Experiencing a flash flood in the Karoo National Park

23 Replies

The Karoo National Park, located as it is in the semi-desert Great Karoo, usually receives very little rain – the town of Beaufort West on its south-eastern border receives an average of only 236mm (9.3 inches) annually. It was therefore a real thrill for us – even if it meant we were cut-off from our accommodation in the main rest camp for a while – to experience the wonder of a torrential downpour passing over the arid plains in several waves following each other in quick succession, and the flash floods and rainbows that followed in their wake, when we visited the national park in December 2022.

Thunderstorm building over the Karoo
A wave of thunder clouds rolling over the Karoo
Thunderstorm over the Karoo National Park
Gemsbok caught in the rain
A herd of gemsbok huddled together in the thunderstorm
Springbok in the rain (photo by Joubert)
A road turning into a stream after the first wave of rainfall
A Marsh Terrapin that emerged during the rains in the Karoo
A normally dry Karoo streambed transformed into a flowing river
Road or river?
A normally dry Karoo streambed transformed into a flowing river
Flash flood rendering a road impassable
A normally dry Karoo streambed transformed into a flowing river
Run-off on the side of a Karoo road
Waterfall in the Karoo
Looking at the storm passing over the Karoo from a vantage point on the Klipspringer Pass
The Rest Camp at Karoo National Park inundated
Thunderstorm over the Karoo National Park
Rainbow over the Karoo National Park
Rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds in the aftermath of the storm
Heavy clouds hanging ominously over the hills of the Karoo

Remember that DeWetsWild can assist you with reservations in the Karoo National Park if you are planning a visit to this special place.

23 thoughts on “Experiencing a flash flood in the Karoo National Park”

  1. wetanddustyroads's avatarwetanddustyroads

    Wat ‘n belewenis! Dit sien mens beslis nie gereeld in die Karoo nie – wat ‘n voorreg om reen (en so baie daarvan) in die Karoo te kon ervaar. En julle het sulke mooi foto’s om hierdie spesiale oomblik vir altyd te onthou.

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    1. DeWetsWild's avatarDeWetsWild Post author

      Iets wat ons nie gou sal vergeet nie, Corna. Dis nou al n maand vandat ons by die Karoo Nasionale Park vertoef het en dit bly sommer baie vars in die geheue.

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    1. DeWetsWild's avatarDeWetsWild Post author

      Jy het reg, Petru, dat klimaatsverandering n groot impak op ons droee land gaan he. Die Karoo was maar nog altyd bekend vir fratsvloede – dink maar aan Laingsburg in Januarie 1981. Maar as ek die voorspellings oor die veranderende klimaat reg verstaan, gaan die droee dele van ons land nog droeer word, en dus gaan die Karoo nog minder reen kry as voorheen, en in die nat dele soos Natal gaan die vloede meer gereeld kom. Angswekkend.

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    1. DeWetsWild's avatarDeWetsWild Post author

      Dankie, Elsabe. Ons is op die 2de Januarie weer daar deur jul geweste en het toe weer n paar groot storms langs die pad gekry. Kry die Karoo meer reen as gewoonlik hierdie seisoen, of was ons geluk maar net in?

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      1. elsabeskryf's avatarelsabeskryf

        Baie meer as gewoonlik. Hulle het lank erge droogte gehad. Verlede jaar se reenval was toe wonderlik, maar hierdie jaar soveel meer. As die boere eers vertel hoe die skaapaanwas verhoog het agv beter veld, dan hang mens se mond oop. Baie dankbaar.

  6. Anne's avatarAnne

    The park was very dry during our March visit and so I was thrilled to see the effects of the deluge. Your dramatic photographs tell a good story.

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