The blesbok or blesbuck (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) is an antelope endemic to South Africa. It has a distinctive white face and forehead which inspired the name, because bles is the Afrikaans word for a blaze such as one might see on the forehead of a horse.

Wildlife

Blesbok

Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi

The blesbok or blesbuck (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) is an antelope endemic to South Africa.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordBlesbok1 stay lists it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Recorded in Eastern Cape~355 records

Curve from 1,691 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

Gauteng and beyond

Provinces where Blesbok is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

1,691 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Blesbok

1 place
Camdeboo National ParkEastern Cape · Year-round
1 place

Places to stay

1 result in the Eastern Cape

Camdeboo Rest Camp

Camdeboo National Park

Blesbok recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Blesbok, Springbok

From R 345 per night

More stays nearby

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Lupus Den Country House

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal, Bushbuck

From R 2,600 per night

Cycads On Sea

St Francis Bay

Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Surfing, Kitesurfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 2,460 per night

Forest Hall Guest House

Walmer, Port Elizabeth

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Surfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 1,050 per night

Karoo Cottage - Sneeuberg Nature Reserve

Sneeuberg Nature Reserve, Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom · Horse riding, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 3,100 per night

Hlosi Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Lion, Spekboom · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 4,000 per night

Hitgeheim Country Lodge Addo

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Vineyards, Safaris

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 2,000 per night

Karoo Secret Farm Stay

Aberdeen

Nama-Karoo biome · 209 birds recorded · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 per night

Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping

Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · 221 birds recorded · Stargazing, Canoeing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,760 per night

Pabala Private Nature Reserve

Hankey

Fynbos biome · 10 birds recorded · Giraffe, Impala · Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 485 per night

Walkerbouts Inn - Rhodes

Rhodes

Grassland biome · 6 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 600 per night

Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)

Garden Route National Park

Forest biome · 1 bird recorded · Snorkelling, Diving

From R 457 per night

Mountain Zebra National Park

Grassland biome · Black wildebeest, Springbok · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 449 per night

Langebos Huts

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Hiking

From R 2,093 per night

Spekboom Tented Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · 18 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Spotted hyena · Game drives

From R 1,490 per night

Nyathi Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Leopard, Lion

From R 2,901 per night

Matyholweni Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Bushbuck, Warthog

From R 2,426 per night

Addo Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Photography

From R 461 per night

Doornberg Guest Farm

Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom

From R 1,100 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Blesbok

Hosts have recorded the Blesbok at stays in or beside Camdeboo National Park.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Blesbok
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Camdeboo	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

Early morning and late afternoon. The Blesbok is out through the day, and easiest to watch before the heat.
Midday heat. Often resting in shade or near water.

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Camdeboo

Species

Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi

Records

1 691

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Blesbok on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Blesbok in Eastern Cape?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Blesbok at stays in or beside Camdeboo National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Blesbok in South Africa?

The Blesbok is most recorded in Gauteng (32% of records), Eastern Cape (21% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (16% of records), based on 1 691 iNaturalist observations. 1 place to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape has recorded the Blesbok on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Blesbok?

The Blesbok is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Camdeboo National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Blesbok?