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Good news for anyone who’s been eyeing a getaway to the Overberg: Bontebok National Park is coming back online.
After the floods tore through earlier this year, SANParks spent months on rehabilitation work, and from Saturday, 1 August 2026, the gates will reopen.
Not all of them. But enough to make it worth the drive.
The first phase includes six self-catering chalets, the camping site, and three hiking trails: Aloe Hill, Acacia, and Termite.
That’s a solid starting lineup.
Fynbos walks, bontebok sightings, and a fire going by sunset are all back on the table.
What’s still off-limits
Not everything survived the floods in a bookable state.
The eight riverside chalets are being refurbished, so hold off on reserving those for now.
Die Stroom Picnic Site and the Bushbuck Trail are also staying closed until the rehabilitation work catches up.
Nothing wrong with a phased comeback, yet it's worth knowing before you build your trip around a riverside view.
Why a “phased” opening?
SANParks isn’t flipping a single switch and calling it done.
This is a rolling reopening, with more facilities and experiences unlocking as restoration work progresses.
The park will let visitors know as each new piece becomes available, so it’s worth keeping an eye on their announcements if you’re planning something further out than a quick weekend trip.
Thanks for your patience
SANParks has thanked visitors, tourism partners, and stakeholders for sticking around during the recovery, and it’s a fair shoutout.
Flood damage doesn’t fix itself on a tourism season’s timeline, and getting half the park back open safely is no small feat.
The organisation says it’s committed to restoring the rest responsibly rather than rushing it, which is the right call.
Before you go
If Bontebok has been on your list, 1 August is your green light, with a few asterisks.
Book a chalet, pitch a tent, or hit the open trails, and treat the riverside chalets and Die Stroom picnic spot as a “next time” rather than a dealbreaker.
For bookings and the latest visitor updates, head to the SANParks website before you lock anything in.
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