Mammals
Track the wildlife you see at Camdeboo National Park!
There are 51 mammals to find in the park.
Camdeboo National Park supports a diverse spectrum of wildlife.
Fifty-one mammal species have been recorded in Camdeboo National Park. These include 18 ungulates, 15 carnivores, 11 rodents, 2 primates, and an aardvark, hare, rabbit, shrew and hyrax. One antelope species, mountain reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula, is categorised as Endangered, meaning that it is at high risk of extinction. The Cape mountain zebra Equus zebra is categorised as Vulnerable, which means that the species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Another antelope, grey rhebok Pelea capreolus, African buffalo Syncerus caffer, and two carnivores, Cape clawless otter Aonyx capensis and brown hyena Hyaena brunnea are categorised as Near Threatened, meaning that they do not yet meet the criteria as being classified as Endangered but are close to.
The antelope species found in Camdeboo National Park are those typical of the Karoo landscape, including gemsbok Oryx gazella, red hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus caama, eland Tragelaphus oryx, black wildebeest Connochaetes gnou and springbok Antidorcas marsupialis, as well as the threatened mountain reedbuck, Cape mountain zebra and African buffalo. Antelope regularly sighted by visitors include steenbok Raphicerus campestris, springbok Antidorcas marsupialis, blesbok Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi and black wildebeest in open areas. Thicket inhabitants include the kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros and grey duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, which are common, as well as the less often seen African buffalo. Red hartebeest and gemsbok are frequently observed in the transitional vegetation types. Cape mountain zebra may be seen from time to time but prefer the more mountainous areas of the reserve. The klipspringer is well-adapted to the rocky habitats of the park with hooves adapted to enhance their grip on the rocks due to pneumatic spaces in the tips of the hooves.
The crepuscular bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis is often seen hunting using its large ears to locate insects while the communal behaviour of meerkats Suricata suricatta can be fascinating to watch.
Vervet monkeys Chlorocebus pygerythrus are often seen with tails shortened to varying degrees by aggressive interaction within the troop, inhabit the Acacia forests and adjacent plant communities. These primates should never be fed, since this practice subverts their natural behaviour and creates problem animals, which may later have to be destroyed.
Many of the animals in Camdeboo National Park show a variety of adaptations to survive in the arid and unstable environment of the Karoo. For example, the springbok is remarkably well-adapted, deriving its water requirements as a by-product of metabolism and seldom, if ever, needs to drink.