Karoo National Park

Mammals and Reptiles

Because of the sparse vegetation, game viewing in Karoo National Park is easily facilitated. Best viewing is achieved on the 13km “Lammertjiesleegte” Route on the plains.

Large herbivores such as Red Hartebeest, Black Wildebeest, Eland, the two zebra species, kudu and springbok are all regularly seen. Klipspringer are regularly seen on the pass of the same name. Other species are less obvious due to smaller size, nocturnal habits or restriction to the wilderness areas of the park.

Common Name
Cape rock elephant-shrew	Cape Fox
Smith's rock elephant-shrew	Bat-eared Fox
Round-eared elephant-shrew	Cape Clawless Otter
Lesser red musk shrew	Striped Polecat
Forest shrew	Water Mongoose
Lesser dwarf shrew	Yellow Mongoose
Common split-faced bat	Small Grey Mongoose
Cape serotine bat	Suricate
Melck's serotine bat	Small-spotted Genet
Vervet monkey	Aardwolf
Chacma Baboon	Caracal
Cape Hare	African Wildcat
Scrub Hare	Antbear (Aardvark)
Smith’s Red Rock Rabbit	Rock Hyrax
Riverine Rabbit	Black Rhinoceros
Pouched mouse	Cape Mountain Zebra
Grey pygmy climbing mouse	Burchell’s Zebra with Quagga bred characteristics
Pygmy mouse	Black Wildebeest
Short-tailed gerbil	Red Hartebeest
Hairy-footed gerbil	Springbok
Grant's rock mouse	Klipspringer
Namaqua rock mouse	Steenbok
Multimammate mouse	Gemsbok
Striped mouse	Kudu
Saunders' vlei rat	Eland
Karoo bush rat	Common Duiker
Spectacled Dormouse	Gemsbok
Porcupine	Grey Rhebuck
Common Molerat	Mountain reedbuck

Reptiles

Karoo National Park has a very rich reptilian fauna. Of particular significance are the 5 species of tortoise. However there is also a terrapin, an agama, 2 chameleons, a monitor, 18 snakes and several geckos, skinks and lizards.