Tankwa Karoo Rest Camp
Tankwa Karoo National Park
Succulent Karoo biome · Red hartebeest · Cape mountain zebra
From R 199 a night
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Tankwa Karoo National Park
Desert stargazing destination
Northern Cape, South Africa
Malaria-free
About Tankwa Karoo National Park
Tankwa Karoo is a desert park in the Northern Cape between the Cederberg and the Roggeveld escarpment, one of the driest places in South Africa and one of the darkest at night, which is why it is a stargazing destination. It is Succulent Karoo with gemsbok, springbok, Hartmann's mountain zebra and the specialist birds of the dry west, and after good winter rain it can flower. Roads are gravel and puncture-prone, there is no fuel, and the cottages and campsites inside are simple and far apart. It is malaria-free, and AfrikaBurn takes place on a farm just outside it each autumn.
Things to do: Hiking · Scenic drives · Stargazing · 4x4 trails
Where you can stay: Rest camps · Chalets · Camping
Wildlife near Tankwa Karoo 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 Tankwa 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.
Elandsberg Rest Camp
Tankwa Karoo National Park
Succulent Karoo biome · Red hartebeest · Cape mountain zebra
From R 2,067 a night
Inside park
Getting there
2 stays we sell in Tankwa Karoo National Park. Tap a pin for the listing.
32.2822° S, 19.9572° E50 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Tankwa 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
Tankwa Karoo National Park: your questions
Where is Tankwa Karoo National Park?
Tankwa Karoo National Park is in Northern Cape, South Africa.
Is Tankwa Karoo National Park malaria-free?
Yes. Tankwa 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 Tankwa Karoo 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 Tankwa 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 Tankwa 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 Tankwa 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 best time to visit Tankwa Karoo National Park?
The best time to visit Tankwa Karoo National Park is Sep-Apr (flowers Aug-Oct).
What is there to do at Tankwa Karoo National Park?
Popular activities at Tankwa Karoo National Park include hiking, scenic drives, stargazing, 4x4 trails.
Where can you stay in Tankwa Karoo National Park?
Places to stay inside Tankwa Karoo National Park include Tankwa Karoo Rest Camp and Elandsberg Rest Camp. Request them here; Spekboom handles the SANParks confirmation. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Tankwa Karoo National Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape, South Africa
Cederberg Wilderness AreaProvincial Nature Reserve · 80 km
Rock formations and San rock art
World Heritage · Malaria-free
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Western Cape, South Africa
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness AreaWilderness Area · 130 km
Sandstone wilderness and the Groot Kliphuis pools
Malaria-free
Anysberg Nature Reserve
Western Cape, South Africa
Anysberg Nature ReserveProvincial Nature Reserve · 144 km
Remote Klein Karoo mountains and dark skies
Malaria-free
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Tankwa 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 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)
