One of South Africa’s most precious and protected national parks is the Mountain Zebra National Park. Located in the Eastern Cape province, the park is home to over 350 Cape mountain zebra species after which the park is named. These zebras are one of them because they are found only on this land and are very different from the normal zebras. Their thin stripes and lack of shadow stripes along with orange facial features attract tourists to this place.
Once declared endangered, these Cape Mountain zebras find this park to be an ideal and protected habitat to live in. Apart from mountain zebra, you can also find eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest and gemsbok which are unknown to the rest of the world. ,
Moreover, while exploring the forested valleys of this park, you can also meet African buffalo and black rhino. Thus, the Mountain Zebra National Park is one of Africa’s long-hidden secret gems that deserves to be discovered to get acquainted with the rich wildlife species of the mountain landscapes.
Since this place is clean, highly maintained and well preserved, it becomes a prime choice for people to come with their family and friends and explore the rich species of flora and fauna that flourish here.
About Mountain Zebra National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park is located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The main objective of establishing this park, which was opened in 1937, was to protect the endangered species of Cape Mountain zebra by providing them a man-made natural habitat. Spread over an area of 28 km square, in this park you will get to see the mountain zebra as well as various animals of the Mountain Zebra National Park. During the 1950s, there were only five horses and one mare at the park. Today, it has 700 different species of wildlife!
One of the main reasons to visit this park is that it harbors a variety of species that you can only find in the mountainous landscapes of Africa. Also the valleys, hills and rocky cliffs covered with green Karoo vegetation and bushes give the whole scene of this place a rustic edge that you may not get to see in other places.
The best reason to visit this park is that, not only does it have a wide variety of rare species of wildlife, but it also offers many other options to make your visit worth your time and money. If you are someone who is always looking for an adrenaline rush, then drive through 4*4 trails for a driving experience that will chill your nerves. The paths are of uneven width and varying length and difficulty but are also well preserved. Moreover, while exploring the place you will get to see different rocks that look like works of art and some old natural settlements.
And on top of that, if you go for a walk inside this park you may come across one of the caves with wall and rock paintings that depict the ancient inhabitants of this place. The ambiance of this place is so timeless and capable of taking you back in time!
This place is also famous for the facilities they provide so that their visitors are comfortable!
- It has an affordable and well-maintained restaurant to satisfy your hunger after you get tired of exploring.
- Rest camps provide you with petrol and diesel facilities.
- For day visitors, there is also swimming available if you want to escape the heat.
- There are shops that sell basic necessities.
Best time to visit
Before planning a trip, make sure you’re aware of the weather in Mountain Zebra National Park. Summers are hot with average temperatures ranging between 23.1°C – 28.4°C. And in winter, there is often snowfall in the highlands, so the average temperature can drop to 16.2ºC – 22.7ºC. December to February are the rainiest months which can reach up to 400 mm and 70% occurs in summer.
Now the records of rainfall in this area since 1962 have shown that moderate rainfall occurs from May to October. And during this period the climate is even and comparatively more travel friendly. Thus you can visit here during these months but be prepared for sudden weather changes.
So due to the varying climatic conditions of this place, it is advisable that whatever season you visit, make sure that you are well equipped with all the essential items like clothes, umbrellas, sunscreen and other items.
how to reach
Embracing rolling plains and deep valleys, the nearest town to this park is Cradock which is 12 km away. Other neighboring cities are Port Elizabeth which is 280 km away, Cape Town which is 800 km away, Johannesburg which is 800 km away and Durban which is 1050 km away.
To reach this park, you have to use two different modes of transportation which are the airport and then road transportation.
1. Airport facilities
All the above mentioned cities have airport facilities and cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg have international airport facilities while others are domestic. So you can come to this place easily. It takes hours from Port Elizabeth, 9 hours from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.
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2. Road Transport
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If you have reached these sites, you can take the road route to reach the park. Craddock is the closest of them all. You can access the N10 highway and the park is located on the R16 between Cradock and Graaff-Reinet. Don’t worry! There are signposts along the route to guide you through the town.
Apart from this, gate timings also vary according to months.
From 1st October to 31st March- 7 am to 7 pm
From 1st April to 30th September- 7 am to 6 pm
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places to stay
This place has so much to offer its visitors that you can’t help but extend your stay for some more time. So there is a rest camp, which is located 12 km from the main entrance. The accommodations are well-furnished, highly maintained and family-friendly.
1. Family Cottage
The name fully justifies this place as it is perfect for those who come with their families. It has two bedrooms, a lounge and a fireplace. The rooms are spacious and well furnished. The place is well maintained with great ambiance.
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2. Cottage (CO2)
It consists of one bedroom and a main lounge with a double-sided fireplace. With open kitchen, air conditioner and television it is a perfect place to spend your night. It also has a veranda and a braai area.
3. Rock Chalet
They have two bedrooms, a well-appointed bathroom, air conditioning, television with DSTV, indoor fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen. The kitchen has a microwave, fryer and stove so you can cook your own meals if you wish. The verandah attached to it also has a nice comfortable sitting area.
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things to do
1. 4*4 Trails
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You can take your fuel wheelers on different routes of this park and explore the wildlife. If you are looking for a relaxing easy drive taking in some of the most beautiful views of this park then choose the Jurisdam and Sonnerst trails which are relatively easy drives.
But if you are one of those people who love adventure and want to go on a thrilling drive then going on Umgeni Trail is more challenging and nerve-wracking, but totally worth the effort. But make sure these trails remain closed during wet weather or maintenance times.
2. Bird Watching and Cheetah Tracking
These lands support more than 100 different species of birds. You can spot Secretary Bird, Woodpecker, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Mountain Wheatear, Orange-breasted Rockjumper, Large-billed Lark and many other birds. Just make sure you take your binoculars with you.
Another fun and more adventurous activity that you can do here is to go with a guide and look for cheetahs. Once there is a sign of the cheetah’s presence, you can take a walk and get a closer look at this magnificent animal. It is advisable to book in advance and take binoculars and drinking water with you.
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3. San Rock Art Tour
For those who are more interested in history and knowing the past culture of new places, this might be what you are looking for. The San Rock Art Tour will take you on a journey to uncover the secrets of the past and learn about their art and culture by visiting caves and rock paintings.
You get a chance to peek into the ancient lifestyle of the people who lived on this land thousands of years ago.
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Thus Mountain Zebra National Park is one of the best parks to visit in South Africa. You get to see endangered animals and other species that can only be found in the mountainous landscapes of Africa. Apart from this, you get the best possible accommodation and facilities like restaurants and barbeque spots which are difficult to find in other such reserves. games that make money So if you ever plan to go on holidays to South Africa, make sure you visit this amazing park which is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit.
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