Mountain Zebra National Park (Cradock)

[Wenzel Kotze]

Has anybody been to this park, we are looking for a break later on this year and want to try something else?

[Wenzel Kotze]

Sorry guys Mountain Zebra National Park

[Roberto]

Great place!

Accommodation and facilities both at the camp site and chalets are excellent with a picnic area and swimming pool within the Game Reserve.

The Game Reserve itself is mostly wide open with very little traffic and the roads are in great condition. If you have an off road vehicle you can also drive on one of many 4x4 routes they have to offer. Be very cautious though because they are very rough. Rooiplaat and Ubejane loop are very nice game drives. In the mornings I generally go on Rooiplaat loop first because the sun hits it first as it is set on a plateau and from there I go down to Ubejane loop. There is a connecting road. Ubejane loop and the main dirt road I would say are my favourite areas where I have seen some decent sightings, Cheetah and Aardvark just to name a few.

If you run out of groceries etc, Cradock is a mere 15 to 20 minutes away.

I think you'll enjoy it!

[HiltonP]

We found MZNP to be one of the most scenic parks that we have visited, so make sure that you have a wide-angle lens to take advantage of some really spectacular vistas.

The park is not very large and can be covered in a single day but obviously one needs to take a lot more time to get the most out of it. We also found that the sun, and its angle relative to the mountains, make quite a difference to how the various areas looked depending on time of day. The roads are in quite good condition (except for section near the entrance) and we had no problem touring the park in a standard saloon car. The cottage accommodation is very comfortable, nothing fancy, but spacious and clean. The restaurant serves up a decent meal, probably one of the best that I have had in a SANPARK.

The animals appeared to be quite skittish, even with closed vehicles. We put this down to the relatively low number of cars travelling through the park and the possible fact that much of the game is therefore not used to traffic. Regardless of the time of day we never managed to get closer than about 50-75m from the zebra.

The town of Cradock was a great disappointment to us and in hindsight the time spent there could rather have been spent in the park.

[Terry J]

The Mountain Zebra park is one of the well kept secrets of National parks. We were there in February 2010 and it was great, the chalets were well appointed and clean, the restuarant was very nice and the food we had was well prepared and tasteful. The drives around the park were super with plenty to see and very little other traffic.
I agree with everything that Roberto has said.

[Peter Veitch]

I have not been there for a few years but concur with comments regarding accomodation, etc. I always say to the other half that this is a place to chill for a few days. Cradock is a dump and is best got through as quickly as possible!

[DaveK]

Concur too with all above. Wonderful spot. Very Very Very cold in winter. agree comments regarding Cradock. Make sure you also visit the small reserve near Graaff Reinett with spectacular mountains: just cannot get to the name. Check the first landscape pic, v old, in my gallery. The name will come back to me and I will let you know

Dave.

[Terry J]

Dave are you thinking of the Camdeboo National Park on the opposite side of the road to the Valley of Desolation.
Graaff Reinett is a beautiful and interesting place with the old buildings maintained in great condition. If you like photographing old houses and buildings this town is worth a visit. It also has the most beautiful old church that I have seen.
Also just outside of town is the Valley of Desolation with fantastic rock formations.

I only spent an evening and part of the next morning there before going on to the Mountain Zebra park.
I want to go back as there is still so much that I would like to photograph and of course the Owl House, which we did not visit.

[Morkel Erasmus]

I echo what everyone has said - a real GEM of a park and a well-kept secret.
Great vistas, great photo opportunities and lovely light.
If you can at all, stay in the Doornkop Guest House...it's the old farm house restored and really is a treat to stay in - far away from the main rest camp in the gorge and you have the best night skies and peace and quiet.

[Alvin]

What's the wildlife variety and population like in the park?
I mean obviously there are Mountain Zebra, but will one have fair chance of other large game (I assume its got the big five? - wide angle vistas are not my thing) photo opportunities?
Sounds like from those bellow/above that have been to very nice place? if the game variety and sighting chances are fair, then I'd like to try it.
Please any info advise on the game variety and sightings from those that have been.

[bomtek]

