Bontebok National Park is a place of simplistic beauty and peaceful charm. Located on the outskirts of the historic and picturesque town of Swellendam, the park falls within the renowned Cape Floristic Region, one of the world’s richest plant kingdoms. This family-friendly destination offers a variety of outdoor activities.
A Sanctuary for the Bontebok
Bontebok National Park is a species-specific national park in South Africa. It was established in 1931 to ensure the preservation of the bontebok, rare, unusually marked antelopes. They are listed as vulnerable in Appendix II of the International Trade in Endangered Species Red List. They are endemic to the Cape Floral area, and once roamed the region in large numbers. European settlement and hunting brought the animal to near extinction by the early 19th century.
A relict population was protected on private farmland. In 1931, seventeen members of this population were translocated to the first Bontebok National Park. In the 1960s, half of the population died from worm infestations, copper deficiency and related syndromes. In 1961, 61 members of the surviving population were translocated to the current Bontebok National Park.
However, there are only about 200 bontebok in the park, as this is the maximum number a park of its size can support without inflicting serious damage to plant life. The conservation story of this species is one of heart-warming success, bringing the numbers world-wide from a mere 17 bontebok, to a current global total of approximately 3000, 200 of which call Bontebok National Park their home.
Bontebok Facts for Kids
The bontebok is a special kind of antelope that lives in southern Africa. It's known for its beautiful brown coat with white patches. The bontebok is actually a type of Damaliscus pygargus. Think of it like a specific breed of dog - it's a subspecies. Both the bontebok and the blesbok are types of antelopes.
Read also: Exploring Chad's Fauna
Bontebok naturally live in the Western Cape province of South Africa. They prefer areas called Fynbos and Renosterveld. Their cousins, the blesbok, live in a different area called the Highveld.
If you were to make a list of the most recognized wildlife in Africa, the bontebok is not going to make the cut. Chances are, you’ve probably never even heard of this mammal. The bontebok is one of the rarest antelope in South Africa and is characterized by its stylish ring-shaped horns, striking markings on its torso, and distinctive white blaze that runs down the center of its face. Their beauty is staggering.
This elegant antelope has a compact body consisting of a short, stout neck and a long, narrow face. Their appearance differs dramatically from other antelope due to their rich brown coat with a purplish iridescent luster, extraordinary white face, white tail, white belly and white feet that resemble socks.
The white facial markings are known as a threat mask, resembling a medieval knight’s helmet. It is intended to intimidate predators. The horns are visible in both sexes. They are angular and ringed, growing up to 18 inches in length. Historically, these mammals wandered the coastal plain of the southwestern Cape, South Africa. But now it persists in Bontebok National Park and a few reserves and private farms in the region.
Bontebok are herbivores and their diet consists of various short grasses and plants. This bontebok is primarily diurnal and can be observed standing in groups with heads held low, facing the sun. They also spend a good portion of the afternoon seeking shade and shelter during the hottest part of the day.
Read also: History of Cameroon Soccer
Bontebok have a lot to be concerned about when roaming the savanna. Predators consist of lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, caracals and jackals. Bontebok communicate similar to other antelope by grunting and snorting. They use their distinct markings to communicate with other members of the herd and they also have scent glands on their hind feet used for marking territory.
Mature males form bachelor herds within territories of 25 to 100 acres and remain on these territories year-round. They stare down rival males in fearless displays of dominance and occasionally do battle if defending territory is necessary. During disputes, males ritualistically spar by locking horns in a display very similar to human arm wrestling, with hopes of displaying dominance and attracting a mate.
During the mating season, bontebok males entice females into their territories, parading their stature with an extravagant courtship ritual, in which the male lowers his head and lifts his tail over his back. Then, moving in tandem with the female, he rotates in small circles prior to breeding. The gestation period for this particular antelope is seven to eight months, and their young are up and mobile within minutes after birth (called precocial).
Young calves are born tan in color, which helps them blend into their environment, providing camouflage while they are vulnerable and most susceptible to predation. They are born without horns, but they begin developing within the first few months of their lives.
