Rietvlei Nature Reserve

5 Leonard Edwards - 4 weeks ago

One of my favourite “in the wild” places to relax and unwind. Perfectly located between Kempton Park and Pretoria offering that “outdoor wildlife experience” without having to drive for hours. I haven’t been disappointed yet.

The birdlife is amazing. The hides are perfect for sunset photography. The cheetah’s are always on the list of animals to find. So far I have seen them 3 times… And with the cubs only a few months old it’s the perfect time to visit.

For the more adventurous there’s the wildlife walks and overnight camps. The tar roads are good, however, some of the sand roads need a little attention, especially if you’re in a sedan.

Tickets are purchased on arrival, but credit card only. No cash!

4 Priscilla Tlou - a month ago

This place is sooo peaceful and the drive Was just great, we paid R136 for 2 people

Bring a picnic basket, meals and all the nice things to eat and drink(???? alcohol is not allowed). Don’t forget camp chairs/blanket in case all Benches are occupied.

There’s also A cafe area, to get something to nibble on, however the menu is limited. There’s also couple of lookout points where you can also enjoy ur lunch on if the picnic area is too crowded for you

Kindly note that a higher vehicle might be recommended specially during rainy days if you use certain routes.

We were not too lucky at spotting most animals but will try again in spring and summer.

5 Wonder Mahembe - 7 months ago

Must visit game reserve for the whole family. Much to see in terms of tons of bird species and plenty of animals that include the hippo and rhino. There are picnic and braai spots inside for relaxing. These spots must be vacated at 6pm, with the main gate closing at 7.

We got a bit lost inside on our way out because the roads are not properly marked with sensible directions. If you're gonna exit and are not too sure about the route, I recommend you start moving well on time.

5 Eben Brits - 2 months ago

Love going to Rietvlei, it is always a nice drive and lots of photo opportunities. There is quite a few roads closed mostly due to still being flooded, but an updated map even if its just printed on normal A4 would be much appreciated on closed roads. We drove on an open road that turned out to be a service road, no signs or anything. Close to the power lines. The road is completely flooded and common sense prevailed so we made a u turn. Other than that a great Fathers day outing.

3 Nomagugu - a month ago

First time in South Africa so it was an interesting experience. So the park is divided into the Rietvlei Dam and the nature reserve. We were supposed to meet people by the picnic area. We got by the gate asked the lady attending if we were by the picnic area and she said yes and we paid. We circled the Dam area for more than an hour until one of the Security guards then told us that we were in the wrong place. So we set off back on the main road. We got lost again because there's no proper signage of the nature reserve. We finally got there 2+ hours later????. The Nature reserve picnic area is immaculate you can have a picnic and they give you 2 braai (barbecue) stands. I just wish there was more light in the toilets. One thing I do respect is their discipline; you are not allowed to have alcohol and closing time is very punctual they even go around and tell you when it's time to go. On our way out we saw Buffaloes (picture below). It looks like a great place its just unfortunate that we went for a day visit but they do have people who stay over. That's why I'm giving it 3 stars if I had been able to stay there i guarantee it would be worth it. I heard through the grape vine that they have hiking and on my way out I saw some activity contraptions and it's right near civilization so you don't have to commute far to be in nature

4 Auresha Frankson - 5 months ago

A pleasant surprise. Though there was a queue we didn't regret waiting. Saw many animals up close including a rhino. Good viewing for the fee paid.

5 LISA LOWTH - 4 months ago

Looking for some quiet time in Nature just 30min out of Johannesburg? Then head out early to Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Pretoria. This beautiful reserve is a bird watchers dream, with tons of wild life too, buffalo, zebra, eland, jackal, serval as well as cheetah! You can only get out at demarcated areas and hides. There is a wonderful picnic site by the dam with loads of seating and braai facilities and there is a coffee shop that offers limited meals. Conservation fees are about R62 for adults (less for children and pensioners). Pack a picnic and head out for a lovely day away from the city hustle.
Don’t forget to pack binoculars and cameras. You can also download a basic bird and animal list from Google for the kids to mark off while driving around.