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The Bontebok National Park

The Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus), a thatch. The Dutch started trading with the Hessequa in
colourful antelope endemic to the Western Cape of the 1660’s, and as the years progressed more and more
South Africa, roamed the area between the present European settlers moved into the area, leading to the
towns of Caledon and Mossel Bay in their thousands at establishment of Swellendam in 1746. By the end of the
the time the Dutch first established their trading post 18th century, Western “civilisation” had brought an end
at Table Bay in 1652. Uncontrolled hunting however, to the traditional lifestyle of the Hessequa Khoekhoen.
quickly led to the population crashing and despite Those who survived waves of disease epidemics were
conservation minded farmers’ best efforts only 121 forced into life on farms or on mission stations.
Bontebok remained by 1927. In 1931, the precarious
situation of the Bontebok moved the National Parks The Bontebok National Park is largely flat, ranging in
Board to establish the Bontebok National Park on an altitude between 60 and 200m above sea level. In the
area of 722 hectares outside Bredasdorp, with a founding south, the broad and slow Breede River is a permanent
population of just 17 animals. This area however was feature. To the north, the Langeberg mountain range
poorly chosen, and the animals suffered from disease lies outside the Park. Most of the Park’s vegetation is
and poor grazing. It was decided to find an alternative classified as fynbos, mostly low growing, with thickets
location for the Park, and in 1960 the present site on of various tree species lining the river. About 470
the outskirts of Swellendam was proclaimed as the indigenous plant species have been recorded in the Park;
Bontebok National Park with a population of 61 of its with most of the surrounding areas being intensively
most precious charges that survived the translocation. farmed this pocket of natural vegetation is extremely
valuable. Unfortunately the alien invasive water hyacinth
Covering 3,900 hectares with little prospect of further is proving difficult to eradicate from the river.
expansion due to it being surrounded by the town and
croplands, the Bontebok National Park is South Africa’s While the Bontebok remains the Park’s star attraction
smallest National Park. Here the Bontebok thrived, and among the 36 kinds of mammals that find refuge here,
when the Park reached its carrying capacity of about there’s several other kinds of non-threatening large
250 Bontebok, animals could be donated and sold for game animals that may be encountered, and over 200
reintroduction to other parts of their historic range. bird species have been recorded. There’s also 28 kinds
With a total population today of around 3,500 the IUCN of reptiles, but apart from the ubiquitous Angulate
still considers the Bontebok vulnerable to extinction. Tortoises most are rarely seen. Ten species of amphibians
and twelve species of fish (6 of which is exotic) also
The recorded history of the area that today encompasses occur at Bontebok National Park.
the Bontebok National Park dates back much further
than the proclamation of the national park. By the time Overnight visitors to Bontebok National Park’s Lang
the Dutch settled in the Cape, this area was already Elsie’s Kraal Rest Camp have the option of camping or
inhabited by the Hessequa, a Khoekhoen tribe that staying in one of the 14 comfortable chalets with either
moved into the area about 2000 years earlier and were 1 or 2 bedrooms. Day visitors are well taken care of at
very successful farmers with healthy herds of especially the picnic area at Die Stroom next to the Breede River.
cattle and sheep. The Hessequa clans lived in settlements Visitors are welcome to walk and cycle through the
known as “kraals”, under the leadership of “captains” Park, with several well-marked trails at their disposal, or
controlled by a powerful chief. Lang Elsie, who lived swim, canoe and fish in the river. There is also a limited
between 1734 and 1800, was notable for being a female network of gravel game-viewing roads, for the most
captain and her kraal was located on the banks of the part easily negotiable in a sedan. Shops, restaurants,
Breede River, near the site now occupied by the Park’s fuel and other services are available in Swelledam, just
tourist accommodation. Today, the remains of Lang a few minutes from the Park’s entrance gate on the N2
Elsie’s small stone house can be seen a short walk highway leading to Cape Town, about 240km away.
away from the rest camp that carries her name, while
efforts are being made to restore the open site where For more on SA’s wonderful wilderness and wildlife, visit
her followers lived in traditional huts made of sedge the de Wet’s at https://dewetswild.com/

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