The blesbok is endemic to southern Africa and is found in large numbers in all national parks with open grasslands, from the Highveld north of the Vaal River southwards through the Free State, to the Eastern Cape.

[3] Blesbok can be found in open veld or plains of South Africa, Eswatini and Namibia.

They were once one of the most abundant antelope species of the African plains but have become scarce since 1893 due to relentless poaching for their skins and meat.

[5] The blesbok was hunted nearly to extinction because of its large numbers, but having been protected since the late 19th century, it has proliferated.

In modern times, this is largely because of the commercial value of the blesbok to private landowners and because it is one of the few medium-sized antelopes that can be contained by normal stock fencing.

[1] Humans, lions, leopards, African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and cheetahs are the blesbok's main predators, while jackals, eagles, and potentially rock pythons and monitor lizards may take unattended calves.

Blesbok are shy and alert; they rely on speed and endurance to escape predators but tend to return to where they were attacked after a few minutes.

When chased, they can maintain a speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) but, like other white-fronted damalisques, blesbok are not good jumpers.

Fossil remains of a prehistoric relative, Damaliscus niro, were found in deposits in Sterkfontein.