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).

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.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordBushbuck50+ stays list 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

Records4,840 records

Curve from 4,840 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

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

Places to stay

50+ results in South Africa

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Singita Ebony Lodge

Mpumalanga

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 42 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Mpumalanga

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Bushbuck recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

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

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Bushbuck recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Bushbuck recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Bushbuck recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Kosi Forest Lodge

Manguzi

Bushbuck recorded here · Forest biome · 41 birds recorded · Hippopotamus, Nile crocodile · Canoeing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 71 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Photography

Supports Jaci's Lodge Trust

From R 31,500 per night

Mont Eco Game Reserve

Mont Eco Game Reserve, Montagu

Bushbuck recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Leopard, Lion · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

Bushbuckridge

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 per night

&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 37,800 per night

&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp

Phalaborwa

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Makongo Hills Lodge

Magudu

Bushbuck recorded here · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 1,280 per night

Forest Hills

Rheenendal, Knysna

Bushbuck recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck, Caracal · Guided walk

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 2,000 per night

Frog Mountain Getaway

Swellendam

Bushbuck recorded here · Fynbos biome · 20 birds recorded · Boomslang, Bushbuck · Hiking, Canoeing

Supports Cape Leopard Trust

From R 1,950 per night

Montusi Mountain Lodge

Drakensberg, Bergville

Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · 32 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Common eland · Spa, Horse riding

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 6,800 per night

Qambathi Mountain Lodge

Nottingham Road

Bushbuck recorded here · Grassland biome · 2 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Serval · Spa, Horse riding

From R 4,100 per night

Lupus Den Country House

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Bushbuck recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal, Bushbuck

From R 2,600 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Bushbuck

Hosts have recorded the Bushbuck at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Addo Elephant National Park.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

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

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.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

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

Where hosts record it

Kruger Addo Elephant

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Sabi Sand Gondwana Timbavati Welgevonden Mont Eco

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 South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Bushbuck at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park, Gondwana Game Reserve, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and Welgevonden Game 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. 69 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.