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Write a User ReviewNew Kid on the Block
Mokala is South Africa’s newest national park and it’s a stronghold and prime breeding ground for a wide variety of endangered herbivores. The newly created conservation area protects and actively propagates threatened wildlife species with the aim of building up stock so that the progeny can be used to repopulate other South African national parks and private game reserves. While Mokala may not boast many of the Big Five (only buffalo and rhino occur here), visitors to this unique park will get an incredible opportunity to view some of Southern Africa’s rarest wildlife species. I like that tsessebe sightings are all but guaranteed, roan and sable viewing is consistently good and with a little luck you might even bump into a rhino or two while on your safari. South Africa’s ‘reservoir of rarity’ awaits safari goers who have already seen the Big Five and are in search of Southern Africa’s more unusual animal species.
An isolated and peaceful dry-habitat park with good numbers of grazing and browsing animals
Located in the rather featureless and bleak interior of the Northern Cape, Mokala offers more than you would expect; the large open plains dotted with isolated dolerite hills comes as quite a surprise and are home to numerous grazing animals. Giraffe, zebra, red hartebeest, eland, gemsbok, wildebeest, buffalo and tsessebe are particularly common, both white and black rhino are found in fairly large family groups, and ostrich can be seen showing off elaborate courtship displays. It’s not unusual to spot some 20 different species on a two-day stay but there are no predators. Typical dry western habitat birds include the pygmy falcon, pale chanting goshawk, kori bustard, and Kalahari and Karoo robins. Budding astronomers will enjoy a visit on account of fantastically clear skies almost every night. Not worth a special effort to get to, but a reasonable overnight stop, and given that’s its fairly new, facilities are good.
A Gem in the Thornveld
South Africa's newest national park is small compared with the likes of Kruger, but certainly not short of wildlife. Black and white rhinos, buffalos, giraffes, zebras and a long list of antelopes are found in the park's 20,000 hectares. I spent a couple of hours driving around one morning and spotted many animals. I even came across a buffalo lounging in the middle of the road.
With its low Big Five count, Mokala isn't worth a special trip, but its location, off the N12 freeway southwest of Kimberley, makes it a handy stopoff on a cross-country journey. The park also offers a good range of activities and lodges among its rocky hills, sandy plains and camel thorn trees.
Quiet Wilderness and Rare Antelope in Mokala National Park
Although Mokala has no big predators, the wildlife experience is good. We enjoyed excellent sightings of buffalo, giraffe and white rhino, while black rhino – present but elusive – added an element of anticipation to every drive. Our total mammal count reached 21 species, an impressive number for a relatively small park. The real highlight, though, is the remarkable diversity of antelope. Both sable and roan, notoriously difficult to find elsewhere in southern Africa, are regularly seen here. Because antelopes are the stars of the show, vehicles stop for them often, and this has made them noticeably more relaxed around visitors than in many
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more popular reserves. One of the most rewarding aspects of our stay was the sense of solitude: in two full days, we encountered hardly another car.Mokala has two main rest camps. Lilydale Rest Camp is beautifully positioned on a cliff overlooking the Riet River. Mosu Rest Camp lacks a dramatic setting, but its central location makes it the best base for exploring both the northern and southern reaches of the park. If staying at Mosu, try to book a perimeter unit for a more immersive bush experience – we watched baboons amble past, spotted a lone giraffe on the horizon, and even had a curious yellow mongoose visit right outside our chalet. Do note that both camps are small and can fill up quickly during weekends and school holidays.