Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Mokala
Self-drive
Stays in Northern CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Cape Ground Squirrel in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Cape Ground Squirrel at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Marakele National Park and Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.
Xerus inauris · Least Concern
Planning 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
Limpopo
Marakele
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Eastern 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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Cape Ground Squirrel
Every stay on the Cape Ground Squirrel page lists the species its host has recorded on or near the property. A record is a sighting, never a promise.
See where to stay