The Mountain Zebra National Park is a beautiful mountainous wilderness with valleys and grassy plains. It is the setting of a conservation miracle – the rescue of one of the world's most endangered species, the Cape mountain zebra, from the brink of extinction. The 6536-ha park is set in the Karoo. It offers visitors unique South African safaris.
Need Advice?In addition to the Cape mountain zebra, the park hosts herds of several other large game species, such as eland, red hartebeest, kudu, and black wildebeest. At least 200 identified bird species occur here.
Mountain Zebra national park offers a three-day hiking trail that is among the finest in South Africa. An aspect immediately evident is the concentration of the game in the area known as the Rooiplaat Plateau. At any given moment, about 85% of the large herbivores in the park can be found here. The reason for this occurrence is that Rooiplaat consists of sweet grassland, which grazers prefer to the sour grasses and Karoo scrub covering most of the rest of the park.
The views across the Karoo grasslands are remarkable, and nothing prepares you for the vastness in contrast to the unbroken view of the mountains. The accommodations within the park are situated on a ridge overlooking the plains with the mountains in the background - the perfect place to enjoy sunsets and stargazing on cloudless nights.
The park is inhabited by various animals not seen on traditional safaris in more popular conservation areas. These include the endangered Cape mountain zebra as well as the ground squirrel. The park has a population of black rhinos, one of the rarest of all the large mammals found in Africa.
There are three different rock art sites in Mountain Zebra National Park. It is estimated that the art was created by San Bushmen roughly three hundred years ago. Stone Age artifacts are found in the park, a testament to people who inhabited the region over 10 000 years ago.
The most memorable experiences at Mountain Zebra National Park include the park's spectacular wildlife and the exceptional views it offers.
Guests visiting the Mountain Zebra National Park will usually do so as part of an extended safari down the coast. You will therefore be flying to Cape Town International or George Airport from Johannesburg and stopping at various destination's en route to the Eastern Cape. We will arrange a flight to Port Elizabeth if the park is your first destination.
A safari tour from Cape Town to the Garden Route and then from the Western Cape into the Eastern Cape covers one of the most scenic coastal regions of South Africa. The park is situated approximately 9 hours drive from Cape Town but is only 3 hours from Port Elizabeth.
Like the unique Cape mountain zebra, the park is different from most other national parks. Its main attraction can be seen all year round and is relatively easy to spot. The area gets cold in the winter, with temperatures dropping below freezing point, and snow often occurs in the mountains.
The summer months are less extreme, and visiting the park is comfortably warm from October to March. The park is situated in a summer rainfall area. Most rain occurs from December to February. The summer is also the best time to view birds, newborn animals, and blossoming flora.
The Mountain Zebra National Park was established in 1937 to prevent the extinction of the Cape Mountain Zebra, which seemed to be headed for the same fate as the Quagga, which went extinct on 12 August 1883 when the last individual died in Amsterdam Zoo. By 1984, the population reached 400, and since then, Mountain Zebra National Park has been able to reintroduce Cape mountain zebras to other parks.
During the Anglo-Boer War, British soldiers made a chessboard on top of Saltpeterkop, a 1514-meter-high peak, and played chess against soldiers at the old fort in Cradock. They transmitted moves using a mirror. The chessboard is still visible, as are the names of soldiers.
Visitors can view the Big Five except the elephant. Buffalo occurs in areas with acacia thickets and wooded valleys. Black rhinos, though present, are hard to spot. Lion and the Cape mountain leopard are elusive. Similarly, the mysterious brown hyena does not like to be spotted, either. Cheetahs are easier to encounter. The park is also home to rarely spotted lesser mammals like aardwolf, bat-eared fox, and caracal. Nocturnal species such as Cape fox, aardvark, genet, black-footed cat, and striped polecat are seen on night drives.
The park is home to over 700 mountain zebra. Antelope are plentiful, and the chances are that you will encounter eland, kudu, blesbok, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, and springbok. Vervet monkeys and Chacma baboons are common. Black-backed jackals, yellow mongooses, and ground squirrels are seen often. A wide variety of birds occur here, especially big species like secretary birds, blue cranes, Verreaux's eagles, and many more. At least 275 species have been identified.
The area is known for its threatened vegetation types, including the eastern upper Karoo and the Nama-Karoo biome. The two other vegetation types in the park include the Karoo escarpment grassland and thicket biomes.
The different vegetation types are essential for conserving the area's biodiversity and aesthetic appeal. The relationship between the various biomes creates a rich mix of flora and fauna while simultaneously preserving the soil. All three biomes are currently very under-conserved in South Africa. The park has approximately 680 plant species, of which 13 are Red Data species.
A game drive led by an experienced game ranger is an excellent way of encountering unique animals that call the area home. Drives are available in the early mornings, late afternoons, and evenings. Self-guided and guided walks are another way to explore the environment. The Salpeterkop Hike and other longer trails are available. The birdlife is exceptional, especially in the early mornings, and birders can be on the lookout for the majestic blue Crane and eastern clapper lark.
