Bontebok National Park is a place of simplistic beauty and peaceful charm. The majestic Langeberg Mountains provide a picturesque backdrop for this Park of colorful riches.
A part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, now heralded as a world heritage site, this National Park always offers something in bloom.
Bontebok National Park is proud to promote its achievements in biodiversity conservation, from the endangered fynbos veld type, coastal Renosterveld to the namesake bontebok! Once these colorful antelope numbered a mere 17, and through effective management we are proud to affirm that the present world population amounts to around 3000. The park offers much more for nature lovers, from a diversity of indigenous animal life to over 200 remarkable bird species.
The Breede River provides an idyllic western border to the park and offers guests scenery, bird watching, fishing, and a refreshing swimming spot. Visitors can also get a profound familiarity of the Parks endless sights and sounds while on one of the various hiking trails or on a winding bike trip. Furthermore, Bontebok provides its guests with an experience of South African culture.
The park is an excellent place to use as a home base to visit:
The wine routes and historic buildings of Swellendam, Robertson, Montagu, Ashton and Bonnievale.
The hot springs in Montagu.
A six-day hiking trail that winds through the Langeberg Mountains in Marloth Nature Reserve and is rated amongst the top hiking trails in Southern Africa.
The Drostdy Museum that will transport you back through the history of the Swellendam area.
Bontebok
Cape Mountain Zebra
Stanleys Bustard
Breede River
Lang Elsies Kraal
Picnic and braai/barbecue sites with ablution facilities are available for day and overnight visitors.
A shop at the park entrance supplies basic commodities like beer, snacks and soft drinks and curios can be purchased. Fresh produce and other groceries are available in Swellendam.
No ATM facility available in the park. An ATM is available in Swellendam (5km from the park).
The nearest fuel supply is in the town of Swellendam.
The new rest camp called Lang Elsies Kraal named after a Khoe-Khoe Chieftain who lived there with her clan in the 18th century, is the first rest camp in SANParks to be designed from concept to completion according to Touch the Earth Lightly design principles.
There are 10 new units each with two single beds (double bed on request) and a double sleeper couch, you will enjoy majestic views of the Breede River valley and the Langeberg mountain range, which can be appreciated from the private sun-decks to the south and west sides of the units.
Universal access is a key principle applied in the planning of the camp. The new buildings have ramps throughout and are totally accessible to wheelchairs. Two of the 10 units are special-needs adapted with bathrooms and living spaces which meet current best practice for use by people with special needs.
General Information:
- All accommodation is serviced daily and fully equipped with crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, bedding, towels and soap.
- Check-in time for accommodation is 14:00 on the day of arrival. Check-out time on the day of departure is 10:00 at the Park Reception. No after-hours check-ins are permitted.
- If guests arrive after the gate closing time, they are to report at Reception the following day before 09:00.
- All units are self-catering.
- Sheets and towels will be changed every three days.
- Guests should bring their own wood.
- Tap water comes from a well-point and is safe to drink.
Caravan and tent campsites are located close to the Breede River.
A maximum of six persons, one caravan with a side tent and one vehicle, or one tent and one vehicle, or one autovilla or one motorised caravan will be permitted per site.
Additional vehicles will pay an additional fee..
Not all sites have electrical outlets. Please check this when making your booking. Private generators are prohibited at caravan and campsites.
Important Notice
1. Accommodation rates do not include Conservation Fees which are payable at the entrance gates.
2. Please ensure that you are familiar with the Rules & Regulations of National Parks before making a booking.
Great for day visitors. Recently upgraded day visitor facilities include a rest camp and a new road connecting the original park to 700 ha of new land donated in 2000 by the local municipality. The day visitor area is a key site named Die Stroom, which is a day visitor facility, formerly a recreation site run by the municipality.
The park is easily accessible from the N2 and because of its small size; visitors can drive around the whole park in a few hours. It is a great stopping point between Cape Town and the Garden Route, for a picnic, swim, or small hike to stretch the legs. It also offers passers by and local residents a great braai location or a place to bring the kids.
Gate opening and closing times:
1 October to 30 April: 07:00 - 19:00
1 May to 30 September: 07:00 - 18:00
Late arrivals will be subject to a R200.00 escort fine from the main gate to the rest camp. Please advise reception in time if you will be late so that Escort is arranged in time (arrival should be no later than 21:00). The Gate operating hours are from 07:00 - 19:00.
Bontebok National Park has opened Die Stroom Gate for all visitors. Please use these GPS coordinates: S 343.2327’ / E 2025.7654’. The old reception is no longer in use.
**Please note:
No shop, restaurant or fuel station available inside the Park. These are available 5km away in the town of Swellendam.
Birding
Game viewing from own vehicle.
Three nature-hiking trails, starting and ending in the rest camp area for overnighters and old pump house for day visitors.
Bathing in the Breede River in the Rest Camp Area and at Die Stroom.
Angling in the Breede River - anglers must be in possession of a valid angling permit, available for purchase at Park Reception.
Canoeing/Kayaking in the Breede River, with own equipment.
Biking opportunities available, regular and mountain biking, to increase with Parks project.
Campsite (CK6): Extra vehicles are charged a fee per night, No power point.
Camp Site (CK6P): Extra vehicles are charged a fee per night, Power Point.
Campsite - River View (CK6V): Extra vehicles are charged a fee per night, No power point, River view.
Chalet (CH2/4): Ceiling Fan, Kitchenette, No smoking, Open plan, 2 single beds and double sleeper couch, Sleeper couch suitable for 1 adult or 2 children, Under roof braai facility, Viewing deck, WC and shower.
Chalet (CH2/4Z): Ceiling Fan, Kitchenette, No smoking, Open plan, 2 single beds and double sleeper couch, Sleeper couch suitable for 1 adult or 2 children, Under roof braai facility, Unit accessible to the mobility challenged, Viewing deck, WC and shower.
Family Cottage (FA6): 1 bedroom with 2 single beds, 1 bedroom with double bed, Ceiling Fan, DSTV, Fridge, Fully equipped kitchen with Microwave and stove, WC and shower.
- No cancellation fee will be incurred for cancellations made after payment of first deposit up to and including 46 days prior to arrival.
- Cancellation fees equal to 50% of the total reservation cost is payable in a case of cancellation made between 45 days and 30 days prior to arrival.
- Cancellation fee equal to 100% of the total reservation cost is payable in a case of a cancellation made between 29 days prior to and date of arrival
- 100% of the total cost for any non-arrival/no-shows
Reservation made within 45 days prior to arrival is payable within 24 hours from the day reservation is made.
- Conservation levy is always excluded from the booking amount and needs to be settled on arrival.
It is your responsibility to check if the reservation is correct. Should the reservation be incorrect, please contact our office immediately.
If the arrival date of the itinerary is postponed prior to or on date of arrival and then cancelled at a later stage, the fees that applied at the time of amendment will be enforced if the amount is greater than the new cancellation fees.
Cancelling or downgrading of a reservation 45 days prior to or on arrival will result in cancellation fees according to a sliding scale (based on the total reservation cost) which varies between 50% and 100%.
Should the reservation not be taken up on the arrival date the accommodation will be held until 09:00 the following day after which the reservation will be cancelled and the deposit, where applicable, forfeited.
Situated some 6km from the picturesque and historic town of Swellendam, 240km from Cape Town and 540km from Port Elizabeth.
It is an ideal stopover on the way to the famous Garden Route. The last 5km of the access route from the N2 highway is gravel, as are all the tourist routes within the park.
Swellengrebel Airport is close to the park, and suitable for light aircraft only.
