Mosu Lodge
Mokala National Park
Savanna biome · Black wildebeest · Black backed jackal
From R 1,465 a night
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Mokala National Park
Black rhino sanctuary
Northern Cape, South Africa
Malaria-free
About Mokala National Park
Mokala is a national park south-west of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, where the Kalahari sand meets the Karoo, named for the camelthorn trees that dot its plains. It was created to hold rare and valuable species, so the wildlife is unusual: roan and sable antelope, tsessebe, black and white rhino, buffalo and giraffe, but no lions or elephants, which keeps the drives relaxed. It is malaria-free, quiet, and a comfortable overnight from Kimberley with rest camp chalets and campsites inside the park.
Things to do: Game drives · Stargazing · 4x4 trails · Guided walk · Photography · Scenic drives · Fishing
Where you can stay: Rest camps · Chalets · Camping
Wildlife near Mokala National Park
What people record most across Northern Cape. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Northern Cape, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Mokala 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.
Motswedi Camp Site
Mokala National Park
Savanna biome · Black wildebeest · Lion
From R 672 a night
Inside park
Lilydale Rest Camp
Mokala National Park
Savanna biome · Black wildebeest · Black backed jackal
From R 1,260 a night
Inside park
When to visit Mokala National Park
Most of the rain at Mokala National Park falls from January to February, peaking in January at about 85 mm. 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 July the coolest, with average lows of about 2°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 85 | 33 | 19 |
| February | 63 | 32 | 18 |
| March | 55 | 30 | 16 |
| April | 50 | 26 | 11 |
| May | 16 | 23 | 7 |
| June | 17 | 19 | 3 |
| July | 5 | 20 | 2 |
| August | 8 | 22 | 5 |
| September | 8 | 27 | 9 |
| October | 25 | 30 | 13 |
| November | 47 | 31 | 15 |
| December | 55 | 33 | 18 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1177 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
3 stays we sell in Mokala National Park. Tap a pin for the listing.
29.1123° S, 24.3798° E400 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Mokala 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
Mokala National Park: your questions
Where is Mokala National Park?
Mokala National Park is in Northern Cape, South Africa.
Is Mokala National Park malaria-free?
Yes. Mokala 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 Mokala National Park?
In Northern Cape, commonly recorded species include animals such as Black-footed Cat, Gemsbok, Roan Antelope, Cape Ground Squirrel and birds including Red-necked Falcon, Red Lark, Bradfield's Swift, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
How do you book a stay at Mokala 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 Mokala 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 Mokala 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 Mokala National Park?
Most of the rain at Mokala National Park falls from January to February, peaking in January at about 85 mm. 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 July the coolest, with average lows of about 2°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1177 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Mokala National Park?
The best time to visit Mokala National Park is Aug-Oct (flowers), Mar-May.
What is there to do at Mokala National Park?
Popular activities at Mokala National Park include game drives, stargazing, 4x4 trails, guided walk, photography, scenic drives, fishing.
Where can you stay in Mokala National Park?
Places to stay inside Mokala National Park include Mosu Lodge, Motswedi Camp Site and Lilydale Rest Camp. Request them here; Spekboom handles the SANParks confirmation. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Mokala National Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Mokala 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 Northern 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)