Camdeboo National Park
Eastern Cape · Year-round
1 place
Wildlife
Cape Ground Squirrel
Xerus inauris
The Cape ground squirrel or South African ground squirrel is found in most of the drier parts of southern Africa from South Africa, through to Botswana, and into Namibia, including Etosha National Park.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Recorded in Eastern Cape~248 records
Curve from 1,180 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Northern Cape and beyond
Provinces where Cape Ground Squirrel is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,181 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Ground Squirrel
Stays that give back
Across the Eastern Cape
Mountain Zebra National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park
From R 449a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Camdeboo Rest Camp
Camdeboo National Park
From R 345a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
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Langebos Huts
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The Garden Route
Next stop
Forests, lagoons, and Knysna's sheltered bay
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cape Ground Squirrel
Hosts have recorded the Cape Ground Squirrel at stays in or beside Camdeboo National Park and Mountain Zebra National Park.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camdeboo | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here |
| Mountain Zebra | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Xerus inauris
Records
1,181
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Ground Squirrel on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Ground Squirrel in Eastern Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Ground Squirrel at stays in or beside Camdeboo National Park and Mountain Zebra National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Cape Ground Squirrel in South Africa?
The Cape Ground Squirrel is most recorded in Northern Cape (48% of records), Eastern Cape (21% of records), Gauteng (13% of records), based on 1,181 iNaturalist observations. 2 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Cape Ground Squirrel on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Ground Squirrel?
The Cape Ground Squirrel is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Camdeboo National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Mountain Zebra National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Cape Ground Squirrel?
The Cape Ground Squirrel (Xerus inauris) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Cape Ground Squirrel?
The Cape ground squirrel or South African ground squirrel is found in most of the drier parts of southern Africa from South Africa, through to Botswana, and into Namibia, including Etosha National Park.