Karoo Desert NBG: Wildlife & Biodiversity
Karoo Desert NBG is home to several interesing animal species. Below are some of the animals you might see in the Garden.
Mammals
- Small grey mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta)
- Scrub hare (Lepus saxatilis)
- Cape grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis)
- Caracal (Felis caracal)
- The nocturnal Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
Reptiles
- Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata)
- Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)
- Parrot beaked Padloper (Homopus areolatus)
- Robertson Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion gutturale)
Birds
- Gymnogene (Polyboroides typus)
- Klaas Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas)
- Cape Francolin (Pternistes capensis)
95 Birds species have been identified in the Garden so far. The new 1 km Desert Birds trail is a must for bird lovers. The trail covers various aspects like feather & flight, gardening for birds and how climate change affects arid zone birds.
Download the Karoo Desert NBG Bird Checklist
Pollinators
The most important animals in the Karoo Desert NBG are the little ones like the bees, beetles, butterflies and the small sunbirds. These pollinators make it possible to give visitors a spectacular display of flowers year after year.
The latest animal species list for the garden are given on request.
Vegetation types
There are 143 hectares of natural area that conserves two vegetation types. The majority of the area is Robertson Karoo and a small area consists of Breede Shale Renosterveld. This natural area provides a haven for many animal species.
Robertson Karoo
Robertson Karoo is considered to be least threatened. The target is to conserve 16%. Other places that help conserve the Robertson Karoo are Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve, the department of Agriculture Field Reserve (Worcester) and some small patches on private nature reserves. Approximately 16% has been transformed by urban development and cultivation e.g. vineyards or olives. It lies in the heart of the Worcester Robertson centre of endemism. There are two endemic generas - stayneria and brianhuntleya and a concentration of endemic drosanthemum and haworthia species. The Robertson Karoo has a high number of succulents and is mainly found on the northern warmer slopes.
Important taxa of the Robertson Karoo: Aloe microstigma subsp. microstigma, Crassula rupestris, Cotyledon orbiculata, E. mauritanica, Endemic Drosanthemum speciosum, Lampranthus haworthii.
Breede Shale Renosterveld
Breede Shale Renosterveld is considered to be vulnerable. The target is to conserve 27% of this vegetation type. Currently 2% is conserved and some 31% has already been transformed due to mining and agriculture. The Breede Shale Renosterveld is dominated by the renosterbos, Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis (previously known as Elythropappus rhinocerotis) and lacks proteoids (proteas). It only occurs in small patches in this area, mainly on the southern slopes.
Important taxa of the Breede Shale Renosterveld: Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia, Dicerothamnus (Elythropappus) rhinocerotis, Passerina obtusifolia, Searsia undulata.
