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National Parks
Mountain Zebra National Park
Province: Eastern Cape
Features: Cape Mountain Zebra
MAIN ATTRACTIONS
1. Cape Mountain Zebra
2. Red Hartebeest
3. Eland
4. Cape Buffalo
5. Ostrich
GENERAL INFORMATION
The craggy heights of the Mountain Zebra National Park's Bankberg embrace rolling plains and deep valleys, and has become an entrancing preserve for the Cape mountain zebra. The proclamation of the park in 1937 saved these animals from extinction, and currently their population stands at 350. Other mammals found here include eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest and gemsbok. Mountain reedbuck and grey rhebok frequent the higher areas, whilst caracal occupy the niche of primary predator..
- Climate
Summers are warm, and winter nights are cold. Rainfall averages some 390 mm per annum, with regular snowfall on high lying areas.
- Day Visitors
For people staying in Cradock Mountain Zebra offers an excellent day visitor destination. There are a couple of picnic sites in the park to cater for day and overnight visitors.
- Emergencies
Park: Tel +27 48 881-2427 or 2486 o Fax +27 48 881-3943
- Handy Hints
Remember to bring along a hat, walking shoes, sun block, camera, binoculars and bird and mammal reference books. Hikers on both nature trails and overnight trail must carry sufficient water.
Warm clothes are essential for the winter months.
Take Note
Pets are not allowed in national parks.
Firearms must be declared at reception where they will be sealed. The seal will be broken upon departure.
Motor cycles or bicycles are not allowed.
Medical, pharmaceutical, vehicle repair and police services available in Cradock.
- Travel / How to get there
The park is situated 12 km from the picturesque town of Cradock, and is 280 km from Port Elizabeth, 800 km from Cape Town, 800 km from Johannesburg and 1 050 km from Durban. The access route to the park entrance, as well as all internal tourist routes are gravel, whilst roads in the restcamp area are tarred.
- Gate Hours
1 October to 31 March: 07:00 - 19:00
1 April to 30 September: 07:00 - 18:00
- Wheelchair Access
Accommodation
The park has 19 4-bed cottages and one 6-bed guesthouse. None of these have specific adaptations, such as roll-in showers and grab rails adjacent the toilet. All the cottages have steps at their entrances, although in a couple of these units the step is low enough for a strong wheelchair user to get in unassisted. There is also a 6-bed guesthouse, which has no steps or uneven surface prohibiting entry. All the units have baths which will only be appropriate for some people. With little upgrading efforts the park will be able to upgrade selected units into properly accessible ones.
Main Complex
Access into and within the main complex is ramped. Accessible ablution facilities could be provided and access to the shop improved.
Other facilities and activities
The park has limited facilities and activities. Game viewing is done from the comfort of ones own vehicle. The picnic sites and walking trails are fairly rustic, with no formal adaptation provided for persons with mobility or sensory impairment. It is a definite opportunity for the park to follow the example of sister parks like Addo or Karoo.
FAUNA AND FLORA
Mammals
The highlight of the park's mammalian fauna is obviously the 350 or so Cape mountain zebra after which the park is named. These zebra differ from the plains or Burchell's zebra, by having narrower stripes, absence of shadow stripes and orange facial colouration. Other noticeable species of the mountain plateau are the red hartebeest, eland and springbok. In the more wooded valleys visitors should search for kudu, and two of the park's more recent reintroductions, the African buffalo and the black rhino.
Birds
Black and Martial Eagle and Jackal Buzzard soar impressively over this mountain habitat. Palewinged Starling is very conspicuous on the mountain plateau, where Ostrich, Secretarybird, Blue Crane and Ludwig's Bustard are the larger more visible species. Greywinged Francolin, Ground Woodpecker, Thickbilled and Longbilled Lark, Cape and Sentinel Rock Thrush, Mountain Chat and Orangebreasted Rockjumper should also be searched for, while Pinkbilled Lark and Rock Pipit are less common.
The wooded kloofs and acacia stands host species such as Redfronted Tinker Barbet, Lesser Honeyguide, Redthroated Wryneck and Southern Tchagra.
Vegetation
The park contains a rich variety of plant species and in spring the veld is covered with flowers. Fynbos and rensoterveld bush flourish in the temperate climate where the rains come mainly during early summer and winter.
RESERVATIONS
Telephone Number: +27 (0)12 428 9111
Fax number: +27 (0)12 343 0905
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NATIONAL
PARKS