Dinokeng
Game Reserve
18,000 hectares of untamed bush for you to explore!
Big Five safaris on your doorstep.
Dinokeng Game Reserve offers up varying terrain and vegetation, ranging from bushveld to grassy floodplains and thornveld. There’s the 30-hectare Mongena Dam and its surrounding wetlands, supporting wildlife best experienced on the back of a safari vehicle.
Visitors to Dinokeng Game Reserve can experience the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard) and other wildlife up close. These include Fish Eagles, the endangered Blue Crane and a breeding pair of Martial Eagles. Other animals that roam wild throughout Dinokeng Game Reserve include:
History of the Dinokeng Game Reserve
In 1996, then Premier of Gauteng, Tokyo Sexwale, announced a project to develop a Big Five game reserve in the area northeast of Pretoria. The Provincial Government’s vision was to facilitate tourism by creating a significant game reserve.
This would also bring employment and economic development to poorer communities in the province. All capital expenditure to establish Dinokeng Game Reserve was funded by the government as part of a facilitative contribution.
Dinokeng Game Reserve is a unique concept, where private landowners agree to their land being incorporated into the game reserve. Government supports the expenditure on infrastructure to create the reserve.
Landowners still retain their land ownership and continue to benefit from developing their own tourism facilities and services on their land holdings. Government can then achieve its economic development, job creation, and stimulation of tourism through a conservation initiative – without having to purchase significant land.
The Dinokeng Game Reserve was officially opened on 22 September 2011 and the introduction of the Big 5 animals was completed in August 2012 with the introduction of disease-free buffalo.
Negotiations continue to include more key landholders in the area, and planning is in place to bring the reserve to 30,000 hectares soon.
Dinokeng conservation fees are in effect
Dinokeng conservation fees are in effect.
This once-off fee per entry is applicable to all guests entering Dinokeng, for a stay of more than one hour up to 30 days, and is pre-payable via the Dinokeng Game Reserve website’s online pay portal:
https://www.q2b.co.za/DGROnline/Index/1352
https://dinokeng-d86df.web.app/north
The Dinokeng Game Reserve North charges a conservation levy / entrance fee that is payable per person as of 1 March 2026. This fee is regulated by the Dinokeng North Management Association and is utilised for the upkeep and management of the reserve.
For RESTAURANT VISITS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, please ensure that your restaurant bill/entrance ticket is validated with a DGRN stamp to show at the gate.
For DAY VISITORS WITH WILDLIFE ACTIVITY AND OVERNIGHT VISITORS, a once-off vehicle entry fee of R50 applies, plus:
SA Residents: Adult R80 per day, Child (2–11 years) R60 per day
International Guests: Adult R160 per day, Child (2–11 years) R120 per day
DELIVERIES AND CONTRACTORS will receive a visitor entry control form at the gate, which must be validated at Mongena Reception and are exempt from paying levies.
For RESTAURANT VISITS, WEDDINGS AND CONFERENCES, a ticket will be issued at the gate and must be validated at Mongena against a R50 per vehicle fee.
For OVERNIGHT AND DAY VISITORS partaking in wildlife activities, a conservation levy of R80 for adults and R50 for children (2–12 years) applies, plus R50 per vehicle if no self-drive permit (R250/day) is purchased. This fee must be purchased online before arrival via the links above, as payment is no longer accepted at the gate.
Please note that fees are subject to change without prior notice.