Mokala National Park is home to a varied spectrum of birds, situated in the transition zone between the Kalahari and Karoo biomes. Birds that can be spotted are the Kalahari species, black-chested prinia and its Karoo equivalent, rufous-eared warbler, as well as the melodious lark. The rocky hillocks that characterise the park attract species such as the freckled nightjar (vocal at night), the short-toed rock thrush, and the cinnamon-breasted bunting.
As with most rest camps and human dwellings, a variety of birds utilise the artificial, man-made habitat around the accommodation, including mousebirds, martins, robin-chats, thrushes, canaries, and flycatchers.
Our Epic Road Trip: Cape Town to Johannesburg and Seven Parks Along the Way
“Why on earth would anyone want to go to Johannesburg over the holiday period?” This was the heated question echoing through the Aitkenhead household towards the end of 2024. With so many breathtaking destinations calling our names, why choose Johannesburg of all places?
Yet there we were, staring down a 1,670 km journey to South Africa’s largest city. It was a first for us as a family, and undoubtedly one of the longest road trips we had ever attempted – the last one that came close was our epic adventure through the Richtersveld into the Kgalagadi National Park.
Maps were spread across the dining room table as we plotted how to break up this mammoth trip into manageable and memorable legs. We scanned for national parks and tucked-away reserves managed by Cape Nature. After a few tense but enthusiastic negotiations, we finalised our route – not just up north, but also weaving our way home through a different path. In total, we committed to visiting seven parks, and that’s when the real planning began in earnest.
First came the logistics: how to secure consecutive bookings at each park to ensure smooth transitions with no late-night drives or unplanned detours. Each booking was like a puzzle piece falling into place, building the picture of our route north and back home again.
We haven’t yet mentioned the actual reason behind this seemingly outrageous idea. The simple fact was that flying to Johannesburg, plus hiring a car and covering all the added expenses, had become eye-wateringly expensive. The road trip seemed a perfect alternative – a chance to explore hidden corners of South Africa and stretch the holiday budget further.
The irony was that we hadn’t planned to go on holiday at all. Our real holiday was the upcoming Flock to Marion Island, scheduled for 24 January 2025, and in our minds, that was enough excitement for the month. But as life would have it, plans changed. My wife needed to get to Johannesburg to help her father, who had sold his house and was moving to Hoedspruit. Naturally, the family tagged along, expecting a simple drive with a bit of sightseeing along the way.
But as always, it turned into an adventure. With the car meticulously packed and an itinerary timed to the minute, we set off from Cape Town before sunrise, spirits high and coffee mugs full. Our first stop was the Karoo National Park, a fitting introduction to the journey ahead.
What unfolded was an unforgettable road trip across South Africa, from arid plains to lush bushveld and mountainous reserves. Each park offered its distinctive magic and story:
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Karoo National Park – where silence stretches to the horizon
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Mokala National Park – land of camelthorn trees and rare antelopes
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Pilanesberg National Park – teeming with wildlife and dramatic volcanic hills
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Golden Gate Highlands National Park – sandstone cliffs glowing in sunset hues
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Mountain Zebra National Park – home to elusive cheetah and majestic mountain zebra
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Addo Elephant National Park – giants roaming the thickets and open plains
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Bontebok National Park – where fynbos meets riverine tranquillity
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Flock to Marion – the Windiest and stormiest Ocean in the world (Roaring Forties, Furious Fifties and Screaming Sixties)
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Giants Castle – Home of the Lammergeier ( Bearded Vulture)
Join us as we relive each leg of this journey, discovering the rich diversity of our landscapes and reminding ourselves why South Africa will always remain one of the greatest road-tripping countries on earth.
The land of night drives and bush braais, Mokala National Park, offers a range of activities, along with stargazing, fly fishing, and guided bush walks.
Game Viewing
Here at Mokala National Park, it’s the smaller predators that dominate the landscape, such as black-backed jackals, bat-eared foxes, and raptors flying overhead.
Through your self-drives or pre-booked guided game drives, you’ll quickly encounter safari favourites such as giraffe, ostrich, black and white rhino, blue and black wildebeest, buffalo, tsessebe, roan antelope, kudu, springbok, and duiker. Here for the birds? Make a beeline for the Stofdam hide where you can spot Crimson-breasted Shrike and a plethora of kingfishers.
More Mokala Outdoor Activities
Along with guided San rock art excursions and tours of the Anglo-Boer War battlefields, there is plenty to keep you busy at Mokala National Park. Spend your nights gazing at the stars and your days soaking up the vistas and picnicking at Kameeldoring and Matopi (open to day visitors).
If you’re keen to throw in a line, the Riet River offers some excellent fly-fishing spots like De Krans and Kleinbek, but if you’re here to play with your 4×4, there are plenty of twin-track routes to tackle. Planning on bringing the mountain bike? Mokala National Park also features plenty of adventurous cycling tracks.
Mokala Interpretation Centre
Dive into Mokala National Park’s history at the Interpretation Centre, which chronicles how the park has changed over the years. There are interesting artefacts and rock engravings on display, offering insight into communities that have called this region home for many years. It also showcases Mokala’s rich biodiversity, and you’ll discover in-depth information about the multitude of animal and plant species. Be sure to secure a spot on the daily educational tours.
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