Skilpad Rest Camp
Namaqua National Park
Succulent Karoo biome · Cape cobra · Striped polecat
From R 987 a night
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Namaqua National Park
Spring wildflower displays
Northern Cape, South Africa
Malaria-free
About Namaqua National Park
Namaqua National Park is the spring-flower park: for a few weeks each year, usually between mid-August and mid-September, the Skilpad section near Kamieskroon is covered in orange daisies, and the coastal section south of Hondeklip Bay flowers a little later. Outside those weeks it is a quiet Succulent Karoo landscape of granite and strange plants, with the coastal section's 4x4 track and campsites on the beach open year-round. It is malaria-free and a long drive from Cape Town, and flower timing depends on winter rain, so check the reports before committing.
Things to do: 4x4 trails · Hiking · Scenic drives · Stargazing
Where you can stay: Rest camps · Chalets · Camping
Wildlife near Namaqua 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 Namaqua 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.
Getting there
One stay we sell in Namaqua National Park. Tap the pin for the listing.
30.3665° S, 17.4066° E400 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Namaqua 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
Namaqua National Park: your questions
Where is Namaqua National Park?
Namaqua National Park is in Northern Cape, South Africa.
Is Namaqua National Park malaria-free?
Yes. Namaqua 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 Namaqua 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 Namaqua 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 Namaqua 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 Namaqua 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 best time to visit Namaqua National Park?
The best time to visit Namaqua National Park is Aug-Oct (flowers), Mar-May.
What is there to do at Namaqua National Park?
Popular activities at Namaqua National Park include 4x4 trails, hiking, scenic drives, stargazing.
Where can you stay in Namaqua National Park?
Places to stay inside Namaqua National Park include Skilpad Rest Camp. Request them here; Spekboom handles the SANParks confirmation. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Namaqua National Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
Northern Cape, South Africa
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier ParkTransfrontier Park · 241 km
A vast, mountainous desert wilderness in the far north-west of the Northern Cape, shared with Namibia along the Orange River.
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Western Cape, South Africa
Rocherpan Nature ReserveProvincial Nature Reserve · 264 km
A seasonal pan and birding coast north of Velddrif
Malaria-free
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape, South Africa
Cederberg Wilderness AreaProvincial Nature Reserve · 275 km
Rock formations and San rock art
World Heritage · Malaria-free
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Namaqua 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)
