Mokala National Park

Mokala National Park is the youngest member of the San Parks. It is located approximately 80 kilometers south-west of Kimberley.

The landscape varies from heads to large open spaces. The park gives a feeling of desolation through the lonely hills. You will be surprised if you come from the hilly area into the open plains in the north and west of the park. The plains are crossed by water channels that run from the hills to the Riet River. There is a route through the park that leads you past the various eco-systems.

In a park enclosed between the Khalahari desert and the Karoo, you will of course find the birds that belong to these areas. Enjoy the beautiful singing of the lark, the busy life of the weaver and at night the spotted night swallow can sing you to sleep beautifully. The nearly 28,000 hectare park also houses the white and black rhino, buffalo, Tsessebe, Roan antelope, cane mountain, giraffe, zebra, gemsbok, moose, hartebeest, wildebeest and many more.

General information
Opening hours:
16 Oct – 15 March 7 am – 7 pm
16 March – 30 April 7 am – 6 pm
1 May – 31 July 7 am – 5.30 pm
1 August – 15 October 7 am – 6 pm

– The two entrances to the park are on the N12, the connecting road between Kimberley and Cape Town, Lilydale Gate and Mokala Main Gate.
– Distance from Kimberley to Lilydale Gate is 59km and from Hopetown to Lilydale gate is 107km.
– Receptions are each at ± 6 kilometers from the entrances to the park. When you enter the park, you must first report to the reception to obtain a gate permit number.
– The Mosu restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservation is recommended.
– There is no shop or gas station within the park, the nearest station is in Modder River.
– If it has rained, not all roads in the park are always accessible for normal sedan vehicles, in the rainy season (in the summer) sometimes internal roads have to be closed. An alternative route will then be indicated (via the N12) to reach the accommodation.

Activities

– You can go out and spot wildlife yourself, but there are also morning, day and evening game drives to be booked with a professional guide, these game drives must be booked in advance to avoid disappointment on site. If there is sufficient participation, you can eat in the bush during the game drive (breakfast or a bbq / braai in the evening)
– There are San Rock art excursions to visit the bushman rock paintings.
– You can go fly fishing in the river (only on catch and release basis)
– There is a swimming pool for guests
– In the park there are two picnic areas where you can have a BBQ yourself (bring all your own supplies) or picnic in nature.

Conservation Fees: the South African National Park administration has set a daily entrance fee (entrance fee) for all individual SAN parks. If you are going to visit several SAN parks in South Africa then it may be useful to purchase a Wildcard.

Accommodation in the Mokala National Park:
Lilydale Rest Camp
Mosu Lodge

All images/information on this page: © SANParks.org 2004-2016

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