Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 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 South Africa
Qambathi Mountain Lodge
Nottingham Road
From R 4,100a night
Caracal recorded here
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Caracal recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Caracal recorded here
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Caracal recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Caracal recorded here
Coot Club
Stanford
Price on request
Caracal recorded here
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Caracal recorded here
Swallows Rest
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
From R 44,080a night
Caracal recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Caracal recorded here
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
From R 1,280a night
Caracal recorded here
Forest Hills
Rheenendal, Knysna
From R 2,000a night
Caracal recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Caracal recorded here
Lupus Den Country House
Sundays River Valley, Addo
From R 2,600a night
Caracal recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Caracal recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Caracal recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Caracal recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Caracal recorded here
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Caracal recorded here
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
From R 28,990a night
Caracal recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Caracal recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Caracal recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Caracal recorded here
Hlosi Game Lodge
Amakhala Game Reserve
From R 4,000a night
Caracal recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Caracal recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Caracal
Hosts have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Cederberg Wilderness Area.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | 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.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Marakele
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Western Cape
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Goukamma · Anysberg
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Kwandwe
Eastern CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
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 South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Anysberg Nature Reserve 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 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. 176 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr. 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.