Common Name	Scientific Name
Order INSECTIVORA
Family Macroscelididae
Cape rock elephant-shrew	Elephantulus edwardii (?)
Rock elephant-shrew	Elephantulus myurus
Smith's rock elephant-shrew	Elephantulus rupestris
Round-eared elephant-shrew	Macroscelides proboscideus (?)
Family Erinaceidae
South African hedgehog	Erinaceus frontalis
Family Soricidae
Reddish grey musk shrew	Crocidura cyanea
Forest shrew	Myosorex varius
Family Chrysochloridae
Hottentot golden mole	Amblysomus hottentotus
Order INSECTIVORA
ORDER CHIROPTERA
Family Molossidae
Egyptian free-tailed bat	Tadarida aegyptiaca (?)
Family Vespertilionidae
Cape serotine bat	Eptesicus capensis
Schreibers' long-fingered bat	Miniopterus schreibersi (?)
Family Rhinolophidae
Geoffroy's horseshoe bat	Rhinolophus clivosus
Order PRIMATES
Family Cercopithecidae
Vervet monkey	Cercopithecus pygerythrus
Chacma baboon	Papio ursinus
Order CARNIVORA
Family Hyaenidae
Aardwolf	Proteles cristatus
Brown Hyena	Parahyaena brunnea
Family Felidae
Cheetah	Acinonyx jubatus
Cape wild cat	Felis lybica
Black-footed cat	Felis nigripes
Caracal	Caracal caracal
Family Canidae
Bat-eared fox	Otocyon megalotis
Silver fox Vulpes chama
Blackbacked jackal	Canis mesomelas
Family Mustelidae
Cape clawless otter	Aonyx capensis
Striped polecat	Ictonyx striatus
Whitenaped weasel	Poeciligale albinucha
Family Viverridae
Small-spotted genet	Genetta genetta
Cape grey mongoose	Galerella pulverulenta
Water mongoose	Atilax paludinosus
Yellow mongoose	Cynictis penicillata
Suricate	Suricata suricatta
Order HYRACOIDEA
Family Procaviidae
Rock dassie	Procavia capensis
Order TUBULIDENTATA
Family Orycteropodidae
Ant bear	Orycteropus afer
Order LAGOMORPHA
Family Leporidae
Scrub hare	Lepus saxatilis
Cape hare	Lepus capensis
Natal red rock rabbit	Pronolagus crassicaudatus (?)
Smith's red rock rabbit	Pronolagus rupestris
Order RODENTIA
Family Bathyergidae
Common mole-rat	Cryptomys hottentotus
Family Hystricidae
Porcupine	Hystrix africaeaustralis
Family Sciuridae
Ground squirrel	Xerus inauris
Family Pedetidae
Springhare	Pedetes capensis
Family Gliridae
Spectacled dormouse	Graphiurus ocularis
Woodland dormouse	Graphiurus murinus
Family Cricetidae
Pouched mouse	Saccostomus campestris
Bush karoo rat	Otomys unisulcatus
Short-tailed gerbil	Desmodillus auricularis
Hairy-footed gerbil	Gerbillurus paeba
Family Muridae
Grant's rock mouse	Aethomys granti
Namaqua rock mouse	Aethomys namaquensis
Multimammate mouse	Praomys natalensis
House rat	Rattus rattus
Striped mouse	Rhabdomys pumilio
Order PERISSODACTYLA
Family Equidae
Cape mountain zebra	Equus zebra zebra
Burchell’s zebra	Equus burchelli
Order ARTIODACTYLA
Family Suidae
Bushpig	Potamochoerus larvatus
Family Bovidae
Eland	Taurotragus oryx
Kudu	Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Mountain reedbuck	Redunca fulvorufula
Red hartebeest	Redunca fulvorufula
Black wildebeest	Connochaetes gnou
Blesbok	Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi
Springbok	Antidorcas marsupialis
Grey duiker	Sylvicapra grimmia
Steenbok	Raphicerus campestris
Klipspringer	Oreotragus oreotragus
Grey rhebuck	Pelea capreolus
Cape Buffalo	Syncerus caffer
Order PERISSODACTYLA
Family Rhinocerotidae
Black Rhinoceros	Diceros bicornis

No big 5 I'm afraid! Go here to see pictures from SANParks gallery

What's the wildlife variety and population like in the park?
I mean obviously there are Mountain Zebra, but will one have fair chance of other large game (I assume its got the big five? - wide angle vistas are not my thing) photo opportunities?
Sounds like from those bellow/above that have been to very nice place? if the game variety and sighting chances are fair, then I'd like to try it.
Please any info advise on the game variety and sightings from those that have been.

[Alvin]

Thanks Terry
maybe to combine a trip to Mountain Zebra and Addo Elephant then?

[DaveK]

Late back on this thread: sorry. Yes Terry, Camdeboo and the valley of desolation is worth seeing
Dave.

[Roberto]

Thanks Terry
maybe to combine a trip to Mountain Zebra and Addo Elephant then?

Sounds good, I would work on 3 to 5 days per reserve?

[Morkel Erasmus]

What's the wildlife variety and population like in the park?
I mean obviously there are Mountain Zebra, but will one have fair chance of other large game (I assume its got the big five? - wide angle vistas are not my thing) photo opportunities?
Sounds like from those bellow/above that have been to very nice place? if the game variety and sighting chances are fair, then I'd like to try it.
Please any info advise on the game variety and sightings from those that have been.

Alvin, the vistas aren't just good for 'landscapers'...it also means there are wide open spaces where game is easily spotted and there are gorgeous mountains all round forming great backdrops for your photos. If you are after great photos regardless of species, it's an awesome park (with a chance to see cheetahs and even aardwolf - saw 2 during broad daylight on my previous trip)...but if you are after the "big 5" you will only find 2...black rh!n0 (had some good sightings) and buffalo. I once combined it with a short Addo trip and it worked well. 3 days for each is plenty time...

[HiltonP]

Yes, I would support combining a trip to the two parks. They aren't very far apart and the route between them is quite scenic from what I remember. It is what we should have done on our last trip instead of wasting our time in Cradock!

[Alvin]

Thanks Morkel
I've been trying to get a booking in KNP for June/July, but not coming right!
So maybe a combo of these two as an alternate.

OFF TOPIC: anyone know how to get past the always full website booking system to KNP? Surely there must be space - heard all sorts of stories of fancy tour operators making block bookings and not using them?

[Morkel Erasmus]

Yeah - best is to check daily as you need to snatch up them cancellations as soon as they occur.
You can always phone the park directly...as soon as you get a single date booking you can always wangle once in the park, my parents have been doing it for years...checking with reception every morning for an open slot if they want to stay longer at a certain camp. They would even sometimes book 2 single nights in the same week and then fill it up when they get there with what becomes available...

[Alvin]

Hi Morkel
I looked up the dirrect numbers of the park and will keep trying for cancellations
Traveling with kids (at least 5 of us in total) makes "wangling" in the park a little nerve wrecking I think - no problem if its just the two of you though.

[Alvin]

Ok, so gave up on KTP - everything booked up!
But managed to get 3 nights in Mountain Zebra Cottages followed by 4 nights in Addo Elephant Spekboom Tented camp in July.
Anyone got some advise on good spots, waterholes, etc. at these two parks?