Big 5 Game Drive - Dinokeng Game Reserve

Big 5 Game Drive – Dinokeng Game Reserve

Rhino standing majestically, showcasing its powerful presence with a clear view of its horn

As the only Big 5 Game Reserve in Gauteng they have a lot to offer from game drives to amazing accommodation.

Cost: Self-Drive Route – Adults conservation fee (R80) and vehicle entrance fee (from R250) *

Picnic Sites and Bird Hides: Free to use on the self-drive route

Guided Game Drives & Bush Walks: Qualified field guides will take you on a game drive or a bush walk of your choosing.

Restaurants: There are 10 restaurants on the reserve providing a wide variety to suit your taste buds.

*please confirm on their website for the most up to date costs

Our Experience on a self drive at Dinokeng Game Reserve

We visited Dinokeng Game Reserve over New Year’s in 2024. Upon arrival at the Tau Gate, we informed the gate security that we had made our booking and payment for the Self Drive online. We parked our vehicle just inside the reserve and proceeded to the guardhouse, where we signed forms and received our Self Drive Map Book.
Initially, it was challenging to understand the map as it spanned across several pages, but once we got the hang of it, it became relatively easy to use. We returned to our vehicle and started the self-drive.
On our first right turn, we spotted a brown hyena in the road. Unfortunately, it disappeared when we got closer. Further down the road, we encountered a mother and her young cheetah cubs, perhaps teenagers. We watched them for several minutes as they ran and played, thinking it was an excellent start to our self-drive adventure.

Little did we know that this would be our last “big” sighting for the next two days. Over that period, we observed zebras, rooibokke (impalas), wildebeest, and giraffes, but the Big 5 remained elusive. Despite spending over 20 hours exploring every route available, it wasn’t until our last day that, following advice from one of the guides, we finally spotted the rhinos—a simply amazing sighting!
While we understand that a game drive does not guarantee sightings, we were slightly disappointed with the scarcity of animals in the reserve. We recommend visiting with a high-clearance vehicle, as we had to park off the road on a few occasions to allow cars to pass from the front.
Dinokeng Game Reserve is an amazing experience, offering a great way to enjoy the outdoors without having to drive all the way to Kruger National Park.