Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Northern Cape · Best Aug to Oct
9 places
Wildlife
Gemsbok
Oryx gazella
The gemsbok or gemsbuck (Oryx gazella) is a large antelope in the Oryx genus.
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
Records1,561 records
Curve from 1,561 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Northern Cape and beyond
Provinces where Gemsbok is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,562 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Gemsbok
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Gemsbok recorded here · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Jaci's Lodge Trust
From R 31,500 a night
Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve
Touws River
Gemsbok recorded here · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Aardvark
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 360 a night
Rooilande Guest Farm
Laingsburg
Gemsbok recorded here · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
Gives back to Saving Private Rhino
From R 1,900 a night
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
Gemsbok recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 350 a night
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Gemsbok recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Camel thorn
From R 450 a night
Mata-Mata Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Camel thorn
From R 450 a night
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Gemsbok recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 2,634 a night
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Camel thorn
From R 2,634 a night
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Gemsbok recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Camel thorn · Gemsbok
From R 2,634 a night
Tankwa Karoo Rest Camp
Tankwa Karoo National Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 192 a night
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Gemsbok recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Nossob Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Brown hyena
From R 450 a night
Karoo Rest Camp
Karoo National Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Nama-Karoo biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 437 a night
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Gemsbok recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Gharagab Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Giraffe
From R 2,634 a night
Augrabies Falls Rest Camp
Augrabies Falls National Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Nama-Karoo biome · Gemsbok · Giraffe
From R 362 a night
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat
Western Cape
Gemsbok recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fox · Caracal
Gives back to Saving Private Rhino
Price on request
Kalahari Tented Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 2,314 a night
Urikaruus Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Gemsbok recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 2,634 a night
Quagga River Lodge
Western Cape
Gemsbok recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fox · Gemsbok
Gives back to SANCCOB
Price on request
The Klein Karoo
Next stop
Dry mountains, ostriches, and Calitzdorp's port wines
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Gemsbok
Hosts have recorded the Gemsbok at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Gondwana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kgalagadi | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here |
| Kwandwe | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | 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
- Early morning and late afternoon. The Gemsbok is out through the day, and easiest to watch before the heat.
- Midday heat. Often resting in shade or near water.
Where to base yourself
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Augrabies Falls
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern CapeEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeBig FiveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Western Cape
Gondwana · Karoo
Western CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeNorth West
Madikwe
North WestBig FiveStays in North West
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Oryx gazella
Records
1,562
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Gemsbok on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Gemsbok in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Gemsbok at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Gondwana Game Reserve, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Augrabies Falls National Park and Karoo National Park 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 Gemsbok in South Africa?
The Gemsbok is most recorded in Northern Cape (50% of records), Western Cape (27% of records), Eastern Cape (9% of records), based on 1,562 iNaturalist observations. 28 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Gemsbok on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Gemsbok?
The Gemsbok 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. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Augrabies Falls National Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Gemsbok?
The gemsbok or gemsbuck (Oryx gazella) is a large antelope in the Oryx genus. It is native to the arid regions of Southern Africa, such as the Kalahari Desert. Some authorities formerly included the East African oryx as a subspecies.