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Learn the wildlife of national parks

Learn the wildlife of Karoo National Park

Western Cape · South Africa

648 species have research-grade observations inside Karoo National Park on iNaturalist. KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos, so you know what you're looking at before you go.

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Karoo Chat Emarginata schlegelii161
  2. Common Ostrich Struthio camelus156
  3. Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus149
  4. Karoo Long-billed Lark Certhilauda subcoronata123
  5. Pale Chanting-Goshawk Melierax canorus98
  6. Familiar Chat Oenanthe familiaris97
  7. Karoo Bustard Heterotetrax vigorsii87
  8. Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis85
  9. White-backed Mousebird Colius colius75
  10. Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup73

Plants

  1. Karoo Gold Rhigozum obovatum69
  2. Sweet Thorn Vachellia karroo50
  3. Black Storm Cadaba aphylla45
  4. Karoo Crossberry Grewia robusta43
  5. Karoo Violet Aptosimum indivisum42
  6. Karoo Tulp Moraea polystachya39
  7. Ostrichfoot Quaggafig Pleiospilos compactus33
  8. Karoo Num-num Carissa haematocarpa32
  9. Karoo Kunirhus Searsia burchellii26
  10. Yellow Milkbush Euphorbia mauritanica24

Mammals

  1. Mountain Zebra Equus zebra269
  2. Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus216
  3. Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros208
  4. Gemsbok Oryx gazella200
  5. Steenbok Raphicerus campestris158
  6. Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis132
  7. Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus116
  8. Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus90
  9. Grey Rhebok Pelea capreolus73
  10. Common Eland Tragelaphus oryx73

Insects

  1. Nomad Sympetrum fonscolombii17
  2. Red Milkweed Locust Phymateus morbillosus15
  3. Silver-spotted Grey Crudaria leroma14
  4. CMR Blisterbeetle Hycleus oculatus14
  5. Burnished Opal Chrysoritis chrysaor14
  6. Large Pugnacious Ant Anoplolepis custodiens12
  7. African Meadow White Pontia helice11
  8. Karoo Balbyter Ant Camponotus fulvopilosus9
  9. Karoo Moth Loxostege frustalis9
  10. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera8

Spiders and kin

  1. Karoo Burrowing Scorpion Opistophthalmus karrooensis25
  2. Bronze Baboon Spider Harpactira namaquensis5
  3. False Karoo Burrowing Scorpion Opistophthalmus austerus5
  4. Burrowing Thicktail Scorpion Parabuthus schlechteri4
  5. Common Garden Orbweb Spider Argiope australis3
  6. Cape Thicktail Scorpion Parabuthus capensis2
  7. Tortoise Bont Tick Amblyomma marmoreum2
  8. Brown Widow Latrodectus geometricus1
  9. Lobed Argiope Argiope lobata1

Reptiles

  1. Leopard Tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis197
  2. Cape Terrapin Pelomedusa galeata61
  3. Southern Rock Agama Agama atra51
  4. Bibron's Thick-toed Gecko Chondrodactylus bibronii49
  5. Ground Agama Agama aculeata41
  6. Western Rock Skink Trachylepis sulcata36
  7. Karoo Girdled Lizard Karusasaurus polyzonus24
  8. Rock Monitor Varanus albigularis19
  9. Spotted Sand Lizard Pedioplanis lineoocellata16
  10. Variegated Skink Trachylepis variegata10

Amphibians

  1. Karoo Toad Vandijkophrynus gariepensis12
  2. Poynton's River Frog Amietia poyntoni12
  3. African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis1

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. Parks outside the U.S. are from the World Database on Protected Areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, Protected Planet). KnowKi is not affiliated with the National Park Service or any park's managers. Free, with no ads, no account, and no purchases.