Mokala National Park is situated approximately 80 km 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 2 m high, to a tree up to 16 m 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.
Facilities and Services:
Mosu and Lilydale have superb facilities for conferences, weddings, events or workshops. Each conference room has a digital projector and wall mounted screen. Mosu have big indoor fire place to make fire in winter. Only Mosu Conference room has Air conditioning.
Please note that there are no restaurant facilities available in Mokala National Park anymore. The Shop at Mosu will stock basic necessities.
Accommodation at Mokala National Park:
Mosu Lodge has 15 air conditioned, fully equipped self-catering units. All units have en-suite bathrooms and an outside braai facility.
- 2 Luxury Bungalows (LB2D) with double bed, DSTV bouquet and bath as well as shower in bathroom.
- 4 Family bungalows (FB2D) with double bed and DSTV bouquet
- 8 Self-catering units (SCB2S) with single beds
- 1 Universal Access unit (UA2D) with double bed
All units have quality wooden furniture. Mosu Lodge boasts a cool sparkling swimming pool for the warmer months. Guided game drive activities complete an unforgettable experience. Due to the layout of the camp at Mosu Lodge, we regret that guest can’t park their vehicles next to their chalets. The parking is in front of the reception and baggage trollies are provided to load and off load guest luggage.
Lilydale Rest Camp offers 12 self-catering, air conditioned units overlooking the Riet River. Warm exhilarating summers can be spent by the swimming pool. Breathtaking sunsets and glittering diamonds in the sky, are all added by nature to compliment an unforgettable visit.
Haak en Steek Camp with its rustic cottage tucked away in the bush offers unspoilt views over the nearby watering hole. The cottage can accommodate four guests and has a gas stove and geyser, outside braai area with lapa and lights that are solar powered. Due to the close proximity of the cottage to the camping site at Haak en Steek this site is for the exclusive use of the cottage guest that may (for a big family or friends gathering) hire the camping sites as well.
The Motswedi Camping Site is a one of a kind camping experience in our beautiful park. Each camping site boasts its own ablution and cooking facilities, outside braai areas under shaded trees. All camping sites are in a semi circle around the nearby watering hole. For your safety it has an electrified fence surrounding the perimeter.
Internal Road Network
Sedan vehicles might not be suitable for all roads within the park when there has been rain in the area. Please contact the park for updated information with regards to the accessibility of the roads (both internal and external).
During the rainy season we have to close some of the internal roads of the park for the safety of the guests. This will have a direct impact on the road leading from Mosu Lodge to Lilydale Rest Camp. The alternative route/detour will be along the N12 to either of the camps.
Guests to Mokala are advised to plan their trips to reach the main gates before gate closure times. The main gates are not manned 24 hours a day, therefore punctual arrival is advised to prevent any disappointment by arriving at a locked gate. Guests with bookings to the Tree House, Motswedi camping site and Haak-en-Steek should check-in at reception at the latest 1 hour before main gate closing times to make provision for travelling time to the different camps. Driving around outside the gate opening and closure times is not permitted. You will be advised of the internal camp gate times on arrival as it may change depending on the season.
The park has a lot of opportunities for outdoor adventure.
A number of activities at Mosu Lodge such as guided morning, day, sunset and night drives are available for guests to partake in. Bush braais (minimum of 5 guests) and breakfasts under a 400 year old camel thorn tree are a combination of a guided game drive and a bush dining experience. Bookings for the bush braais and breakfast need to be made 2 weeks in advance. Guided Rock art engraving drives to explore our cultural heritage are also available to our guests.
Other recreational facilities include, a swimming pool, DSTV Hotel boquet in bars, a lounge and fire places.
Matopi picnic area, although not fenced off, will give the day visitor the opportunity to bring along a picnic basket or have a braai, surrounded by the unspoilt natural area, with the comfort of an ablution facility near the braai area.
Kameeldoring Picnic Area - The new day visitors picnic area. It is set amongst Kameeldoring trees, with the comfort of ablution facilities near the braai area.
Birders delight is the Stofdam bird hide overlooking Stofdam. Catch the crimson breasted shrike or kingfishers in action.
Flyfishing - Lilydale Rest Camp is situated on the Riet River and is said to have some of the best fly-fishing spots in the area. Catch and release fly fishing offers an exciting experience for visitors. The fishing spots of De Krans and Kleinbek are not accessible by normal sedan vehicle. Only 4x4 or high clearance vehicles can travel on these roads.
Please note that there is no ATM facility available in the park.
The Park is currently 19611 ha in size and the following species occur in the park: Black Rhino, White Rhino, Disease-free Buffalo, Tsessebe, Roan Antelope, Mountain Reedbuck, Giraffe, Gemsbok, Eland, Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Kudu, Ostrich, Steenbok, Duiker and Springbok.
