uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Wildlife
Bushbuck
Tragelaphus sylvaticus
The Cape bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus), also known as imbabala is a common, medium-sized bushland-dwelling, and a widespread species of antelope in sub-Saharan Africa.
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 KwaZulu-Natal~1,210 records
Curve from 4,840 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
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Bushbuck is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
4,840 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Bushbuck
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Qambathi Mountain Lodge
Nottingham Road
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Serval
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,100 a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust
From R 1,280 a night
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Birdsong Cottage
Howick
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Vervet monkey
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 795 a night
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Tree fuchsia
From R 190 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Cape heath
From R 190 a night
Vernon Crookes
Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve
Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · Blue wildebeest · Plains zebra
From R 480 a night
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 130 a night
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Tree fuchsia · Black wildebeest
From R 840 a night
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Common eland
From R 270 a night
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 200 a night
Umlalazi
Umlalazi Nature Reserve
Bushbuck recorded here · Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome · Black mangrove · Vervet monkey
From R 230 a night
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Chacma baboon · Bushbuck
From R 360 a night
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 1,420 a night
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 900 a night
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 130 a night
Ndumo
Ndumo Game Reserve
Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · Nile crocodile · Hippopotamus
From R 190 a night
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 170 a night
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Tree fuchsia
From R 1,070 a night
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 1,150 a night
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 13,000 a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
The Elephant Coast
Next stop
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Bushbuck
Hosts have recorded the Bushbuck at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Giants Castle Game Reserve.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Hluhluwe-Imfolozi | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing |
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
- First and last hours of daylight. The Bushbuck moves and hunts in the cool.
- Midday, resting. Usually lying up in shade and hard to spot.
- After dark, on a night drive. Where the reserve or park offers one.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Tragelaphus sylvaticus
Records
4,840
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Bushbuck on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Bushbuck in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Bushbuck at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ithala Game Reserve and Kamberg Nature Reserve and other reserves. 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 Bushbuck in South Africa?
The Bushbuck is most recorded in Western Cape (29% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (25% of records), Mpumalanga (22% of records), based on 4,840 iNaturalist observations. 22 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Bushbuck on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Bushbuck?
The Bushbuck 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Giants Castle Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Bushbuck?
The Cape bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus), also known as imbabala is a common, medium-sized bushland-dwelling, and a widespread species of antelope in sub-Saharan Africa. It is found in a wide range of habitats, such as rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaic, savanna, bushveld, and woodland. It stands around 90 cm (35 in) at the shoulder and weigh from 45 to 80 kg (99 to 176 lb).