Travellers planning to visit Bontebok National Park will find that the park has made further progress in its recovery from the severe flooding that hit the Breede River in May 2026.
As reported previously, the flooding caused significant damage to visitor infrastructure and forced the temporary closure of the park's accommodation area. Since then, South African National Parks (SANParks) has been working to restore access and facilities - and the latest update brings some encouraging news for visitors.
More facilities are now open
Six chalets have now reopened, giving overnight visitors more accommodation options than were available immediately after the floods. The campsite has also reopened.
Three hiking trails are once again accessible:
Bontebok National Park main access road to the accommodation area, which was almost completely destroyed by the flooding, has also been repaired. The rehabilitation included stronger reinforcement to help protect the route against future damage.
What is still closed?
Recovery work is not yet complete. Travellers should note that the following are currently unavailable:
- remaining chalets
- Bushbuck Trail
- Ou Tuin Trail
- picnic site
The total cost of repairing the flood damage is estimated at around R12.3 million.
What this means for travellers
Bontebok National Park is open and increasingly accessible, but visitors should not expect every facility to have returned to normal just yet.
For travellers planning an overnight stay or a hiking visit, the reopening of six chalets, the campsite and three trails provides considerably more options. However, if your itinerary depends on a particular chalet, trail or the picnic site, it is worth checking its current status before travelling.
The timing may also be particularly interesting for South African visitors: Bontebok National Park is included in SANParks Week 2026, with free entry available from 07 to 13 September 2026, subject to the usual terms and conditions.
We'll continue to monitor the recovery at Bontebok National Park and update this post if further accommodation, trails or visitor facilities reopen.
Subscribe for updates:
Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, border info, road alerts, and travel inspiration for Southern Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment