Tankwa Karoo National Park was proclaimed in 1986. It is still in a developmental and land consolidation phase, expanding from the original 26,000 hectares in 1986 to nearly 143,600 hectares by late 2010.

The Park is situated on the southern boundary of the Northern Cape with the Roggeveld Escarpment in the East, Cederberg in the West, and Klein Roggeveld Mountains in the South. It is situated within the Succulent Karoo Biome, which boasts the world's richest succulent flora, as well as high reptile and invertebrate diversity.