Bontebok National Park was originally established to conserve the bontebok. With the species was rapidly approaching extinction, in the early 1800s some land owners set aside portions of their properties to form a temporary reserve for the bontebok.
Numbers dwindled to just 17 bontebok. In 1931 the first Bontebok National Park was formed near Bredasdorp and later moved to its current location to suit habitat requirements of the bontebok.
The park now maintains the bontebok numbers at around 200, with around 3,000 animals worldwide.
As well as playing its part in saving the bontebok from extinction, the park plays a vital role in conserving the endangered fynbos veld type and coastal renosterveld.
The rare coastal renosterveld is characterized by cupressoid and small-leaved, mid-high evergreen shrubs, with regular clumps of broad-leaved, tall shrubs.
South African National Parks runs camping facilities and limited overnight accommodation. We recommend a day trip to the park (click on the map opposite to visit SANParks™ website). Western Cape province
Agulhas National Park
Karoo National Park
Knysna National Lake Area
Table Mountain National Park
West Coast National Park
Wilderness National Park
Beaufort West, Bellville, Bredasdorp, Caledon, Cape Town, Ceres, Clanwilliam, George, Knysna, Malmesbury, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoom, Paarl, Riversdale, Swellendam, Vrendenburg, Worcester
The overstorey is dominated by Renosterbos, with subdominants of Wild Rosemary and Dune Teabush. The understorey is mainly annual and herbaceous with perennial grasses. Geophytes, mainly Irises, Lilies and Sorrels are characteristic.
The Breede River provides an idyllic western border to the park, offering visitors fantastic hiking, cycling, bird watching and fishing opportunities, where you are always surrounded by the beautiful fynbos habitat.
Bontebok provides its guests with an experience of South African culture, where you can connect with the people of the past and learn about how the Khoisan lived and changed over the centuries.
Bontebok
