The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India. The caracal is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings.

Wildlife

Caracal

Caracal caracal

The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and India.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordCaracal8 stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Records1,533 records

Curve from 1,533 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

Western Cape and beyond

Provinces where Caracal is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

Western Cape

76%Northern Cape

1,533 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Caracal

2 places
Amakhala Game ReserveEastern Cape · Year-round
2 places

Places to stay

8 results in the Eastern Cape

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Caracal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Caracal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Caracal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Caracal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Caracal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Lupus Den Country House

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Caracal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal, Bushbuck

From R 2,600 per night

Hlosi Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

Caracal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Lion, Spekboom · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 4,000 per night

Bukela Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

Caracal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Giraffe, Cheetah · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

More stays nearby

Cycads On Sea

St Francis Bay

Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Surfing, Kitesurfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 2,460 per night

Forest Hall Guest House

Walmer, Port Elizabeth

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Surfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 1,050 per night

Karoo Cottage - Sneeuberg Nature Reserve

Sneeuberg Nature Reserve, Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom · Horse riding, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 3,100 per night

Hitgeheim Country Lodge Addo

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Vineyards, Safaris

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 2,000 per night

Karoo Secret Farm Stay

Aberdeen

Nama-Karoo biome · 209 birds recorded · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 per night

Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping

Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · 221 birds recorded · Stargazing, Canoeing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,760 per night

Pabala Private Nature Reserve

Hankey

Fynbos biome · 10 birds recorded · Giraffe, Impala · Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 485 per night

Walkerbouts Inn - Rhodes

Rhodes

Grassland biome · 6 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 600 per night

Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)

Garden Route National Park

Forest biome · 1 bird recorded · Snorkelling, Diving

From R 457 per night

Mountain Zebra National Park

Grassland biome · Black wildebeest, Springbok · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 449 per night

Langebos Huts

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Hiking

From R 2,093 per night

Spekboom Tented Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · 18 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Spotted hyena · Game drives

From R 1,490 per night

Camdeboo Rest Camp

Camdeboo National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Blesbok, Springbok

From R 345 per night

Nyathi Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Leopard, Lion

From R 2,901 per night

Matyholweni Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Bushbuck, Warthog

From R 2,426 per night

Addo Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Photography

From R 461 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Caracal

Hosts have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside Amakhala Game Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Caracal
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Amakhala	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

First and last hours of daylight. The Caracal moves and hunts in the cool.
Midday, resting. Usually lying up in shade and hard to spot.
After dark, on a night drive. Where the reserve or park offers one.

Ways to look

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Amakhala

Species

Caracal caracal

Records

1 533

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Caracal on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Caracal in Eastern Cape?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Caracal at stays in or beside Amakhala Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Caracal in South Africa?

The Caracal is most recorded in Western Cape (76% of records), Northern Cape (5% of records), based on 1 533 iNaturalist observations. 8 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Caracal on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Caracal?

The Caracal is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Amakhala Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Caracal?