A Sanctuary Near Bredasdorp
Just outside Swellendam is the Bontebok National Park. This reserve was established in 1931 to protect the once plentiful Bontebok who used to roam the Southern coast of Africa in great numbers.
They are called Bontebok, meaning colourful buck, because of the bold facial markings that make them so distinctive. Unfortunately, these white stripes were also a great help to the hunters, who had a field day gunning down thousands of these placid animals.
By the 1930s, there were only 22 Bontebok left. Urged on by a small group of right-minded farmers, the National Parks Board granted the Bontebok a sanctuary near Bredasdorp in 1931.
But the buck did not take to the rocks and sand of their new home, and were relocated to their present enclosure in 1960. The local municipality then donated 700 ha of land to the park, and a number of upgrades have been made possible through poverty alleviation funds.
Today, there is a healthy population of over 300 Bontebok in the park, and there are plans to extend the boundaries of the reserve to make room for a larger population.
The park has also been stocked with many other kinds of buck, as well as the rare Cape Mountain Zebra. While Bontebok National Park is small, the scenery is pretty and a lovely walk has been marked out along the Breede River, which winds through the reserve.
The Bontebok themselves are quite forthcoming, as there are no large predators in the park. Camping facilities are excellent and a new visitor’s centre and rest camp have been completed.
By David Fleminger
The bontebok is a seasonal breeder, the rut occurring between January and mid-March. After a gestation period of 238 to 254 days, single cal...
The Bontebok National Park, a beautiful piece of South Africa preserved near its original state before man first arrived in Southern Africa....