Is Bontebok (the smallest national park in South Africa) worth a visit?

Just because Bontebok is the smallest national park in South Africa, doesn't mean it isn't worth a visit. Despite its compact size, Bontebok National Park is a beautiful and rewarding South African National Park full of unusual charms. One of my favourite South African national parks, Bontebok is definitely worth a visit in my books!

The big impact of the smallest national park in South Africa  

The smallest national park in South Africa, Bontebok National Park is only 10.76 mi² (27.86 km²) in size.

Although limited in size this compact national park packs a big punch in biodiversity conservation. It is the stronghold of the bontebok, one of the rarest antelopes in Africa. The national park plays a major role in conserving endangered coastal renosterveld, a rare kind of fynbos vegetation, and other threatened species.

8 Reasons Bontebok National Park in South Africa is well worth a visit

I have spent many a relaxing day exploring this pretty little national park on self-drives, picnics, and walks, and here are 8 reasons why I love it.

1. Rare and endemic bontebok antelopes
2. Unique and endangered renosterveld vegetation (endemic Cape fynbos)
3. Rich birdlife
4. Tortoises, mountain zebras, and more
5. Walking and mountain biking trails (safe to explore by bike and on foot)
6. Beautiful picnic spots along the Breede River 
7. The absence of large predators
8. Free of crowds

Bontebok National Park is an exceptionally family-friendly national park with lovely scenery and safe cycling and walking trails. 

Why is it called Bontebok National Park?

The smallest national park in South Africa is named after the distinctive-looking bontebok antelope. Once the world's rarest antelope, bontebok is the most abundant mammal found in this national park. Bontebok National Park is one of the few places where you can see bontebok, only found in South Africa.

Where is Bontebok National Park?

Bontebok National Park is located at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. This undisturbed protected area lies a mere 3.7 miles (6 km) from the charming old town of Swellendam in the Overberg Region. Swellendam is situated close to the start of the Garden Route, halfway between Cape Town and George.

A Day Trip in Bontebok National Park

Here's an account of one of my visits to Bontebok National Park.

Within three minutes of entering the Bontebok National Park, we spotted a mini-herd of (you guessed it)… bontebok! 

This striking-looking buck is particularly special because it is an endemic species that was rescued from the brink of extinction. The natural habitat of the bontebok is Cape fynbos, a unique biome found exclusively in the Western Cape of South Africa.

Driving on, we almost immediately spotted three cyclists and a few more bonteboks, setting the trend for our drive; during which we spotted several more cyclists and plenty of the over 200 bonteboks roaming the national park.

We flashed our Wild Cards at reception, granting us free access to the national park. Looking at the stuffed bontebok standing in the reception area, I asked what had happened to the buck, and the reply… “it got stuffed”!

Armed with cameras and a small map, we continued to the sign-posted viewpoints nearby (everything is nearby in Bontebok). Here we gazed over the open scrublands scouring the plains for wildlife and admiring the gentle folds of the Langeberg Mountains in the background.

From a distance, the grey renosterveld (a rare type of coastal fynbos) looked quite drab and uninteresting, but taking a closer look a vibrant mix of multi-coloured flowers was revealed. The flora is really beautiful and fascinating once you start paying attention to the finer details! Several flowers of the Cape Fynbos biome stood out the most - orange, pink, and red ericas and proteas, as well as the white daisies more typical of the endemic Renosterveld.

During the leisurely drive, we saw lots of different birds. Bontebok hosts more than 200 bird species. And we spotted some animals (grey rhebok, Cape grysbok, angulate tortoises, and Cape mountain zebras), other than bontebok. 

One day just isn't enough time to soak up the lovely scenery and ease into the slow pace of this quiet place. I recommend a weekend getaway in this little haven, packed with intriguing plants, reptiles, mammals, and birds.

Walking along the Breede River in Bontebok

Three of the walking trails begin at the same starting point – the Acacia, Aloe, and Bushbuck trails. The two shorter trails, the Acacia Trail (1,6km) and the Aloe Trail (3,3km) are circular walks. The Aloe Trail is said to offer the best views, but we opted for the longer Bushbuck Trail (5,4km) running along the river to the picnic area and back along the same route.

This was an easy walking trail on a clear and mostly flat path, ideal for the unfit, the inexperienced, and the lazy hiker. Walking beside the river we constantly saw field mice darting into the undergrowth, along with various birds, some slithering skinks, and the odd monarch butterfly.

The end of the trail involves a bit of uphill, but the views over the meandering Breede River and surrounding bush were more than worth the slight exertion.

On our way back, we even braved an achingly refreshing dip in the ice-cold river – very invigorating and highly recommended in any season!

Picnicking in Bontebok National Park

The Die Stroom picnic area was our next stop. I’m not usually a fan of designated rest areas, but this was a surprisingly lovely spot beside the river. The place features green lawns, nice shady spots under the trees, the tranquil river flowing by, and top-notch amenities - definitely a good spot for some rest and relaxation.

There are barbecue (braai) areas, clean ablution facilities and tables and benches scattered around, as well as a jungle gym for the kids. The main attraction for me was the little sandy patch of riverside beach just downstream from the picnic site.

The wide bends of the Breede River look like an ideal place to take a laid-back paddle by canoe or kayak, maybe even a mild SUP outing.

