Karoo National Park

 We left Pretoria just after 6 am on 29th November for our long drive south down the N1 to Beaufort West. It is a long journey of 1,024 kilometers. We were held up in local traffic in Jo'berg & then again by massive road works, which meant we didn't get to our destination until 5.45 pm. 

The place was called Steenbokie Private Nature Reserve, which is a few kilometers outside of the town. Our chalet for the next two nights was a converted stable block & very comfortable it was to. 

There was a nice outside area for outdoor dining.

Karoo Robin Chat

Common around the chalet.

After a nice evening outside we retired to bed for our day in the Karoo National Park in the morning.

Karoo National Park: an arid & very open area.

We enjoyed wonderful weather, 

although it did get very hot!

Verreaux's Eagle

We hadn't seen this species for well over a year.

Up at 5am on on 30th November. It was a lovely clear summers day, with promise of heat later in the day which did materialize! From reception we drove slowly up Klipspringer's Pass. The area is very scenic & we drove slowly stopping regularly along the way.

Cape Mountain Zebra we doted over the hillsides.

Once close to extinction, this species can now be 

found over several national parks.

Kudu was quite common in this portion of the park.

Mountain Reedbuck

Red Hartebeest

Karoo Long-billed Lark

The song was a common sound 

in the early morning.

Lark-like Bunting.

Short-toed Rock Thrush

We enjoyed some nice birding, seeing species that we hadn't seen in quite a while.

As we drove northwards, the vistas

 became even more dramatic.

Before this area was a national park, it was a series of large sheep farms & Hyenas were considered vermin, to be exterminated, as they took sheep & their lambs as prey. Some of these traps have been preserved & are now of historical interest.

Common Ostrich

Immature Mountain Wheatear

Rufous-eared Warbler

Cape Bunting

In the dry river valleys the vegetation is quite thick.

Namaqua Dove

Fiscal Flycatcher

Quite common in the thicker vegetated valleys.

Cape Bunting

Layard's Warbler

Southern Rock Agama

Perched atop bushes not rocks!

We were only in the park for one day, so just explored the central circuit. We didn't have time to drive to the western areas, which are very good for birds. The Karoo National Park is a lovely area to explore. One probably needs around three days to do the place justice. Both of us enjoyed our time here & look forward to returning with our new Mobi Lodge off-road caravan!