A biodiversity hotspot, the remote, arid and stony Tankwa Karoo offers a birding list of 174 species, of which 18 are endemics. As is often the case with arid areas, the scenery can be ruggedly spectacular.
Most specials are available year round, but with temperatures soaring in summer, the best time to visit is spring (August to October) when, if rain has fallen, you will be treated to Karoo desert flora.
Though only 3-4 hours drive from Cape Town to Tankwa Karoo National Park, birding will slow you down and it is best to overnight in the park or surrounding area. Most of the roads are gravel but passable, and the closest re-fueling points are Ceres, Sutherland and Calvinia, so if necessary, take a jerry-can. If you drove the entire route, it will be in excess of 600 km.
Read the full article on this route.
Birding in the Tankwa Karoo National Park OR Accommodation in and near the park
Country Life Magazine article on the Tankwa Karoo National Park
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