Mokala National Park
All-in-One
This page displays all information relevant to this park/camp, except the following:
"Where Endangered Species Roam..."
Mokala is SANParks newest park, situated approximately 80km south-southwest of Kimberley, and west of the N12 freeway to Cape Town. Nestled in the hills, Mokala's landscape boasts a variety of koppieveld (hills) and large open plains.
The isolated dolerite hills give the place a calming feeling of seclusion. A big surprise awaits when you pass through the hills and are confronted by the large open sandy plains towards the north and west of the Park. Drainage lines from the hills form little tributaries that run into the plains and drain into the Riet River.
Mokala is a Setswana name for a Camel Thorn (Kameeldoring). These trees occur in dry woodland and arid, sandy areas and are one of the major tree species of the desert regions of Southern Africa. This immensely important species has a great range over the Northern Cape and varies from a small, spiny shrub barely 2m high, to a tree up to 16m tall with a wide, spreading crown.
The Camel Thorn is an incredible resource to both wildlife and humans who survive in often harsh conditions characteristic of this area. Traditionally, the gum and bark have been used by local tribes to treat coughs, colds and nosebleeds. Some even use the roasted seeds as a coffee substitute.
Things to Seek
- Black Rhino
- Tsessebe
- Roan antelope
- White Rhino
- Black Wildebeest
- Indigenous plant species
Contact the park
Tel.: (053) 2040 158 / 164 / 168 Fax: (053) 2040 176
Or e-mail Hein Grobler (Hospitality Manager)
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Accommodation
The park currently offers three separate lodges. Mosu Lodge host two air-conditioned executive suites and 13 two bed en-suite rooms with ceiling fans, all draped with suede curtains and bedspreads in sand color, crisp white linen and quality wooden furniture. A cool sparkling blue swimming pool for the warmer months, restaurant with bar, lounge and entertainment area with built in fireplace, and a state of the art conference facility completes an unforgettable experience.
Mofele Lodge is more rustic and in a farm style with 9 en-suite rooms, sleeping 30 guests in total, all containing single beds and ceiling fans. It has a restaurant (for groups and special arrangements), bar, lounge and entertainment area with build in fireplace for the cooler months. This lodge also has an excellent conference facility that can host up to 30 delegates.
Lilydale Lodge offers 12 self-catering units overlooking the Riet River. Warm exhilarating summers, cold cozy winters, breathtaking sunsets and glittering diamonds in the sky, are all added by nature to compliment an unforgettable visit.
Mosu, Mofele and Lilydale lodges have superb facilities for conferences, weddings, team building events or workshops. Each conference room can seat 30 delegates in boardroom style or up to 40 to 120 delegates in theatre style. There are no breakaway rooms but both facilities have a big fireplace in each with air conditioning at Mosu Lodge and Mofele Lodge Conference Rooms.
There is a camping area which is 10km from the main lodge.
Mosu Lodge
- Luxury Executive Suites (2 units)
- Self Catering (braai, micro wave, two plate stove, fridge, utensils, cutlery & crockery)
- One Bedroom with double bed with electric blanket
- WC, shower, bath, hand basin
- Fire place and air conditioner
- Semi Luxury Rooms (13 units)
- Non-self Catering (only electric kettle, no braai area, no fridge)
- One Bedroom with two single beds
- WC and shower, hand basin
- Wall-fitted heater and ceiling fan
Mofele Lodge
- Semi Luxury Rooms (9 units)
- Non-self Catering (only electric kettle, no braai area, no fridge)
- One Bedroom with two / three / four or five single beds
- WC and shower, hand basin
- Ceiling fans
Lilydale Lodge
- Comfortable self-catering accommodation (12 units)
- Main lodge and restaurant available on request
- Restaurant and conference for group bookings
Haak-en-Steek Camp
- Rustic Cottage (1 unit)
- Self Catering (braai facility in lapa, gas stove & oven, gas fridge / freezer, kitchen, utensils, cutlery & crockery)
- Two sleeping areas (divided by wall), one double bed in open kitchen area, 2 single beds
- WC, shower and hand basin
- No electricity, no air conditioner
Rustic Camping (5 sites)
- Braai facilities in lapa, no electricity, gas geysers, no kitchen or cooking facilities
For reservations at Mokala National Park
Tel.: 053-204 0158/204 0164/204 0168
Fax: 053-2040176
Email: Hein Grobler
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Activities and Facilities
This is a brand new park with a lot of opportunities for outdoor adventure. A number of activities such as mountain biking, day walks, sunset and night drives and bush braais will soon be offered. The park also plans to take full advantage of perfect night skies and star-gazing as a night time activity will also be offered along with wildlife documentary DVD shows. Rock art painting and engraving excursions, and guided horse trails will also be introduced.
