Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Northern Cape · Best Aug to Oct
9 places
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
Records1,180 records
Curve from 1,180 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
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 South Africa
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Sendelingsdrif Rest Camp
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 311a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Mountain Zebra National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park
From R 449a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Mata-Mata Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Marataba Villa
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Motswedi Camp Site
Mokala National Park
From R 628a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Kokerboomkloof Camp Site
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 311a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Camdeboo Rest Camp
Camdeboo National Park
From R 345a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Tlopi Tented Camp
Marakele National Park
From R 1,866a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Mosu Lodge
Mokala National Park
From R 1,401a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Nossob Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Gharagab Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Bontle Rest Camp
Marakele National Park
From R 391a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Augrabies Falls Rest Camp
Augrabies Falls National Park
From R 362a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Lilydale Rest Camp
Mokala National Park
From R 1,206a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Kalahari Tented Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,314a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
Urikaruus Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
De Hoop Camping Site
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 373a night
Cape Ground Squirrel recorded here
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From R 43,712a night
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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 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Marakele National Park and Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kgalagadi | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here |
| Marakele | 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.
Where to base yourself
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Mokala
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern CapeLimpopo
Marakele
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveStays in LimpopoEastern Cape
Camdeboo · Mountain Zebra
Eastern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
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 South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Ground Squirrel at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Marakele National Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Mokala National Park, Augrabies Falls National Park and Camdeboo National Park and other reserves. 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. 23 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa 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. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Marakele National Park: May-Sep, dry season; Mokala National Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Augrabies Falls National Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. 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.