Nature Reserves
in
Mountain Zebra National Park The terrain of this incredibly scenic park varies from grass-covered plateaus to wooded ravines, providing a stunning sanctuary for the rare Cape Mountain Zebra.
It is also home to herds of eland, springbuck, kudu, black wildebeest, blesbuck, Cape buffalo, red hartebeest and over 250 bird species. Smaller predators such as cheetah, caracal, brown hyena, African wildcat, bat-eared fox and aardwolf can be seen occasionally.
There are opportunities for game viewing from your own vehicle, riding, walking along several nature trails, or undertaking the three day hiking trail.
Visitors to the park can overnight in the rest camp’s caravan park or self-contained chalets. The park also offers a licensed restaurant, conference facilities, swimming pools, fuel pumps and a shop for provisions and souvenirs.
An unforgettable experience is a stay in the Doornhoek farmstead, a National Monument dating from 1836. The house is furnished with beautiful antiques and lies hidden in a secluded valley.
Hiking Trail
in
Mountain Zebra National Park The 3-day Impofu Hiking Trail traverses diverse terrain in riverine bush, sour grassveld, thornveld and Karoo dwarf shrublands. Hikers are accompanied by an armed guide on this trail.
Facilities at the overnight huts include bunks with mattresses, a shower, a chemical toilet, fireplace and firewood. Cape mountain zebra, giraffe, eland, gemsbok, blesbok, springbok, mountain reedbuck and grey rhebok frequent the slopes and plains.
Duration: 3 days
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 25 km
Things to do near
Mountain Zebra National Park
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Hiking Trail
in
Cradock (14.9 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) This beautiful trail is a leisurely walk up a hill with great historical value. This is where the British soldiers had a lookout point to guard over Cradock during the Anglo Boer War. The circular route takes about 3 hours and is very easy to do. There is a launch pad for abseiling on the way.
Popular Attractions
in
Cradock (16 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) The Cradock cemetery boasts the grave of a legendary Harry Potter, who, according to the inscription on the tombstone, died on 27 July 1910. The tombstone is also carved with the loving words of his wife, Elizabeth Potter, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee."
According to the locals, the resting place of Harry Potter was discovered by a German who dedicated his time to traveling around the world in search of graves of famous personalities.
Sports Stadiums Clubs
in
Cradock (16 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) Situated on the banks of the Fish River, Inxuba Yethemba Municipal Park is an oasis of trees and flowers - a perfect spot to chill out in uncomfortably hot weather. The Park is a mixture of timelessness and modernity: beautiful gardens, shady trees, the Cradock Four Memorial, the Jurie Lombard Water Mill, plus a sports complex that could well be the envy of many a larger town. The sports complex features a swimming pool, tennis courts, a rugby field encircled by a superb synthetic athletic track which hosts events at regional and national level, a pavilion seating 2 000 and a caravan park with full facilities. The annual Hansa Powerade Great Fish River Canoe Marathon ends at the Park.
Popular Attractions
in
Cradock (16.1 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) The 10 mm high egg-shaped dolerite rock is one of Cradock's many fascinating attractions. The rock weighs approximately 488 tons and is delicately balanced on an edge, with its southern side missing due to a lightning strike around 1937.
Visitors can stroll and climb around the surrounding area, where a typical Karoo atmosphere prevails. The silence of the magnificent area will make you feel like you are far away from civilisation.
Popular Attractions
in
Cradock (16.1 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) Oukop Hill is about 2.5 km from Cradock and offers a breathtaking view of the whole of Cradock and parts of the Karoo.
You can wander around on the slopes and enjoy a picnic or sundowners from the top. The hill was used as a lookout post during the Anglo-Boer war, and you can see soldier etchings on some of the rocks.
Popular Attractions
in
Cradock (16.2 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) Die Tuishuise in Market Street are fifteen beautifully restored mid-19th century houses with different styles of period furniture in each. Originally these houses were occupied by craftsmen who worked on wagons and with horses before the advent of the motor car. The intention is to convert the whole of Market Street into a tourist attraction, and to restore it and all the houses to their former glory, so that one maintains the historical heritage of this town. The restored houses serve as overnight tourist accommodation and are a major attraction in Cradock.
