The park protects an exceptionally fine tract of mountainous Karoo landscape near the town of Beaufort West, and is well-stocked with game — including Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis), Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou), Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) and Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra zebra). It also boasts an excellent selection of Karoo specials, providing you with easy access to three tricky rock-loving species, namely Cinnamon-breasted Warbler (p.85*), African Rock Pipit (p.125*) and Short-toed Rock Thrush. Another of the park’s attractions is the opportunity to join guided night-drives and go spotlighting for some exciting Karoo mammals, among them Aardvark, Caracal and Aardwolf (see section on Nocturnal Mammals of the Karoo). Cape Eagle Owl (p.105*) may also, very occasionally, be seen on these night drives.

The entrance to the national park is on the N1 national road, 5 km south of Beaufort West. A tarred road leads to the park’s headquarters and rest camp (1 on map overleaf), where Mountain Chat, Red-eyed Bulbul and Cape Bunting are tame and conspicuous. Black Eagle regularly passes overhead. Take an amble around the nearby campsite (2), set in dense acacia thicket, as it offers some of the best birding in the park. Namaqua Warbler (p.85*), Southern Tchagra, Acacia Pied Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Dusky Sunbird, Pririt Batis, Titbabbler and Fairy Flycatcher are all vocal but inconspicuous thicket dwellers. Rather more obvious are all three South African mousebird species.

Klipspringer Pass drive, which winds up the escarpment of the plateau behind the rest camp, provides access to the three specials of rocky country. Check the slopes at the base of the pass (in the vicinity of 3) for Layard’s Titbabbler, African Rock Pipit and Short-toed Rock Thrush. The latter occurs scarcely but regularly along the length of the meandering road up to the pass; the birds here are of the central dryland subspecies pretoriae, which has been regarded as a full species by some authors (see p.13). The vicinity of the fenced lookout point at the summit of the pass at 4 is a good site for both Cinnamon-breasted Warbler and African Rock Pipit, neither of which is likely to be seen without staying very alert to their calls, which drift across from the cliff faces. The pipit also occurs on the rocky hillocks of the plateau itself, alongside the similarly rock-loving Long-billed Pipit. Other mountain species that are typical of the cliffs along the Klipspringer Pass are Black and Booted Eagles, Ground Woodpecker (p.105*) and Pale-winged Starling. Continue on to the plateau, where the road moves into more open country and Sickle-winged Chat and Chat Flycatcher occur.