Karoo Biome
Tankwa is well known among birding enthusiasts as it offers amazing opportunities to spot several Karoo endemics as well as various waterfowl species at the Oudeboskraal Dam.
Birding season is at its peak from August to October and this is also the time to spot the Black-headed Canary, Ludwig’s Bustard and the Black-eared Finchlark.
The Succulent Karoo Biome also boasts the world’s richest succulent flora and at present the plant species list for the park stands at 780 species. Remember to visit in August and September if you love flowers – you’ll be treated to an explosion of colour.
Where is the Tankwa Karoo?
A good question, and you could be forgiven for asking. It lies kind of east of the Cederberg and west of the Roggeveldberge, and for the most part the roads there are pretty atrocious. But if you are a birder, or you like your roads to keep out the day trippers, it's as good an excursion as you'll find; the one thing about the Tankwa is that it's really not on the way to anywhere else, unless you call Middelpos 'somewhere' (it's kind of like Pofadder, without a decent road). One way to get to the Tankwa, counting from the Cape Town side, takes you up or over five passes, namely Bain's Kloof, Michell's, Gydo, Katbakkies and Peerboomskloof.
A quicker way is from Ceres via Hottentotskloof Pass and two tarred passes. Either way, your kidneys are eventually going to get shaken, if not stirred.