The Tankwa Karoo National Park is an 85,000 hectare park, situated between the Cederberg and the Roggeveld mountain ranges, south of Calvinia. The word "Tanqua" derives from a Khoekhoen (Khoi) word which in turn is a variant of another word, Sonqua, which is what the Khoekhoen herders called the San, or Bushmen, hunter-gatherers. "It means 'Place of the San' and it was probably because it was too dry for their (Khoekhoen) herds", explained local place-names expert Peter Slingsby.
The park lies within the Succulent Karoo biome, which has been recognised as one of 25 of the earth's "hotspots" that are international conservation priorities. Beautiful wildflower displays in the Spring.
The park is home to starkly beautiful Karoo landscapes with its "wide silences", plant diversity, rare and prolific birdlife. "There is the sense that time was born here" (Jappie Classens).
The park is designated a Scientific National Park and is not generally open to the public at present, however permission may be requested to enter. The only formal accommodation is the 2 cottages (which sleep 4 and 6 respectively) and some camping facilities.