About Dinokeng

The Dinokeng Big 5 (BD5) Game Reserve is situated in the north-west corner of the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The greater Dinokeng area covers approximately 281 000 hectares of rural land, incorporating Roodeplaat, Cullinan, Rayton and open bushveld north of the Moloto Road (R573).

Dinokeng is a Blue IQ initiative established by the Gauteng Provincial Government, with the objective of establishing a premier tourism destination close to urban Gauteng. The project aims to promote economic growth, job creation and social upliftment through conserving and developing the historical, natural and cultural heritage of the area. As a specific destination the Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve has been established.

The land was historically used for farming but has over the last decade been slowly converted into land uses more suited to eco-tourism. With co-operation of the people in the area, local communities and government the area had been developed into a functioning Big 5 Game Reserve.

DB5 has been financially supported and developed by the Blue IQ Projects but is managed by the Land Owners Association, through a section 21 Company – ManCo. The DB5 is based on a unique concept whereby the entire reserve is made up of individually owned lands. The initial start-up phase, approximately 12 000 ha, is owned by a total of 88 land owners.

The DB5 is therefore not exclusively a tourism destination or protected area, but rather a social and economic core that will benefit the region. The project will have huge benefits to the local communities and will contribute towards the overall improvement of the quality of life of largely disadvantaged rural communities and individuals.

Nature and wildlife

The grassland bushveld habitats of Dinokeng support an abundance of indigenous wildlife. The region is home to the "Big 5" and a range of game including zebra, hyena, giraffe, njala and eland across the five provincial nature reserves of Rust de Winter, Mdlala, Mkhombo, Leeuwfontein and Roodeplaat and a number of conservancies.

Dinokeng is one of South Africa's prime bird watching areas, and is second only to Ndumo in the St Lucia area in terms of its numbers of bird species, making this a twitcher's paradise! The close proximity of water, grassland and bushveld habitats attract a wide variety of birds in a relatively small area.

A variety of activities enable people to experience nature at a level most comfortable to them, and to suit their interests. Vehicle-based game watching is offered, as well as more "hands on", interpretive experiences such as specialised geology, ecology and archaeology trails, walking and photographic safaris, birding outings and game viewing on horseback.

The Dinokeng experience

Owl Spot is the perfect destination for anyone travelling with time pressure as there so much to do, all packed into an outdoor setting very close to the city.

Some of the activities in the area include the following:

Game viewing/game drives
Birding
Archery
Micro-light flips
Horse back riding
A visit to Mystic Monkeys Zoo (Visit to Mystic Monkeys & Feathers Zoo and Wildlife Centre in the area to experience first-hand encounters with chimpanzees)
A visit to the Diamond Town Cullinan
Guided cycle tours
Guided quad bike safaris on neighboring farms
Cultural tour and visit to a shebeen in nearby Hammanskraal (minimum number of guests required)
Day trip to the Carousel Casino

Your hosts can be contacted to arrange any of the above activities upon your arrival.

Restaurants

Although the two cottages are fully equipped and the kitchen furnished with top of the range equipment, there are a number of restaurant in the area that can be explored.

About Dinokeng

Nature and wildlife

The Dinokeng experience

Some of the activities in the area include the following:

Restaurants

Links