · Springbok · Water mongoose
From R 452 a night
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Karoo National Park
Great Karoo ecosystem
Western Cape, South Africa
Malaria-free
About Karoo National Park
Karoo National Park lies just outside Beaufort West on the N1, halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg, and it is the easiest way to spend a night in the Great Karoo. The Nuweveld mountains rise behind the rest camp, lion and black rhino have been reintroduced to the plains, and Cape mountain zebra, gemsbok and springbok are common. There are no elephants. The fossil trail near the camp shows the reptile fossils the Karoo is famous for, the night skies are dark, and the Klipspringer Pass drive climbs to the plateau. It is malaria-free and a good stop on the long drive.
Things to do: 4x4 trails · Game drives · Hiking · Photography · Scenic drives · Stargazing
Where you can stay: Rest camps · Chalets · Camping
Wildlife near Karoo National Park
What people record most across Western Cape. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Western Cape, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Karoo National Park
Request inside-park camps here. Spekboom confirms with SANParks, then you pay on Spekboom. Mix in a gateway stay from the same list if you want nights outside the fence.
When to visit Karoo National Park
Karoo National Park is dry for most of the year: no month averages more than 40 mm of rain, and January is the wettest. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 33°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 6°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40 | 33 | 18 |
| February | 37 | 32 | 18 |
| March | 36 | 30 | 16 |
| April | 25 | 25 | 12 |
| May | 18 | 23 | 9 |
| June | 16 | 19 | 6 |
| July | 14 | 19 | 6 |
| August | 17 | 20 | 6 |
| September | 12 | 24 | 9 |
| October | 26 | 27 | 12 |
| November | 22 | 29 | 14 |
| December | 39 | 31 | 16 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 880 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
One stay we sell in Karoo National Park. Tap the pin for the listing.
32.2668° S, 22.3119° E50 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Karoo National Park wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Karoo National Park: your questions
Where is Karoo National Park?
Karoo National Park is in Western Cape, South Africa.
Is Karoo National Park malaria-free?
Yes. Karoo National Park is in an area recorded as malaria-free, which is why it is a common choice for families with young children and for a first safari. Malaria risk can shift with the season and the year, so confirm current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
What wildlife can you see near Karoo National Park?
In Western Cape, commonly recorded species include animals such as Cape Dwarf Chameleon, Cape Fur Seal, Southern Right Whale, Cape Grysbok and birds including Agulhas Long-billed Lark, Red-necked Phalarope, Northern Giant Petrel, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
How do you book a stay at Karoo National Park?
Request inside-park rest camps on Spekboom. We confirm the dates with SANParks, then you pay on Spekboom. SANParks assigns the unit after confirmation. Gateway lodges and guesthouses listed here book the same way, so you can mix nights inside the park with a stay outside.
How far in advance should you book accommodation in Karoo National Park?
SANParks opens rest-camp bookings 11 months in advance, releasing a new month on the first working day of each month, and popular camps sell out within days for school holidays, long weekends and peak season. Request as early as you can on Spekboom for those dates. Stays just outside the park usually have availability much closer to the time, and you can book those here too.
Do you pay conservation fees at Karoo National Park?
Yes. SANParks charges a daily conservation fee per person on top of accommodation, with lower rates for South African residents and SADC nationals. Wild Card members do not pay the daily fee. Tariffs are revised each year, so check current rates when you book.
When is the rainy season at Karoo National Park?
Karoo National Park is dry for most of the year: no month averages more than 40 mm of rain, and January is the wettest. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 33°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 6°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 880 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Karoo National Park?
The best time to visit Karoo National Park is Sep-Apr (flowers Aug-Oct).
What is there to do at Karoo National Park?
Popular activities at Karoo National Park include 4x4 trails, game drives, hiking, photography, scenic drives, stargazing.
Where can you stay in Karoo National Park?
Places to stay inside Karoo National Park include Karoo Rest Camp. Request them here; Spekboom handles the SANParks confirmation. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Karoo National Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Swartberg Nature Reserve
Western Cape, South Africa
Swartberg Nature ReserveProvincial Nature Reserve · 123 km
Dramatic mountain passes
World Heritage · Malaria-free
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Western Cape, South Africa
Gamkaberg Nature ReserveProvincial Nature Reserve · 161 km
Cape mountain zebra country near Oudtshoorn
Malaria-free
Gondwana Game Reserve
Western Cape, South Africa
Gondwana Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 201 km
Luxury Garden Route safari
Big Five · Malaria-free
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Karoo National Park.
Malaria-free parks and game reservesNational parks in Southern and East AfricaNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in the Western CapeAll protected areas
Official information
The SANParks website has park rules, maps and daily conservation fees. To book a rest camp or a stay nearby, use the places on this page.
- Park website: www.sanparks.org (opens in a new tab)
