Mokala National Park | South Africa Safari Destination

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Mokala National Park

Mokala National Park Destination Guide

Mokala National Park is a place of dramatic beauty and quiet wildness. Set about 70 to 80 km southwest of Kimberley in South Africa’s Northern Cape, it sits where the Kalahari meets the Karoo. Visitors come for rare antelope, open vistas, and far-from-the-crowds tranquility in natural surroundings across rugged hills and camel thorn plains.

Getting There

By Air: The nearest airport is Kimberley (KIM), about 70 to 80 km from the park. On arrival, you are met and transferred by road to your lodge or camp within Mokala. Scheduled flights also serve Bloemfontein (BFN) and Upington (UTN), with onward road transfers available.

By Road: Distances are approximately 575 km from Johannesburg and 900 km from Cape Town. Our itineraries often include an overnight stop en route. Travel is in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with an African Sky guide.

Weather & Best Time To Visit

Spring (September–October) and autumn (April–May) offer the most comfortable conditions, though spring can be arid. Mid-summer is extremely hot, while winter nights and early mornings can be very cold, so pack warm layers.

The range is wide: December and January can reach 44°C, while June and July nights can drop to about -4°C.

A herd of zebras drinking at a waterhole beneath a red earth bank in Mokala National Park.

The park lies at the meeting point of the Kalahari and Karoo biomes. “Mokala,” a Setswana word for camel thorn, reflects the signature trees of its sandy woodlands. These hardy trees are a vital food source and shelter for wildlife across the reserve. Around fifty mammal species occur here.

Size

26,485 hectares

Established

2007

Province

Northern Cape

Meaning

Camel thorn (Setswana)

Nearest town

Kimberley

Mammal species

~50

Big Five

Partial (no lion/leopard)

Malaria

Free

Reasons to visit Mokala National Park

1

Incredible Wildlife

See some of South Africa’s rarer antelope: roan, sable, and swift tsessebe. Mokala is also a haven for bat-eared fox, aardvark, and brown hyena; with luck, you may even encounter endangered pangolin.

2

Stargazing

Dry, clear air and minimal light pollution make Mokala ideal for stargazing. The Northern Cape’s star-filled skies attract photographers and amateur astronomers alike. Look up and be amazed.

3

Bird Watching

Sparse vegetation and limited water sources can simplify birdwatching and photography once species are located. Keep an eye out for several kingfisher species around pans and the Riet River.

Start Planning

Experiences to Savor at Mokala National Park

Nature lovers will find ample moments to savor, from golden hours on hilltops to quiet pans alive with birds.

Roan antelope grazing among scattered camel thorn trees on dry savanna plains.

Tree-Dotted Plains

The Kalahari–Karoo transition creates arresting vistas. From hilltop lookouts, camel thorn punctuates tawny plains like brushstrokes on canvas, endlessly shifting with light and weather.

Silhouetted camel thorn trees against a sunset sky in Mokala National Park.

Amazing Sunsets

Fiery sunsets paint the semidesert sky. Find a quiet spot in late afternoon, pour a favorite drink, and watch nature’s daily show, equal parts spectacle and solace.

A solitary black wildebeest standing in tall golden grass.

Remote Isolation

Mokala trades crowds for calm. It’s easy to disconnect here, with wide horizons, little traffic, and a rare sense of solitude.

Useful Information

History

Mokala was proclaimed on June 19, 2007, one of South Africa’s newest national parks. It replaced Vaalbos National Park, which was de-proclaimed after a successful land claim and the granting of prospecting rights there. Ancient human history is evident in widespread San rock art sites across the park.

Wildlife

Mokala hosts many antelope. You may see eland (the largest antelope in South Africa) and swift tsessebe. Other notable species include red hartebeest, buffalo, kudu, springbok, gemsbok, roan, sable, and black and blue wildebeest, plus smaller species such as steenbok, duiker, and klipspringer.

White and black rhino, giraffe, and ostrich are regularly encountered. There are no large cats; the largest predators are brown hyena and black-backed jackal. Aardvark, bat-eared fox, and large herds of zebra also occur.

Vegetation & Terrain

Terrain and vegetation span open plains, koppies, and rocky outcrops with widespread camel thorn. Lying in the transition between Kalahari and Karoo biomes, Mokala offers a distinctive mosaic of habitats not found elsewhere.

Activities

Book a guided game drive or explore on self-drive in search of both rare and common species. The Riet River enables seasonal fly-fishing, while two 4×4 routes offer rewarding off-road experiences. Several picnic spots provide relaxed breaks amid nature.

Mosu Lodge is the main base, with a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Lilydale Rest Camp, the smaller Haak-en-Steek camp and the Motswedi campsite add other options. Before heading out, stop at the Mokala Interpretation Center, which covers the park’s history, its artifacts and rock engravings, and the wildlife you are likely to see. The park’s background, from its 2007 proclamation to its wildlife, is outlined on the official SANParks Mokala National Park page.