The Blesbok's distribution is restricted to the Republic of South Africa. Its historic range includes the Eastern Cape, Free State, southern parts of the former Transvaal, marginally in KwaZulu-Natal along the upper reaches of the Tugela River and into Lesotho, west of the Maluti Mountains. It is a grazing species, showing preference for short grass, and particularly favours fresh green grass appearing after a veld burn.