Things to do near
Bontebok National Park
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Galleries and Museums
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Swellendam (5 km from Bontebok National Park) Kunstehuijs Fine Art Gallery specializes in original art by prominent South African artists.
The owner, Grady Zeeman, is well known for her emotional and humanitarian paintings and has participated in numerous exhibitions in USA, UK, Italy, France and China. Art is shipped worldwide.
Popular Attractions
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Swellendam (5.4 km from Bontebok National Park) Diagonally opposite the 1838 Cape Dutch-style Oefeningshuis is the 'Moederkerk' – Swellendam's Dutch Reformed Church. Built in 1910, this giant wedding cake of a building displays a wonderfully eclectic fusion of architectural styles.
Cape Dutch gables, Gothic windows, Renaissance entrances, and a Baroque spire combine into an attractive fairytale-like building. Great for happy holiday snaps!
Golf Courses
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Swellendam (5.7 km from Bontebok National Park) Practice your swing and tee off on De Kloof's golf driving range and putting green. De Kloof Luxury Hotel and Estate provides its own private short golf driving range and putting green for guests. The facility, clubs and balls are supplied at no extra cost.
Golf Courses
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Swellendam (6.6 km from Bontebok National Park) 9 hole, par 72 at the foot of the Langeberg mountains with views of farms and the Hermitage Valley.
Hiking Trail
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Swellendam (8.9 km from Bontebok National Park) The circular Swellendam Hiking Trail traverses the Langeberg Mountains, starting at the forestry station 3 km outside the town of Swellendam. The route offers incredible views, passing through mountain fynbos, rugged gorges and past impressive crags. Only fit and seasoned hikers should tackle the 6-day route. Shorter options are possible.
Duration: 4 – 6 days
Difficulty: Tough
Distance: 81 km
Popular Attractions
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Barrydale (14 km from Bontebok National Park) Bo Vlakte is about 2 hours away from Cape Town and just 22 km from Barrydale on the R62. This venue is rapidly gaining a reputation as an excellent place to fish.
The two dams are spring fed and stocked with trout, bass and Tilapia.
Popular Attractions
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Barrydale (14.7 km from Bontebok National Park) Killarney Farm offers visitors 3 dams to fish, each stocked with big rainbow and brown trout.
Located on the highest point between Montague and Barreydale, the area boasts beautiful scenery and tranquility. The dams itself are regularly stocked, so you can be assured a great time fly fishing. The is catch and release fishing, but if you wish to keep your fish, you'll have to pay per kilo. This is strictly fly fishing only and rod fees apply.
Hiking Trail
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De Hoop (44.7 km from Bontebok National Park) The De Hoop Vlei Trail is a circular route starting near the reserve office. The 15 km walk is well sign posted and can be cut shorter by using two jeep tracks. A large number and variety of resident and migratory bird species can be seen around the vlei.
Duration: 4 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Trail
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De Hoop (44.7 km from Bontebok National Park) The De Hoop Coastal Trail is best done at low tide when the coastal limestone platforms are exposed. A number of rock pools are ideal for exploring, swimming and snorkeling. The trail can be walked in either direction along the shore from the boardwalk at Koppie Alleen. Turn right for the beach and left to explore the rock pools and limestone cliffs.
Hiking Trail
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De Hoop (44.7 km from Bontebok National Park) One of South Africa's ultimate hiking experiences, the five-day Whale Trail is only three hours drive from Cape Town. The 54 km route meanders through the breathtaking De Hoop Nature Reserve where the fragrance of the fynbos intermingles with salty sea air.
The trail is renowned for its diverse fynbos vegetation, magnificent dunes and whale watching opportunities. On the trail you will experience breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and Breede River Valley. The trail stretches from Potberg to Koppie Alleen and has five overnight stops.
Nature Reserves
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Heidelberg (WC) (46.6 km from Bontebok National Park) Deep in the Langeberg Mountains and part of Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve is the hiking paradise Boosmansbos Wilderness Area. As part of the Cape Floral Region, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fragrant mountain fynbos and indigenous kloof forest characterize the lovely landscape. Some incredibly rare species of Ericas can be found. The ravines are populated by stinkwood, yellowwood, Cape holly, red alder, beech, white alder and candlewood trees. If you're a tree-spotter, look out for a thicket of mountain cypress growing on a cliff edge.
Wildlife that you may encounter includes grey rhebuck, klipspringer, grysbok, baboons, leopard, mongoose and genet. The area boasts numerous birds with 184 recorded species including black, martial, crowned and booted eagles, redwinged and redneck francolins, blackrumped buttonquail, striped flufftail and Layard’s titbabbler.
Popular with hikers, the main attraction here is the lack of infrastructure and remoteness. Paths are unmarked and huts provide only basic shelter and no toilet facilities. Hikers need to be well-equipped for all weather and must carry an accurate map.
Hikers may choose their route from 64 km of paths. A circular two-day route of 27 km follows an old jeep track up Loerklip and back down Saagkuilkloof. Advance bookings are essential.
+27 021 659 3500
bookings@capenature.co.za
Nature Reserves
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Heidelberg (WC) (47.2 km from Bontebok National Park) Excellent bird watching, gorgeous indigenous Knysna forest and mountain fynbos characterize this CapeNature reserve in the Langeberg.
The 250-hectare forest is situated 22 km northwest of Heidelberg and is considered the best and largest woodland in the south-western Cape.
The Bushbuck and Grysbok Trails (2 – 15 km) and the short mountain bike trail through high forest are wonderful options to explore this stunning reserve. Permits for these trails are available from
the CapeNature office.
Forest tree species that you will see are stinkwood, yellowwood, red alder and the ubiquitous ironwood. Wildlife that is often encountered includes bushbuck, Cape grysbok, Cachma baboons, various small mammals like mongoose and genet. Occasionally leopard can be seen.
Rich in bird diversity, the reserve boasts no less than 196 bird species. Twitchers will be gripping their binoculars to spot endemics like the Knysna woodpecker, Knysna warbler, Victorin’s warbler, forest canary and Cape Siskin. Other forest specials to look out for are the Narina Trogon and majestic Crowned Eagle.
And what else is there to brag about? Grootvadersbosch is home to a subspecies of ghost frog and a unique forest emperor butterfly.
Hiking Trail
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De Hoop (47.2 km from Bontebok National Park) The De Hoop Klipspringer Trail leads through the Potberg Mountains in the northeastern section of De Hoop Nature Reserve. Along with wonderful views of the Breede River Valley and pretty mountain fynbos, the route offers an unusual experience, a Cape vulture colony. With 25 breeding pairs, this is the only breeding colony in the Western Cape.
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 6 km
Hiking Trail
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Heidelberg (WC) (47.3 km from Bontebok National Park) Boosmansbos Wilderness Area in the Langeberg Mountains offers 64 km of unmarked walking paths. Hikers have the freedom to decide on their own route. The two-day hike up Loerklip and down Saagkuilkloof is the most popular. This 27 km circular route is not clearly marked and graded demanding, so it is essential to carry an accurate map. Advance bookings are essential.
Duration: 2 days
Difficulty: Moderate to tough
Dams Vleis
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Montagu (48.2 km from Bontebok National Park) Bring your boat, braai equipment or picnic basket and enjoy chilling at Poortjieskloof Dam with spectacular views of the Langenberg Mountain range. Entrance to this beautiful spot is free; you only need to register at the gate. For angling a permit is required. There are no toilet facilities.