Karoo Birding
Tankwa Karoo National Park is a must-do for birding enthusiasts in search of Karoo endemics – almost every bird found in this entire region lives here.
A Tankwa Karoo National Park holiday offers peak times for birding and floral displays between August and October, but that’s not all. Year round there is plenty to spot on the ground, in the air and in the night sky.
The soulful Karoo is the place to go for stress-free contemplation, stargazing, bird watching and time spent in nature enjoying its spectacular colours and endless variety. Your national park holiday in Tankwa Karoo could also yield sightings of antelope species such as Gemsbok, Springbok, Red Hartebeest and Cape Mountain Zebra on self-drives and 4x4 trails.
The Tankwa Karoo is a veritable hotspot for rare flora, so don’t forget to pick up a plant and animal species list at the reception office. If you catch a glimpse of a bird, it could be one of 18 endemic species in the park. Birders in search of specials should be able to spot most of them at any time really, but a few, such as the Black-headed Canary and Burchell’s Courser, are harder to find.
For those who love great views and dramatic skylines – the Tankwa Karoo’s open spaces, moon-like landscapes and rugged cliffs really are inspiring. A sunrise or sunset and the deep silence experienced here are some of the impressions you’ll take away with you. You’ll see Africa’s brightest night skies and you can also visit the town of Sutherland, which is the home of the largest single telescope in the southern hemisphere.
