Dinokeng Game Reserve — Attraction in Gauteng

Awful experience. The Self Drive Route permits are quite expensive and the self drive roads are not properly maintained. The sedan safe roads are more suited to high clearance 4x4s.

The map we received was also incredibly confusing and had tiny marker numbers that were mostly illegible. The signage along roads that are no entry are not clearly visible, often being knocked over or the signs have been completely scratched off.

The map is also not very accurate in terms of roads to turn down at certain markers. This led to an incredibly unpleasant interaction with a Ranger from Marulani lodge. Instead of offering to help when we were obviously lost and said as much to him he proceeded to threaten us with a fine, that we were happy to pay, only to be told that the map not being clear wasn't an excuse and that our license plate would be remembered. Felt very threatened and had anxiety about every road we turned on after that and any ranger vehicle that we passed.

We did see lots of Rhino, so the rhino conservation and anti poaching unit must be doing some incredible work, we didn't see much else but it was incredibly hot on the days we went out on Self Drives. We did find out that the only way to see Elephants or Lions is to stay at or book drives through the Mongena lodge as the animals are both only found along the routes that the Mongena lodge is allowed to take. So the reserve is a Big 5 reserve, however the areas with most of the Big 5 are not accessible on the Self Drive Routes. We were told that the Elephants sometimes travel away from Mongena, but the southern side of the reserve has no recent Elephant signs from what we could see.

The reserve also has so many fenced in areas and obvious man made structures around, hardly feels like you are in the bush. I would suggest saving your money and rather doing the 2-3 hour drive to Pilansberg. Its has much better maps, signage and the rangers and staff at the gates are always incredibly helpful.

The only saving grace to this experience were the lovely owners we met of Out in Africa and our very peaceful stay in Ikhaya. If you want a weekend away I would suggest either of those places and then just saving your money on the Self Drive Routes and opting for the additional costs for guided game...

I very rarely do reviews but I really wish I had read more like the one I'm about to give before I visited Dinokeng with my international family members to show them the "big 5 game reserve".

We had wonderful accommodation here, the most beautiful log cabin by the river with a private pool and fireplace at such a reasonable price for 8 people. However, I was so disappointed with the self-drive tour, Dinokeng was highly recommended by multiple friends for seeing the big 5 so close to Joburg BUT later, we realised the one thing all those friends had in common... they had all done official game drives.

We did the self-drive tour and soon realised the reason we barely saw ANY animals aside from some wildebeest, zebra and impala was that there are SOOOO MANY PRIVATE ROUTES, ROADS AND FENCED OFF AREAS. Nothing natural or exciting about large fences splitting up the entire park. Every vehicle we passed said the same thing... "have you seen anything?" "Nothing". The big 5 sightings are seen on routes you are not permitted to take. It should be more clearly stated that in order to actually see elephants and other big 5 animals, you will need to take a private game drive organised by the park to areas the self-drivers can't go.

There are also so many unexpected costs that add up to a crazy amount for close to zero big sightings? R10pp to look at a hide that looks over a barren pond with still water and zero animals? Unfortunately, I can only recommend Dinokeng for it's affordable and beautiful accommodation but the animal sightings? You'd have better luck driving the extra 2 hours to Pilanesberg than spending two entire days driving the entire game reserve...

Dinokeng Game Reserve Review

Dinokeng Game Reserve is a fantastic option for anyone wanting to experience the thrill of the Big Five without leaving Gauteng. Whether you’re a luxury traveler or on a tight budget, the reserve offers a wide range of accommodations—from high-end lodges to rustic campsites, all nestled within the natural beauty of the bushveld.

The real highlight of our visit was spotting six rhinos, all with their horns intact—a rare and incredible sight. However, sightings of buffalo, lions, elephants, leopards, and cheetahs proved much more elusive. It’s worth noting that many of the elephants tend to stay in the privately-owned sections of the reserve, but game drives into these areas are available and can increase your chances of seeing them.

There are convenient facilities within the reserve, including a small supermarket and a petrol station. An entry fee is required per person, but booking online will get you a discounted rate.

One word of caution: if you’re not in a 4x4 vehicle, you may struggle on certain roads, especially after heavy rain. Deep puddles and muddy tracks can make navigating difficult. Also, some resorts are accessible only via a rough 3km corrugated road. It’s highly recommended to purchase a physical map of the reserve, as GPS signal is patchy and Google Maps can’t always handle the complex network of bush roads.

Overall, Dinokeng is an absolutely amazing destination for wildlife lovers, with the potential for unforgettable sightings—just come prepared for a few...