Welcome to
BOTHONGO Rhino & Lion
Nature Reserve
Located in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This remarkable reserve offers an unforgettable wildlife experience, where nature and conservation come together in one of the most historically significant areas on the planet.
Whether you are here for a day trip or an extended stay, the reserve provides a variety of activities, from guided safaris and animal encounters to exploring the breathtaking landscapes that define this unique region.
Come immerse yourself in the wonders of nature, where the past meets the present, and enjoy an experience that is as educational as it is exhilarating.
Our top attractions
The Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve boasts a remarkable array of attractions that captivate visitors.
Game Drives
Restaurants
Wonder Cave
Kids Play Parks
Gauteng's largest cave
Discover the awe-inspiring wonders of Wonder Cave, South Africa’s third-largest living cave chamber, located in the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve. This natural marvel, carved over millions of years, reveals a breathtaking underground landscape.
The Wonder Cave experience includes self-drive entry, offering the freedom to explore the reserve before an unforgettable guided tour. Inside, you’ll be mesmerized by intricate formations, towering stalactites and stalagmites, and the rich history within these ancient walls.
This guided journey unveils the hidden geological splendor, connecting you with nature’s profound beauty beneath the earth’s surface. Explore the breathtaking beauty of Wonder Cave, a true gem in the heart of the reserve!
the nearest faraway place
Wind-down, relax and connect
with nature
Experience rustic charm in our tranquil log cabins amidst nature’s embrace
Have fun!
THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO
Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve is jampacked with activities for the whole family. Whether you’re in the mood for a relaxing bush escape or a day full of adventure, you’ll find something here that's just right for you.
The Nearest Faraway Place
Big Game and Endangered Species Await You on an Unforgettable Safari
Discover a hidden sanctuary where serenity and adventure meet, offering a perfect escape from the everyday hustle.Embark on thrilling adventures through our reserve with guided game drives or self-drives, exploring diverse wildlife and breath-taking landscapes at your own pace and preference.
Guided Game Drives & Self-drives
Wildlife Wonders
Endangered Species and Iconic Wildlife in the Heart of Nature
The Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve offers a captivating wildlife experience right on your doorstep. Home to over 600 animals and more than 30 species of game—including three of the Big Five: Kruger lions, white rhinos, and buffalo—the reserve offers guided open-vehicle game drives led by SATOUR-registered experts.
In addition to these iconic species, visitors can witness endangered animals like the reintroduced wild dog, as well as cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, and over 20 types of antelope. For bird enthusiasts, the reserve features a vulture hide where you can observe and photograph the rare Cape vulture. There’s even evidence that elusive leopards occasionally roam the area.
Bike Park &
Kids Play Areas
Cycling paradise & outdoor excitement
Dive into fun at our BMX Bike Park, where exhilarating rides meet refreshing swimming pools and vibrant kids’ play areas, ensuring a day filled with excitement and joy for all
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Our guests love the reserve
Excellent experience. You get 4 of the Big 5. Routes are easy to manouevre. Staff are friendly. Rhinos are not de-horned. Strongly recommended!What a wonderful experience. The excitement of finding animals such as the lions and all the animals. The guide book was my favourite part. We take for granted what beautiful animals we have here and this reserve does not disappoint. My favourite was the jaguar. How it was pacing and they have everything available. You can day camp and braai there. And it was so peaceful.The cave is not for everyone and that's OK. But I enjoyed the peacefulness of the reserve and it was honestly amazing.Was a great experience, the staff were friendly, the checkin was streamlined and the log cabin was perfect. We really enjoyed out 4 Nighy stay and will recommend it to anyone.such a lovely place to visit. Tons to see and kids love it. Food is great. Animals are awesome 👌It was a great experience, I would recommend doing the self drive. Lots to see and do, mountain bike tracks for adults and children.What an awesome outing. Loved Everything. Big Nuz was great with us and what a lovely person. Will definitely be back. Big Nuz (Maxwell) you are the best.We spent the whole day between self-drive, other enclosures, feeding the giraffe and the wonder cave! At the wonder cave, they had a few school groups that booked quite a few slots but the amazing Rose, Monique and the gentleman i forgot is name but he did a great job they really