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Spent the last weekend of November in MZNP and was extremely impressed. The park is extremely picturesque and so relaxing. We searched for the black rhino's and cheetahs but had not luck. We were also informed that a few days before we arrived they had released three brown hyaenas which was quite exciting. No luck in sighting them though. Although we never saw these species we were never disappointed wrt game viewing and there was always things to see such as blue cranes, bustards, ground squirrels and tons of beautiful springbok!

The park is very underated and I will definitely visit again!

See you soon MZNP!

Thank You Liesl
Been there as a kid about 35 years ago.
High on my "To do" list because I can't remember much but zebras.

1. Yes, lions would have been historically present in the Great Karoo area and yes, they would only be reintroduced if the Park grew considerably. There are (very) long term plans to join Mountain Zebra National Park and Camdeboo National Park to form a 330 000 hectare park and it may be possible then.
2. http://www.sanparks.org/parks/mountain_zebra/news/2008/brown_hyena.php

Hi All

Had my first visit to MZNP in mid July, all I can say is wow, i just love this park. Had just spent 3 nights in Wilderness NP, 3 nights in Titzikama NP and 7 nites in Addo. The 3 nights at MZNP were the Icing on top of the cake. We were caravaning at all these parks and all the facilities were great. The staff at MZNP were really friendly and volunteered a lot of info. At night and early mornings the calling of the Jackals really reminds you where you are.
The roads are excellent and are really well planned to give you a good view of all the different areas of the park. I really liked the link road joining Ubejane loop and Rooiplaat Loop. There are some beautifull views along the drives.

The new visitors map is excellent with the pictures of the 30 top animals to see. In 2 days of driving we managed to tick off 22 of the top 30. Great game viewing. Really helped us identify some of the smaller antelope.

Along the way we saw the biggest troop of baboons I have ever seen. I would estimate way more than 100 on the plateau.

These are the 22 animals we saw
Cheetah, Kudu, Gemsbokm Black Wildebeest, Black Rhino, Vervet Monkey, Ground squirrel, Red Hartebeest, Steenbok, Mountain Reedbuck, Grey Rhebok, Blesbok, Cape Mountain Zebra, Rock Daisie, Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Blackbacked Jackal, Ekand, Springbok, Burchell's Zebra, Chacma Baboon, Pale Chanting Goshawk.

Only really missed out on the new Brown Hyena.

Will posts some pics in the next post.

Ok here we go some pics.

These two Black Rhino were spotted on our drive just 2 hrs after we arrived within 1km of the rest camp. Our 1st Blackies during the day





Our National Bokkie



Blesbok on the plateau



Black Wildebeest on the plateau



Late afternoon views on the plateau



Woah, these are big birds



Cute



On the prowl...



One of the adult male cheetahs (struggled to get a good pic through the grass)



Ok, hope you enjoy

Thanks Mav160,

brilliant pictures and I guess another "must do" park

How long would you recommend a stay there???

Hi BB. Yeah we were very lucky on this trip, after many fustrating trips hoping to see a black rhino. We got to see 2 at night at the waterhole at the rest camp at Addo. Then these two in the picture and then one more on our 2nd day at MZ, just before gate closing time. Just had an opportunity to show the game drive vehicle where he was hiding, but couldnt get any pics in the fading light.


Yes Pumbaa, I loved this park, very remote, quiet, not too busy, great drives, great staff. And we were lucky to have great sightings. We stayed for 3 nights and I think that was just about perfect. Could easily have stayed a night or 2 longer.

My dad stayed there overnight on the way to Addo, and got there just before closing time. This &^%#&% rhino was on the road and wouldn't budge, almost making them late.

I told him that it was a blackie, the first he had ever seen.

Any suggestions for the best cottage number to ask for - view wise etc? Am now so keen to get to MZNP - don't know what has taken us so long Is it very dry there at the moment?

I'm also going in Sept for 4 nights. Been there for 1 day as a kid, but can't remember much, so this will also be my first trip. We will be camping and would like to see any info on the campsites. Another question; According to the the website there is only a sunset drive available and not a nightdrive. What are the chances of seeing the nocturnal animals on this drive?

Henk, the camp sites are really lovely. We were there in May, and they have redone the ablution facilities, and the kitchen area etc.

Best pics I can offer:

More pics here - 2005, but still looks much the same.

There is a sunset drive, which at present leaves at 5pm, returning at 7pm. It is more of a sunset drive than a night drive but guests do see some of the nocturnal animals fairly often.

I will be in MZNP in november, unfortunately only for 1 night but hey, better than not at all!

I am looking forward to it, especially for the landscapes. Of course I hope to see the cats or the rhinos but given our short stay I realise I'd have to be extremely lucky. Still, one never knows.

The number of Black rhino still stands at 6?
How many cheetahs are there now? I red somewhere (quite a while ago) about cubs: did they survive?
And is there any news about the brown hyenas?

just curious...

There are now 12 cheetah in the Park, so yes, the two litters of cubs did survive and are now independent of their mothers.

I would rather not give the number of rhino in the Park because of the recent increase in rhino poaching in South Africa. I trust you will understand why rhino numbers are a sensitive subject.

The brown hyena are not seen very often but are doing well and frequent the Kranskop and Saltpeterskop areas.