Cape Town – Following the completion of repairs to six chalets, the campsite and three hiking trails damaged in recent floods, the Bontebok National Park has reopened to the public.
The Department of Fisheries and the Environment on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, revealed that the estimated cost of repairing the flood damage was R12.3 million.
The flood resulted in severe damage to some of the park’s chalets, the picnic site, and the near-complete destruction of the main access road to the accommodation area.
At the weekend, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister David Maynier visited the Bontebok National Park
He was briefed on the park’s recovery from the severe flooding on the Breede River in the Western Cape in May 2026.
Minister Maynier congratulated the SANParks management team on their speedy response to the flooding.
“Given the rate at which the river rose, the team had to act quickly to safely evacuate guests and save some of the park’s furnishings,” the minister said.
“The rapid emergency response is a real credit to the entire management team.”
The road has been repaired in record time, with stronger reinforcing forming part of the rehabilitation project, and a large amount of the debris carried by the flooding river has been removed from the accommodation area.
Six of the park’s chalets, along with the campsite and three hiking trails (Aloe Hill, Acacia, and Termite trails), have now been reopened to the public.
Work is underway to repair the remaining chalets, two hiking trails (Bushbuck and Ou Tuin), and the picnic site.
Minister Maynier encouraged the public to visit the park: “While there is still much work to be done, the park is open and is well worth a visit to this beautiful part of the Western Cape.
“We look forward to seeing the Bontebok National Park go from strength to strength as repairs are completed and exciting new offerings become available for visitors.”
