Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
4 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
Recorded in Western Cape~1,165 records
Curve from 1,533 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
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 the Western Cape
Swallows Rest
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale · Caracal
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 29,981 a night
Aquila Private Game Reserve & Spa
Touws River
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Giraffe · Leopard
Gives back to Saving Private Rhino
From R 7,820 a night
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Forest Hills
Rheenendal, Knysna
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Caracal
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,000 a night
Mvubu Bush Camp
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,380 a night
Coot Club
Stanford
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · White milkwood · Southern right whale
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy
Price on request
Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,580 a night
Buffalo Valley River Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,580 a night
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat
Western Cape
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fox · Caracal
Gives back to Saving Private Rhino
Price on request
Buffalo Valley Forest Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,410 a night
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · King protea · Sugarbush
From R 965 a night
Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve
Western Cape
Caracal recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Black wildebeest · Black backed jackal
Gives back to Saving Private Rhino
Price on request
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · King protea · Sugarbush
From R 4,009 a night
Slangkop Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · King protea · Sugarbush
From R 770 a night
Lehele Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · King protea
From R 4,859 a night
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Outeniqua yellowwood
From R 287 a night
Kwena Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve
Caracal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 14,985 a night
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 1,400 a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay
Forest biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,250 a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Franschhoek
Fynbos biome · English oak
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 6,195 a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Angulate tortoise · Wild olive
Price on request
The Whale Coast
Next stop
Southern right whales, sea cliffs, and Hermanus's harbour town
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Caracal
Hosts have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park and Gondwana Game Reserve.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goukamma | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing |
| Table Mountain | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here |
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
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
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 Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park, Gondwana Game Reserve and Garden Route 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. 18 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape 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. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Table Mountain National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Garden Route National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. 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.