Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Augrabies Falls
Self-drive
Stays in Northern CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Gemsbok in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Gemsbok at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Gondwana Game Reserve.
Oryx gazella
Planning 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
Eastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeBig FiveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Western Cape
Gondwana · Karoo
Western CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
North 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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Gemsbok
Every stay on the Gemsbok page lists the species its host has recorded on or near the property. A record is a sighting, never a promise.
See where to stay