Bontebok National Park

Bontebok National Park is a small but historically vital conservation area near Swellendam in the Western Cape, established specifically to save the bontebok antelope from extinction. By the 1830s, fewer than 17 bontebok remained in the wild — making it the rarest antelope in Africa. Today, thanks to this park, the population has recovered to over 3,000. Covering just 28 square kilometres along the Breede River, the park protects endangered Cape fynbos vegetation — one of the world's six floral kingdoms — alongside its signature bontebok. Other wildlife includes Cape mountain zebra, grey rhebok, red hartebeest, and over 200 bird species. The park's scenic setting beneath the Langeberg Mountains makes for a pleasant stop on the Garden Route.