uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Wildlife
Caracal
Caracal caracal
The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India.
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
Records1,533 records
Curve from 1,533 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Caracal is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,533 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Caracal
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Qambathi Mountain Lodge
Nottingham Road
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Serval
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,100 a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
Caracal recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust
From R 1,280 a night
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Tree fuchsia
From R 190 a night
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Cape heath
From R 190 a night
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 130 a night
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Tree fuchsia · Black wildebeest
From R 840 a night
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Common eland
From R 270 a night
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 200 a night
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Chacma baboon · Bushbuck
From R 360 a night
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 170 a night
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Tree fuchsia
From R 1,070 a night
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Caracal recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 1,150 a night
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 13,000 a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 2 others
From R 5,400 a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
Grassland biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 5,990 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Sungubala Eco Camp
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome · Spotted hyena · Leopard
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,140 a night
Drakensberg Vultures View
Cathkin Park
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,691 a night
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Penwarn Farm
Underberg
Grassland biome · Blesbok · Serval
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 3 others
From R 1,200 a night
Berghouse & Cottages
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,950 a night
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
The Elephant Coast
Next stop
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Caracal
Hosts have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve and Kamberg Nature Reserve.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Giants Castle | Here | Here | Here | Here | 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.
Best hours of the day
- First and last hours of daylight. The Caracal moves and hunts in the cool.
- Midday, resting. Usually lying up in shade and hard to spot.
- After dark, on a night drive. Where the reserve or park offers one.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Caracal caracal
Records
1,533
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Caracal on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Caracal in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve, Kamberg Nature Reserve and Royal Natal 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 Caracal in South Africa?
The Caracal is most recorded in Western Cape (76% of records), Northern Cape (5% of records), based on 1,533 iNaturalist observations. 12 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Caracal on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Caracal?
The Caracal 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Giants Castle Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kamberg Nature Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Royal Natal National Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Caracal?
The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India. The caracal is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings.