Dinokeng Game Reserve is the only Big 5 Game Reserve in Gauteng. The name Dinokeng is derived from the languages of the baTswana and baPedi people who traditionally inhabited the area. Meaning "a place of rivers", Dinokeng lies in the catchment area of two rivers that flow into the Olifants and Limpopo rivers and on to the Indian Ocean. In African culture, river sources have sacred significance and their confluences are believed to hold healing powers. The grassland bushveld habitats of Dinokeng support an abundance of indigenous wildlife. The region is home to a range of game including zebra, hyena, giraffe, buffalo and eland across the five provincial nature reserves of Rust de Winter, Mdlala, Mkhombo, Leeuwfontein and Roodeplaat and a number of conservancies. The area will ultimately be restocked with Africa's "Big Five" - elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros. Dinokeng is one of South Africa's prime birdwatching 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.The Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve (DB5) is situated in the north-west quadrant of the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The greater Dinokeng area covers approximately 281 000 ha 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. There are several self- drive game viewing areas now with access to picnic areas. A conservation fee payable at the entrance to self-drive routes.
