Mountain Zebra National Park

Ready to uncover a hidden gem? Your next adventure spot is Mountain Zebra National Park in South Africa’s Eastern Cape! Established in 1937 to rescue the endangered Cape mountain zebra, this park now sprawls over 28,000 hectares and is home to about 300 zebras. The zebras are truly unique with their narrow stripes and distinctive orange facial blaze.

But wait, there’s more! This park isn’t just about zebras. You’ll also find black rhinos, cheetahs, Cape buffalo, antelope, and more. The terrain is a wild mix of steep heights, wide-open plains, and deep valleys – perfect for all the wildlife that calls this place home. You’ll experience stunning views of the Great Karoo, birdwatching galore, and a wildflower show in spring that’ll add a splash of colour to the landscape. Adventure awaits!

Striking landscapes

The park primarily comprises mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone, with dolerite rock formations in the mountainous areas. You can get a good sense of the terrain on the Kranskop-Wilgerboom River route, which showcases the park’s diverse geography. The vegetation mixes eastern upper Karoo grasses, escarpment grasses, and shrubland. For the best wildlife sightings, the Rooiplaat area is the best spot! The plants here are particularly favoured by species such as springbok, red hartebeest, and black wildebeest. And don’t miss the lower Wilgerboom valley, where you can spot the greater kudu munching on those sweet thorn (Acacia karroo) trees.

More than just zebras!

Mountain Zebra National Park started with one big mission: to save the Cape mountain zebra from disappearing! But these days it’s all about preserving all types of biodiversity. So, what’s in store for you? You’ll spot blesbok, springbok, and grey rhebok galore! Plus, this park is one of the top spots in South Africa to catch a glimpse of the mountain reedbuck. Cool carnivores like suricates, bat-eared foxes, and black-backed jackals are out and about. As for the elusive cats (caracals, African wild cats, and small spotted cats), they’re around – but spotting them is a bit of a game of hide-and-seek!

Activities in Mountain Zebra National Park

• Guided Drives: Best for morning or sunset safaris (spot wildlife and soak in the views)
• Cheetah Tracking: Track cheetahs on foot with GPS – feel the thrill up close!
• San Cave Paintings Tour: Discover ancient cave paintings (travel back in time with art)
• Morning Nature Walks: Stroll with a guide to find hidden spots and enjoy the quiet.
• Salpeterkop Hike: Tackle a hike (earn panoramic views and history along the way).

How to get there

To reach Mountain Zebra National Park, you can fly to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport. From Cape Town, it’s an 800-kilometer (approximately 9-hour) drive, which pairs perfectly with a tour of the Winelands and Garden Route.

Alternatively, fly into Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and drive the 260 km (around 3 hours) to the park. The park is 12 km from Cradock and easily accessible via the N10 and R61 highways.

Climate

Mountain Zebra National Park experiences a semi-arid to arid climate, with most rainfall between October and April. Winters (May to September) are notably cold, with temperatures often dropping below freezing, especially in June and July. Mornings can be as chilly as 1°C, while daytime highs range from 16°C to 20°C later in the season. Snow may fall on the mountain peaks, but it’s rare. In summer (October to April), temperatures are milder and rainfall increases – although it’s still infrequent.

Best time to visit Mountain Zebra National Park

The park is open all year round. In summer, it opens from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., while in winter it closes an hour earlier. The warmer summer months (from October to March) make your visit more pleasant thanks to the milder temperatures, and the scenery of this park really shines in summer. In winter, it can get quite chilly due to the park’s high altitude, so keep that in mind if you’re not a fan of the cold!