Tankwa-Karoo National Park

Tankwa Karoo National Park is where you go when even the Karoo feels busy. It covers about 1,436 square kilometres of succulent Karoo on the Northern Cape and Western Cape border, hemmed in by the Roggeveld mountains to the east and the Cederberg to the west. Parts of it get less than 100 mm of rain a year. There are no shops, no fuel, no restaurants and almost no cellphone signal. People come for the silence, the night sky and, after good winter rain, flowers.

Getting there

Headquarters are at Roodewerf, roughly four hours from Cape Town. Both approaches use the R355, the long gravel road between Ceres (about 180 km) and Calvinia (about 110 km); Middelpos is 52 km away and Sutherland lies over the escarpment to the east. The shale on the R355 slashes tyres, so arrive with at least one sound spare and a can or two of tyre sealant. Keep to 80 km/h or less and slow right down where tar turns to gravel. A normal car can reach the main camps if driven gently, but high clearance and strong tyres make the whole trip less tense, and the Elandsberg and other 4x4 tracks need a proper vehicle.

When to go

August to October is the season most people aim for. If the winter rain has come, the flats turn to flowers and the birding peaks. January is the hottest month with a mean maximum near 39 degrees; July nights drop to 5 to 7 degrees. Wind is strongest from October to March and dust can cut visibility.

What to do

Driving is the main activity. The Gannaga Pass climbs 548 m through the Roggeveld towards Middelpos on gravel with 45 bends, four of them sharp hairpins; the Ouberg Pass is the other way up the escarpment. The Elandsberg viewpoint is reached by 4x4 or on foot. Game has been reintroduced over the years and you should see gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, eland and Cape mountain zebra, with kudu in the kloofs and leopard around but rarely seen. About 187 bird species are recorded, including Karoo specials such as Burchell’s courser, Karoo eremomela, Karoo long-billed lark and Ludwig’s bustard. At night there is nothing between you and the stars.

Good to know

• Fill the tank at the last town you pass and fill it again if you get another chance. The nearest fuel to the park is about 90 km away at Calvinia.
• Bring all food, water and firewood. There is a reception office at Roodewerf with limited hours and nothing else.
• Accommodation is spread out: the Tanqua Guesthouse near the office, Paulshoek cottage 5 km away, Varschfontein cottage 45 km away, the Elandsberg Wilderness Camp 18 km out, and basic campsites. All are self-catering.
• Night-time entry is restricted, roughly 19:00 to 05:30 in summer and 18:00 to 06:30 in winter, so plan to arrive in daylight.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Wikivoyage, South Africa Tours and Travel, Mountain Passes South Africa, South African Parks, Wild Safari Guide.