Karoo

National Park

South Africa · Southern Africa (Western Cape)

Southern Africa (Western Cape)Declared in 1979830 km²

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One of the richest synapsid fossil beds in the world, more than 250 million years old

Area

830 km²

Protection category

UICN II

Parque nacional — what the IUCN categories mean

Declared in

1979

Region

Southern Africa (Western Cape)

Climate

Tropical, Árido / desértico, Templado, Mediterráneo

Best time

May to September

Plan your visit

Best time: May to September
Area: 830 km²

More from South Africa View location

Highlight

One of the richest synapsid fossil beds in the world, more than 250 million years old

Declared in 1979, Karoo National Park sits on one of the richest synapsid fossil beds in the world — the remains of the reptilian ancestors of today's mammals, which lived in the region more than 250 million years ago, before the dinosaurs even appeared — making the park a world reference for the palaeontology of the reptile-to-mammal transition.

Location

See on the interactive map

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1 dive site within 300 km is also shown.

31 species documented in Karoo

20 Mammals5 Birds4 Reptiles2 Amphibians

At conservation risk:Buitre de El Cabo,Cebra de montaña,Gato de patas negras,Secretario

Avestruz común

Struthio camelus

Caracal

Caracal caracal

Chacal de lomo negro

Lupulella mesomelas

Damán de El Cabo

Procavia capensis

Eland común

Taurotragus oryx

Kudú mayor

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Órix del Cabo

Oryx gazella

Springbok (antílope saltarín)

Antidorcas marsupialis

Suricata

Suricata suricatta

Tortuga leopardo

Stigmochelys pardalis

Águila de Verreaux

Aquila verreauxii

Antílope alcelafo (hartebeest)

Alcelaphus buselaphus

See all 31 species of this place

Flora and ecosystems

Ecosystems found in South Africa, where Karoo lies.

SabanaDesiertoMarino / costero

Experiences in this park

Buceo y snorkelObservación de aves

Nearby dive sites

Where can I dive near here?

Knysna Estuary (seahorses)

192 km away

Similar parks

Which other parks are like this one?

Table Mountain

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Rock hyrax (dassie) · African sacred ibis

Mayo a septiembre

Mismo país: South Africa

Mountain Zebra

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Agulhas

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Blue Crane · Lesser Flamingo

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Bontebok

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Bontebok · Cape Mountain Zebra

Mayo a septiembre

Mismo país: South Africa

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about Karoo.

BuceoKnysna Estuary (seahorses)A 192 km CountrySouth Africa

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