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.
Bungalow (BD4D): 1 bedroom with 2 single beds, 1 en-suite bedroom with a double bed, Braai facility in lapa, Gas fridge / freezer, Gas stove and oven, Hand basin, Kitchen, No air-conditioning, No electricity, No smoking, Perimeter view, Utensils, WC and shower.
Bungalow (BD3): 3 single beds, Air-conditioned, Hotplate and Fridge, No smoking, WC and shower.
Bungalow (BD5): 2 x Single beds on loft for children, 3 x Single beds ground floor, 5 x Single Beds (3 adults and 2 children), Air-conditioned, Hotplate and Fridge, No smoking, WC and shower.
Chalet Ch3d (CHALET CH3): 1 double bed, 1 single bed, Air-conditioned, Hotplate and Fridge, No smoking, WC and bath.
Family Bungalow (FB2D): 1 bathroom with WC, shower, hand basin, 1 x Queen bed, Air-conditioned bedroom, Air-conditioned bedroom, DSTV (limited channels), DSTV (limited channels), Fireplace, Fireplace, Fridge, Fully equipped kitchen with 3 plate stove/oven, Grass gazebo and outside furniture, Lounge with ceiling fan, Microwave, No smoking, Open plan kitchen, Outside braai facilities, Self Catering, Sleeper couch/bunk beds in living area.
Luxury Bungalow (LB2D): 1 bathroom with bath, shower and wc, 1 bedroom with double bed, Air-conditioned, Electric blankets, Fireplace, Fridge, Fully equipped kitchen with 4 plate stove/ oven, Microwave oven, No smoking, Open plan kitchen, living and sleeping room, Sleeper couch in living area.
Self Catering Bungalow (SCB2S): 1 bathroom with WC, shower, hand basin, 1 bedroom with 2 single beds, Air-conditioned, Air-Conditioning, Fridge, Fully equipped kitchen with 3 plate stove/oven, Grass gazebo and outside furniture, No smoking, Outside braai facilities.
1 bathroom with WC, 1 bedroom with double bed, Braai area, Ceiling Fan, Kettle, Kitchenette with utensils, No smoking, Universal access shower & hand basin, Universal access to unit, Wall heater.
Camp Site (CK6): Breakfast nook overlooking watering hole, Built in breakfast nook, Extra vehicles are charged a fee per night, Kitchen with washing up area, No power point, Private Wc & shower (solar geyser).
- No cancellation fee will be incurred for cancellations made after payment of first deposit up to and including 46 days prior to arrival.
- Cancellation fees equal to 50% of the total reservation cost is payable in a case of cancellation made between 45 days and 30 days prior to arrival.
- Cancellation fee equal to 100% of the total reservation cost is payable in a case of a cancellation made between 29 days prior to and date of arrival
- 100% of the total cost for any non-arrival/no-shows
Reservation made within 45 days prior to arrival is payable within 24 hours from the day reservation is made.
- Conservation levy is always excluded from the booking amount and needs to be settled on arrival.
It is your responsibility to check if the reservation is correct. Should the reservation be incorrect, please contact our office immediately.
If the arrival date of the itinerary is postponed prior to or on date of arrival and then cancelled at a later stage, the fees that applied at the time of amendment will be enforced if the amount is greater than the new cancellation fees.
Cancelling or downgrading of a reservation 45 days prior to or on arrival will result in cancellation fees according to a sliding scale (based on the total reservation cost) which varies between 50% and 100%.
Should the reservation not be taken up on the arrival date the accommodation will be held until 09:00 the following day after which the reservation will be cancelled and the deposit, where applicable, forfeited.
Situated approximately 80 km south-southwest of Kimberley west of the N12 freeway to Cape Town and is clearly sign-posted.
Directions from Kimberley
Mokala to Lilydale Rest Camp
Take the N12 route to Cape Town from Kimberley.
Travel for 37km from Kimberley until just past Modderriver and Ritchie.
Turn right at the Lilydale signboard onto a gravel road.
Travel 16km until you get to the gate of Lilydale on your right hand side.
The main Administration and Reception Building is a further 6km inside the park.
Allow about 40 minutes’ drive from Kimberley to the Lilydale Rest Camp reception.
Distance from Kimberley to Lilydale Gate is 59km.
Mokala to Mosu Lodge
Take the N12 route to Cape Town from Kimberley.
Travel for 57km from Kimberley, until just past Wintershoek entrance.
Pass the Lilydale Signboard.
Turn right at Hayfield / Heuningneskloof Crossing, onto 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 6km inside the park.
Allow about 70 minutes’ drive from Kimberley to the main lodge.
Distance from Kimberley to Mokala Main Gate is 74km.
