Denham's bustard (Neotis denhami)
Denham's bustard is a large bird standing around 1m in height. The back is brown, the underparts are white and the wings are strikingly patterned in brown, white and black, the male showing more white in flight than the female. The hindneck and mantle are rufous, the sides of the neck white, and the foreneck is grey in males and brownish-grey in females. The head is black with a conspicuous white eyestripe. Displaying males show long white plumes on the neck and breast as they inflate their neck – 'balloon' display.
Denham's bustard are resident in southern Africa and are estimated at around 5 000 individuals (this is the subspecies N. d. stanleyi). These birds select grassland, lowland fynbos and cultivated pastures in which to forage. The patchwork pattern of fynbos, grassland and cultivated fields in the areas around Swellendam and Bredasdorp offer excellent opportunities for seeing bustards
Denham's bustard has been listed as Vulnerable.
Directions
Bontebok National Park is located just before Swellendam on the N2. If you are not able to see Denham's bustard in the National Park, take a drive (± 120 km's) in the surrounding farmlands; from Swellendam take the N2 west towards Caledon / Cape Town for 14 km's before turning onto the R319 that heads south-west towards Bredasdorp. Approx. 5 km's before Bredasdorp (before crossing the Kars River) turn off onto a gravel road towards Ouplaas/Malgas. Drive straight without turning off the main gravel road, and after passing through Ouplaas the road splits, take the left hand fork towards Malgas. At the 1st T-junction turn right, and after approx. 1 km turn left towards Malgas and the pont river crossing. Once over the Breede River keep right at the 1st intersection and left at the next 2, before joining up with the R324 where you turn left and head back towards Swellendam.
| GPS Coordinates | ||
| Description | Latitude | Longitude |
| Entrance gate Bontebok NP | 34°02'27.79"S | 20°28'20.11"E |
| Turn-off from R319 to Ouplaas | 34°29'03.88"S | 20°05'27.46"E |
| Pont river crossing | 34°18'08.41"S | 20°35'24.06"E |
| Turn-off onto R324 | 34°12'58.43"S | 20°40'30.83"E |