Staying in Bontebok National Park

I was well impressed with the tidy chalets and camping grounds at Lang Elsie’s Kraal Rest Camp, located next to the river. Lang Elsie's Kraal Rest Camp is named after the Khoi Chief who lived here in the late 1800s. This was the first South African National Park (SANParks) rest camp where the facilities were specifically designed to have minimal impact on the environment, as well as benefit the local economy.

The 10 timber chalets have been positioned to create as much privacy as possible for guests, especially those built closer to the riverfront. The accommodation receives excellent reviews from visitors and features little wooden deck areas and ensuite facilities with showers. The Langeberg Mountains provide a tranquil backdrop to the camp, which is set amid aloe plants, trees, and shrubs attracting birds and small animals. 

There were more tortoises than people at the aloe-studded campsite which was fantastic – seems like winter is a good season to escape the crowds, but then you need to contend with the cold and sometimes rainy weather.

About Bontebok National Park

Given the small size of this national park, Bontebok is home to very diverse flora and fauna.

The most prominent geographical features in Bontebok National Park are the winding Breede River and the majestic Langeberg Mountains in the distance. Most of the national park is characterized by gentle hills and open plains covered in Cape fynbos. A few tall aloes dot the open landscape and the river is flanked by trees and denser bushes, as well as rocky cliffs, but for the most part, the protected area is covered in low shrubs and heathlands.

The national park is home to antelope species other than the bontebok, including red hartebeest, grey rhebok, steenbok, the tiny Cape grysbok, and a handful of Cape mountain zebras.

Bontebok National Park also hosts a population of highly endangered geometric tortoises, the rarest of only three members of the Psammobates genus which is only found in some parts of the Western Cape.

Bird species include the regal African fish eagle and South Africa's national bird, the blue crane, as well as malachite sunbirds and khoraans. Other birds include mousebirds, Cape weavers, bustards, fiscal shrikes (butcherbirds), crowned plovers, harriers, Cape francolins, hadedas, and many, many more.

The Bontebok Bokkie (antelope)

Once considered to be the rarest antelope on the planet, the bontebok was rescued from the brink of extinction by the formation of Bontebok National Park. 

Unlike most antelopes, bonteboks are not good at jumping, which is part of the reason they nearly died out. The rich-brown bontebok is easily mistaken for the blesbok, which is also unable to leap over fences. Both antelopes sport the distinctive white blaze from the forehead to the tip of the nose. They also have white underbelly, socks, and patches around the tail (bottoms). The males are slightly larger than the females and are known to engage in "combat" to establish dominance in their territories - a display involving tail swishing, head lowering and shaking, and even sparring and chasing each other.

This buck weighs between 50 and 150 kg, measures around 120 to 210 cm from head to tail, and stands 80 to 100cm tall at the shoulder, making it a medium-sized but relatively tall antelope. Both sexes have ringed horns that grow up to about 18 inches long.

As bontebok numbers in Bontebok National Park have risen, these endangered antelopes have been relocated to other areas. Today there are about 3,500 bonteboks in various game reserves and national parks in South Africa. 

The Rare Renosterveld Ecosystem

The reserve plays an important role in protecting a specific type of endemic fynbos vegetation, called renosterveld. Renosterveld is the rarest type of vegetation found in the Cape Floral Kingdom and Bontebok holds the largest "island" of this indigenous shrubland. One of the richest ecosystems in the world, renosterveld is considered one of the most diverse bulb kingdoms in the world. 

Lowland renosterveld is a critically endangered veld type and is only found in southwestern and southeastern parts of South Africa.

Renosterveld translates from Afrikaans as “rhinoceros vegetation”, but the reason for the name is uncertain. Some guesses include that the vegetation is rhino-colored, rhinos used to inhabit this type of vegetation and the vegetation was only palatable to black rhinos when they lived in the biome. 

A Glance at the History of Bontebok National Park

This significant national park was established to protect the last 30 (some say only 17) wild bontebok. The formation of Bontebok National Park saved the bontebok from joining the ranks of extinct species such as the Cape lion, bluebuck, and quagga.

Bontebok was proclaimed a national park in 1931 but was originally located south of Bredasdorp. In 1961 the park was moved to a more suitable habitat for bontebok, just outside of Swellendam.

Getting to Bontebok Park

Bontebok National Park lies 240 km (about three hours drive) east of Cape Town, 6 km south of historic Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa. The national park is located just south of the N2 and is signposted from this major highway. Bontebok National Park and Swellendam fall in the Overberg region, lying between Cape Town and the scenic Garden Route of South Africa.

When to Visit Bontebok National Park

To see the multi-coloured fynbos flowers in bloom, the best time of year is spring (September to October/November) and autumn (March to April/May). Spring is also a good time to see young antelopes in Bontebok National Park, as it is the calving season.

If it is heart-racing adrenalin and Big 5 wildlife action you are after, then Bontebok will frustrate you to no end. If you are looking for some peace and quiet in the great outdoors, or just want to chill out and tune into the simple marvels of nature, then Bontebok is ideal. For more dramatic wildlife action and Big 5 game viewing check out what the other South African national parks have to offer.

If you are a birding enthusiast you will be in your element and fishing permits can also be arranged for catching bass, catfish, and carp. 

For some easy-going adventure, take a mountain bike and do the 9,2km mountain bike trail or go canoeing/kayaking on the Breede River. Be sure to pack some binoculars and your walking shoes, and prepare for some proper time-out in mother nature.

Although most guided tours do not visit Bontebok National Park several of our budget Garden Route Tours travel to this part of South Africa. 

[Updated in May 2022 / Originally posted in June 2014]