Dinokeng Game Reserve: Ultimate Malaria-Free Adventure Just Outside the City
Experience the raw beauty of Africa’s first free-roaming Big Five residential reserve, Dinokeng Game Reserve. Our expert-guided open-vehicle safaris offer unparalleled wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities in the heart of Gauteng.
Experience Highlights
- The Big Five Experience: Search for Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino, and Elephant in their natural habitat.
- Open-Air Immersion: 360-degree views from a specialized safari vehicle for the ultimate sensory connection to the bush.
- Expert Tracking: Professional rangers share deep insights into animal behavior, birding, and local ecology.
- Malaria-Free Zone: A safe and convenient wilderness escape located just 45 minutes from Pretoria and 1 hour from Johannesburg.
Why Choose This Tour?
Dinokeng is unique as the only Big Five reserve in Gauteng where animals roam freely across a vast, malaria-free landscape. By choosing an open safari vehicle over a closed car, you lose the barriers between you and nature. You’ll smell the rain-soaked earth, hear the warning calls of birds, and enjoy an elevated vantage point that is perfect for professional-grade photography.
Where and When
- Where: Dinokeng Game Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa.
- When: Tours operate daily. Best viewing occurs during the early morning (dawn) or late afternoon (dusk) when predators are most active.
Through the Lens – A Day in the Dinokeng Bush]
Itinerary: Day Safari Breakdown
- 06:00 AM | Welcome & Briefing: Meet your ranger at the designated gate or lodge for a safety briefing and hot coffee.
- 06:30 AM | Morning Game Drive: Set off in the open vehicle to track the Big Five while the air is cool and the bush is waking up.
- 09:30 AM | Bush Break: Stretch your legs at a secure lookout point for a light refreshment and snack.
- 11:00 AM | Specialized Tracking: Focus on smaller wonders—from the “Little Five” to the reserve’s incredible birdlife.
- 13:00 PM | Return & Refresh: Arrive back at the starting point with a memory card full of photos and stories to share.
Pricing
Payment Instalment Options
We offer a convenient 50/3 payment plan designed to give you peace of mind while securing your Big Five experience.
- Initial Deposit (50%): Payable immediately to secure your booking, specialised open safari vehicle, and professional guide.
- The Remaining Balance: The final 50% is divided into three easy instalments:
- First Instalment (16.6%): Payable 30 days before your tour date.
- Second Instalment (16.6%): Payable 14 days before your tour date.
- Final Instalment (16.8%): Payable on pickup to start the tour via our mobile card machine or cash.
Sustainability & Ethics
Our instalment system is fully digitised and paperless, supporting our commitment to a greener planet. These structured payments allow us to provide consistent, year-round support to the conservation teams and local communities that make the Dinokeng Game Reserve a thriving sanctuary for wildlife.
[Live Availability: Secure your safari with a 50% deposit here]
- Deposit: 50% required at the time of booking.
- Payments can be made via secure mobile card link or EFT.
Suggested Equipment
- Binoculars: Bushnell H2O Roof Prism – 100% waterproof for any weather.
- Sun Protection: Wide-Brimmed Safari Hat.
- Camera Gear: SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO – Don’t run out of space during a sighting!
- Clothing: Neutral-colored, layered clothing (mornings can be chilly in an open vehicle).
Sustainability & Ethics
Our safaris prioritize the well-being of the animals. We adhere to strict “quiet-zone” protocols around sightings and never off-road, ensuring the delicate savanna ecosystem remains undisturbed for future generations. By visiting Dinokeng, you contribute directly to local land conservation and community employment.
To Do and Not To Do
NOT TO DO: Strictly no smoking or littering within the reserve boundaries.
DO: Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.
DO: Ask your ranger questions—they love sharing their knowledge!
NOT TO DO: Never stand up in the vehicle when near animals, as this breaks the “human-to-vehicle” silhouette and can spook wildlife.
Summary
The Dinokeng Open-Vehicle One-Day Safari is the quickest way to swap the city skyline for a wild horizThe Ultimate Kruger and Walk with the lions Safari Comboon. It’s an intensive, high-quality wildlife experience designed for those who want to see the Big Five without the long drive to the Lowveld.
Internal/External Links
- [Our Top 10 Sightings Gallery]
- [Dinokeng Game Reserve Official Map]
- [Check Our TripAdvisor Reviews]
READY TO START YOUR SAFARI?
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Pricing
Pricing
- R 4,500.00
- R 3,500.00
Location
FAQ
What should I wear?
Layered clothing is best. It can be very cold in the wind of an open vehicle in the morning, even in summer.
Is there a toilet on the vehicle?
No, but we make scheduled stops at secure picnic sites or lodges.
Will we see all of the Big Five?
While nature is unpredictable, our rangers use radio communication and expert tracking to provide the highest possible chance of sightings.
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Hardus de Beer
in the last weekNoam Greenman
in the last weekWas a nice drive. Its quite a small game reserve, but cool nonetheless. Was a quiet day so there weren't many sightings, but we did enjoy.
Lynne Smith
in the last weekDinokeng is about a 2 hour drive from Pretoria so is a wonderful way to spend a day even when staying in Pretoria. I can only imagine it must be wonderful to camp there or stay in one of the lodges. There are picnic spots for day trippers. We opted to use Tsela Safaris Guided game drives and we could not have asked for better service; 1 They responded promptly to my enquiry 2 Rates are very good 3 Information was clear and they were helpful 4 Most importantly our guide, Glen was amazing going out of his way to include interesting information about and pointing out interesting features on other wildlife and insects and not just the animals. He also took time to show my grandchildren tracks. Within the first 15 minutes we had seen spotted hyenas, hippos, a cheetah, warthogs, buck (McDees as I call them) and a hippo. Coffee was luckily as a site where there were 2 young male rhinos. We got see giraffe, zebra a wide variety of buck and more rhino close up. All in alla fabulous morning out. A huge thank you to Tsela Safaris Guided game drives and Dinokeng.
Nilene Jansen
in the last weekOn 3 September, a Dinokeng vehicle collided with me and my daughter. It was their fault. I reported the incident to reception the same day. As a single mother with no financial support, paying a R6000 excess is not easy. My broker advised me to claim from Dinokeng’s third‑party insurance.The ladies who assisted me were understanding, but the men were dismissive and disrespectful. The admin manager has ignored numerous calls and emails. I eventually had to ask a man to intervene because the men at Dinokeng refused to take me seriously as a woman.President Ramaphosa spoke tonight about violence against women in South Africa. Respect starts with listening , and unfortunately, the men at Dinokeng showed none. Ignoring women and forcing us to rely on men to be heard is unacceptable.Dinokeng, you need to take responsibility for this incident and treat women with the respect we deserve.
Nico Grobler
in the last week