KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Giants Castle
Stays in KwaZulu-Natal
Where to see
Where to see the Caracal in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kruger National Park.
Caracal caracal
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Caracal
Hosts have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kruger National Park.
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 |
| Kgalagadi | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | 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
- KwaZulu-Natal
Western Cape
Goukamma · Table Mountain · Gondwana
Western CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Limpopo
Kruger · Welgevonden
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Eastern Cape
Kwandwe · Amakhala
Eastern CapeBig FiveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
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 South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Sabi Sand Game 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. 59 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. 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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Caracal
Every stay on the Caracal 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