Other recreation facilities include a Snooker / Pool, swimming pool, cable television in bars, a lounge and fire places,and high and low-rope structure and facilities.
Future developments will also include a day visitor’s area and more rustic wilderness self-catering camps. A lot of work has gone into establishing a good road network and, and ensuring that a high standard is maintained throughout the park.
This is merely the beginning ...
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How to get there
Take the N12 route to Cape Town from Kimberley. 57km from Kimberley, on the Hayfield / Heuningneskloof Crossing, turn right on a gravel road. Travel 21km until you get to the gate of Mokala National Park on your right hand side. The main Administration and Reception Building is a further 7km inside the park. Allow about 90 minutes’ drive from Kimberley to the main lodge. From Cape Town, follow the N12 north, pass Hopetown. 65km north of Hopetown, turn left on the Hayfield / Heuningneskloof Crossing. Travel 21km until you reach the gate of Mokala National Park (see map).
- GPS Coordinates
Main gate |
S 29 12.775 |
E 24 19.579 |
|
Office |
|
S 29 10.334 |
E 24 21.001 |
- Air – closest airport is Kimberly International. There is also a private landing strip in the park.
- Car rental services at airport
- Coaches
- Maps
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General Information
Climate
The rainfall, mainly during summer, is erratic and can be as high as 700 mm per year (June to May), but also as low as 300 mm per year (June to May). The average annual rainfall for the park is just over 400 mm per annum.
The temperature is less erratic than the rainfall with cold winters (coldest months June - July) as low as -4 °C while the summer (warmest months December - January) is as high as 44 °C. Frost occurs, with the earliest date recorded being 27 April and the latest date 23 September, while its duration can be as long as 107 days.
Gate Times
Seasons |
Months |
Times |
Summer |
1 September - 30 April |
06:00 - 19:00 |
Winter |
1 May - 30 August |
07:00 - 18:00 |
Contact the park:
Tel.: (053) 2040 158 / 164 / 168
Fax: (053) 2040 176
Or e-mail Hein Grobler (Hospitality Manager)
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Vegetation and Geology
Mokala National Park is home to seven indigenous plant species namely:
- Acacia erioloba - Acacia tortilis open Woodland
- Acacia mellifera - Rhigozum obovatum open Shrubland
- Acacia mellifera - Acacia tortilis open Woodland
- Schmidtia pappophroides - Acacia erioloba sparse Woodland
- Acacia mellifera - Acacia erioloba open to closed Woodland
- Eragrostis lehmanniana - Schmidtia pappophroides open Grassland
- Cynodon dactylon - Ziziphus mucronata open Woodland.
The panoramic landscape is underlain by various geological types such as:
- Outcrops of the andesitic lavas of the Ventersdorp Supergroup, which is mostly overlain by calcrete and occurs in isolated patches as rocky hills.
- Dolerite intrusions mostly occurring as dykes found in the rocky hills.
- Outcrops of tillite of the Dwyka formation
- Shale of the Prince Albert Formation (Karoo Sequence)
The largest part of park is mainly underlain by aeolian sand of tertiary to recent age covering the Dwyka tillite. The soil type varies from deep red and yellow sands (Hutton- and Clovelly soil forms) to shallow and stony (Mispah- and Kimberley soil forms); while the pans are very clayey (> 30% clay content) with the dominant soil forms Arcadia and Oakleaf.
In terms of Acocks' classification (1953) the vegetation of the park consists of Kalahari Thornveld Proper (Veld Type 16). According to the new vegetation map by Mucina et al. (2005) two vegetation units occur in the park namely Kimberley Thornveld (Svk4) and Vaalbos Rocky Shrubland (Svk5) of which both are part of the Savanna Biome.
Bordering towards the north is a very important unit called the Northern Upper Karoo (Nku 3) which forms part of the Nama Karoo Biome.
One of conservation objectives of the park is to conserve the interface of two biomes, (Savanna Biome and the Nama-Karoo Biome). Being a national park, it should serve as a permanent reference area for wider exploration surveys in the Northern Cape region.
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People with disabilities
Wheelchair Access
(Please see additional information on Wheelchair Accessibility)
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