Galleries and Museums
in
Cradock (16.2 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) South African author, pacifist and political activist, Olive Schreiner, is best known for her novel, The Story of an African Farm. The book was first published in 1883 in London and quickly became a best-seller, despite causing controversy over its frank portrayal of freethought, feminism, premarital sex and pregnancy out of wedlock and transvestitism.The Schreiner House Museum is one of Cradock’s interesting and attractive historical buildings. From 1868 till 1870 it was home to Olive and three of her siblings. Her elder brother, Theo, was principal of the “Government Aided School” in Cradock at the time. The other two siblings were her elder sister Henrietta and her younger brother Will, later Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. Today the Schreiner House is a National Monument containing Olive’s personal library, exhibitions depicting her life and those of her siblings, and copies of all the books she wrote. There is also a bookshop selling a wide variety of books, including Schreiner’s most celebrated work, The Story of an African Farm, as well as other books by and about her.
Galleries and Museums
in
Cradock (16.4 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) The Schreiner House is one of Cradock's most interesting and old buildings. It was home to the world-renowned author Olive Schreiner between 1868 and 1870.
In the museum there is a display of Schreiner's personal library, pictorial exhibitions of her life and copies of all the books she wrote. There is also a wide variety of books available for sale, including Schreiner's most celebrated work, The Story of an African Farm.
Golf Courses
in
Cradock (17.8 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) Nine hole course on the banks of the Great Fish River. Well watered, well wooded with an attractive and well equipped Clubhouse. This is considered one of the finest Golf courses in the Karoo.
Galleries and Museums
in
Cradock (23.2 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) The Great Fish River Museum depicts the earlier history of the Eastern Province pioneers from 1840 to 1900. The building was constructed in 1849 as a Dutch Reformed Church Parsonage, and declared a National Monument in 1971.
There is an exhibition of a traditional coach house housing an ox wagon, a Cape cart and a four-horse cart. Outside is an example of a parsonage garden of 100 years ago. In the main building there is a display of the history of Cradock, the 1820 settlers and Voortrekkers, and a photographic demonstration of Nelson Mandela's life.
Nature Reserves
in
Somerset East (56.3 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) Set on the southern slopes of the Bosberg Mountains, the Bosberg Nature Reserve is a popular destination for hikers.
The densely-wooded nature reserve looms over the lovely dorp of Somerset East. The forest is characterised by lofty Outeniqua yellowwood, white stinkwood, Eastern Cape cabbage trees, wild peach and wild olive trees. Offsetting the forested area are the grassy plains of the Dohne sourveld as well as Karoo succulents and mountain fynbos.
Wildlife you might encounter includes zebra, bushbuck, bush pig, baboon, rock hyrax, Vervet monkey, tortoises, frogs, snakes and lizards. Look out for the Knysna turaco flitting among the treetops. With more than 80 species of birds recorded in the reserve, twitchers have much to get excited about, particularly during summer or spring.
Hikers usually take on the fairly strenuous two-day Bosberg Trail. There is also the far less intense option of the Bestershoek Trail and sedate strolls to the viewpoints over Somerset East.
Hiking Trail
in
Tarkastad (64.7 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) Named for the historical farm Endurance rather than the degree of difficulty, the Endurance Trail can be done over 2 or 3 days. Large herds of plains game frequent the trail area.
The Endurance Trail Hut is close to a game-viewing hide, a beautiful spot during dusk and dawn when animals are most frequently spotted.
Duration: 2 – 3 days
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 28 km
Hiking Trail
in
Tarkastad (64.8 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) Starting at the Commando Drift Nature Reserve rest camp, the Bushman Trail follows the shores of the dam and then up Palingkloof on a jeep track. It’s a popular birding trail, offering opportunities to spot numerous waterfowl and waders.
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 6 km
Mountain Biking Trails
in
Tarkastad (64.8 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) The Commando Drift MTB Endurance Trail is a fairly tough route but can be adapted to suit less fit riders by utilizing management roads. The topnotch rocky route traverses spectacular Karoo mountains and along dense riverine thickets and the Commando Drift Dam.
Close encounters with wildlife, a rich diversity of birdlife and a challenging test of your endurance and riding skills make this an extremely worthwhile trail.
Mountain Biking Trails
in
Tarkastad (65.1 km from Mountain Zebra National Park) Get on your bike for an easy 3-hour spin in the Commando Drift Nature Reserve. This worthwhile trail follows gravel roads within the reserve with some gentle hills. Wildlife you may see includes zebra, black wildebeest, blesbok, springbok, kudu, baboons and Vervet monkeys.