The bontebok was once considered to be the rarest antelope in the world, with only 17 left in the early 19th century. Almost any other African ungulate like the eland, springbok, or kudu would have gracefully jumped over the simple fence, but the bontebok lack the athleticism to jump. After the tiny population of bontebok were relocated to other parks, they began to reproduce and thrive. Bontebok numbers hovered in the low hundreds for many years.
Read also: Ghana Soccer Jersey
In the 1930s, a national park was declared specifically to conserve them, which helped them flourish. They still face threats from hunting, and are still very much dependent on their protected lands for continued survival.
| Year | Event | Bontebok Population |
|---|---|---|
| Early 1800s | Near extinction | ~17 |
| 1931 | First Bontebok National Park proclaimed | Unknown |
| 1961 | Relocation to current Bontebok National Park | 61 |
| Present | Conservation efforts continue | ~3000 (200 in Bontebok National Park) |
Activities in the Park
Bontebok National Park lacks major predators or other large dangerous animals, and thus allows several outdoor activities. This family-friendly destination offers a variety of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, cycling, swimming in the refreshing river waters, and exploring scenic hiking trails and nature walks.
The Aloe Hill Trail is a circular route of approximately 3.3 km (2.7 km if leaving from the rest camp) which passes the original building of Lang Elsie's Kraal. Further inland from the river, the Blue Crane Trail is a 3.2 km route along a jeep track, passing some of the small dams. The park is a good location for birding, with over 200 species recorded. Large species commonly see here are the Denham's bustard, blue crane, spur-winged goose and secretarybird.
Day visitors can access all areas of the park except for the Lang Elsies Kraal Rest Camp. All accommodation is located at the Lang Elsie's Kraal Rest Camp, on the banks of the Breede River. Fourteen one- and two-bedroom wooden cottages are complemented by multiple camping stands, available with or without electricity points. Stands suitable for caravans are also available.
Bontebok National Park has opened Die Stroom Gate for all visitors. Please use these GPS coordinates: S 34°3.2327′ / E 20°25.7654′. Please note that we have provisionally closed our riverbank camp sites situated along the Breede River due to flood damage.
De Hoop Bontebok of Hope - by Joshua Aiita - Episode 3
A Glimpse into History
Southern Africa has one of the longest records of human activity anywhere in the world. The Swellendam region in the Overberg is rich in historic sites dating from over 1 million years ago to more recent colonial settlements. The later Stone Age can be linked to the Khoe Khoe who, in the Swellendam region were known as the Hessequa. The Hessequa Khoe Khoe entered the Overberg region some 2,000 years ago.
They were a clan of herders; farming fat tailed sheep and long horn cattle. The Hessequa’s moved freely across the western area of the Overberg and lived on the banks of the Breede River where they grazed their large herds. European settlers landed at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 and the first contact with the Hessequa Khoe Khoe was in 1660. Lourens Visser, a representative of the Dutch East India Company established a trading post in the area in 1667.
To protect the company interests, Drostdy was built in 1745 as the official headquarters and residence for the magistrate. The town of Swellendam developed in 1747 in honour of the Cape Governor, Hendrik Swellengrebel. The arrival of settlers in the Overberg was catastrophic for the indigenous inhabitants. Smallpox, land competition, alcohol and tobacco decimated the clans of the Hessequa’s living in this region.
Two Hessequa captains and their followers lived in the area where the Bontebok National Park is now situated. The Park’s rest camp is named after the first of them, a remarkable female captain by the name of Lang Elsie. Visitors to the park can still see the open werf area where Lang Elsie’s kraal of woven reed huts was situated.
Nouga Saree, a contemporary of Lang Elsie, lived with his followers in the western part of the Park, at what came to be called the Ou Tuin. Here too an open werf area is evidence of their settlement. Their sheep and cattle grazed in the area that is now the old Resies Baan (Race Track), so named as this area was used by the Swellendam Turf Club for their race meetings.
It is said that these races were so popular that on one occasion the Kadie, a steam ship, was chartered to transport race goers from Cape Town to Swellendam. According to authors and residents of Swellendam, the graves of Nouga Saree and some of his people were found at the foot of the small ridge above Ou Tuin when the Bontebok National Park was established. People recalled that the graves were covered with ‘blue mountain stones’. Although there are several references to the Khoi graves in the Ou Tuin, these graves are not to be found today.
Popular articles:
tags: #Africa
