Page 362 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

360  THE ARID INTERIOR

1 Karoo National 3 Camdeboo
Park National Park
Road map C4. N1, 7 km (4 miles) S of Road map C4. R63, 8 km (5 miles) NW
Beaufort West. n 023 415 2828. of Graaff-Reinet. n 049 892 3453.
Tel Reservations: 012 428 9111. Tel Reserva tions: 012 428 9111.
Open 5am–10pm daily. & 8 7 Open 6am–6pm (Oct–Mar: to 7pm).
} Ó  ∑ sanparks.org & } Ó ∑ sanparks.org
The Karoo National Park was In a bid to conserve typical
established on the outskirts Karoo landforms and wild life, an
of Beaufort West in 1979, to area of 145 sq km (56 sq miles)
conserve a representative around Graaff-Reinet (see
sample of the region’s unique pp362–3) was set aside. West
heritage. It has been enlarged of the town is the Valley of
over the years and now Desolation, where spectacular
en compasses vast, flat plains as columns of weath ered dolerite
well as the rugged Nuweveld Springbok once roamed the Karoo plains in tower 120 m (390 ft) over
Mountains. Animals such as their thousands the valley floor.
mountain reedbuck, grey rhe bok, A 14-km (9-mile) road leads
kudu, steenbok, jackal and 4WD trail has been laid out in to a view site and a short walk,
aardwolf occur naturally, while the rugged western region of while the circular day hike is
reintroduced species include the park, and night drives provide reached from the Berg-en-dal
lion, black rhino, springbok, the very best chances of seeing gate on the western edge of
harte beest, gemsboks (oryx), many of the region’s shy noctur- town. A two- to three-day hike
black wildebeest, Cape nal animals, such as the aardwolf. explores the scenic mountain-
mountain zebra and the The short Fossil and Bossie ous terrain in the southeast.
endangered briverine rab bit. trails are accessible from The eastern region of the
Some 196 bird species have the rest camp and allow nature reserve includes the
been recorded, and the park visitors to learn about the Driekoppe peaks, which rise
also sustains more than Karoo’s fascinating 250-million- 600 m (1,950 ft) above the
20 black eagle pairs. year-old geological history plains. This section sustains
A comfortable rest camp is and its unique vegetation. more than 220 species of bird.
set at the base of the Nuweveld The Fossil Trail is designed The populations of Cape moun-
Mountains. Its spacious Cape to accommodate wheelchairs tain zebra, buffalo, harte beest,
Dutch chalets provide a conve- and incorporates Braille boards. springbok, kudu and blesbok
nient overnight stop that is An easy circular day hike of 11 are expanding, and many of
easily accessible from the N1. km (7 miles) is also accessible them may be seen.
The camp has good facilities, from the rest camp. There are game-viewing
including a shop, swimming roads and picnic sites situated
pool, restaurant and caravan around the Nqweba Dam
park. Nearby, the historic Ou 2 Graaff-Reinet in the centre of the reserve,
Skuur Farmhouse contains the and both boating and
park’s information centre. A See pp362–3. fishing are permitted.

The Valley of Desolation in Camdeboo National Park
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p391 and p411

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