Swellendam

Following our walk, we got back on the truck for the short drive to Bontebok National Park, our camp for the night. We did enquire about the cost of upgrading to a cabin, but it was prohibitively high, so it was a night under canvas for us! Luckily, the rain held off, so we were dry at least!

Bontebok National Park is the smallest of South Africa’s 18 national parks. It was established in 1931, specifically to protect the bontebok, a rare, unusually-marked antelope. Initially, 17 bontebok were placed in the park. In the 1960s, half of the world’s bontebok population died from worm infestations and copper deficiency. In 1967, 61 survivors were relocated to Bontebok National Park.

The worldwide bontebok population now numbers 2,500–3,000, all of them descended from these few. However, there are only about 200 individuals in the park, as this is the maximum number a park of its size can support without inflicting serious damage to plant life. Over the years, the park's surplus stock has been translocated to other nature reserves and private owners with suitable habitats.

We did glimpse a bontebok as we arrived in the park, but it was moving too quickly to photograph! This was the only wildlife we saw during our brief time in the park! By the time we had put our tents up, it was getting dark. We had dinner. Ivan had prepared a traditional African meal of beef stew, spinach, and pap – a polenta-like dish made from maize flour.Read more