put in a great effort and made it enjoyable. My partner is from Chile and had a wonderful time seeing all the beautiful animals up close and with ease.I was there yesterday. More than i expected. It is a Mini Kruger National Park. Picnic area is so wonderful. Clean toilets, water taps everywhere, a lot of space for every family. At first, the map is a bit complicated but becomes easier as you drive around. I will go again very soon...It's so amazing to have such a great reserve right on our doorstep! I love going to the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve.What a perfect place to be with loved ones. Visited today purely by chance and what I can tell you is that is is the most underrated venue in Johannesburg. Better than the other place, way cheaper too. Staff are just great and the pizza at the Neck & Deck restaurant will blow your socks off... Trust me...GO TO THIS PLACE!Our favorite place to go for a weekend away! The cabins are in perfect condition and friendly staff!Beautiful place, we had an amazing time loved the game drive.They have a playing area for the kids and bicycle trackIt was great! Many animals to see! Fields are beautiful and green after rains. Some roads a bit bad due to rain, but they are working at it. Really worth the while. Make sure to visit neck&deck.Loved every moment of my day. Enjoyed the caves and saw so many animals. Everything was clean and well organised.My happy place!! Absolutely worth every cent! Animals are looked after and every single staff member is so friendly and welcoming! Stayed in the Couples Cabin and it was neat and beautiful!! Thanks to Rudi, Angie, Donna and all the other staff for making it such a great experience! See you next year again!!!Went for a self-drive 09:00 - 11:40. It is wonderful that one doesn't have to drive for HOURS to see something (this is my experience of the much larger National Kruger Park). As we entered, we immediately started seeing animals and they were up close. We arrived at the caves at 11:40 to start our 1-hour cave adventure at 12:00. It started on time and it was just wonderful! It's constantly (throughout the entire year) 16 degrees Celsius. It sounds cold BUT DO NOT TAKE A JACKET. The cave is VERY humid inside, and everyone in the group that wore jackets, took their jackets off. Wear hiking shoes with good grip, because it is dark and slippery in there. It was just a wonderful day. The restaurant (Neck & Deck) is great. The only one "flaw" was that we were 4 people, and for 3 of us, our food was timely, but the 4th person only received his pizza later (the rest of us didn't have pizza), so we were already halfway through our food when the pizza arrived. So I will write a review for the restaurant pointing out that, if the pizza takes longer, then start with it in advance. But this being said, the food was great and the atmosphere is great. The views are amazing (overlooking wild animals). I had the grilled hake, and it was flawless. Overall, overlooking the late pizza, the day was excellent and Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve deserves a 5-star review.We stayed 2 nights in the cabin log with jacuzzi and we had a wonderful time. The chalet was not brand new but well equipped, clean and comfortable for us. We had a Rhino with the baby stayed in front of our cabin the whole night. We would definitely go again.Really yummy pizza!! Beer on tap. Bring your cozzie, there's a pool!Was lovely to feed and pet a giraffe for the first time in my life - but shame, he/she needs a friend ☺️Our visit to Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve was truly unforgettable! From the moment we stepped foot in the reserve, it was evident that we were in for an incredible experience. Watching the majestic lions and even having the opportunity to feed them was a highlight for both the kids and us.The safari experience at Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve was exceptional. The knowledgeable guides ensured that we got up close and personal with a variety of animals, making it an educational and thrilling adventure for the whole family. We were delighted to see so many different species in their natural habitat, which left us with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the diversity of wildlife.Overall, our day trip to Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve exceeded our expectations in every way. It was a perfect blend of excitement, education, and family bonding. We highly recommend this reserve to anyone looking for an unforgettable safari experience.Great safari experience, highly recommend! Us as a family with your children, we loved seeing all the animals. And we saw sow many of them! Was a great day trip!Sadly we arrived later and missed the giraffe feeding. The game drive was excellent and my daughter enjoyed seeing all the animals. Weeks later, she's still talking about this experience.Over delivered in terms of what was offered and the value received. Friendly and helpful guides. Great family outing. Highly recommendedThis is such a beautiful place. There’s a lot of animals to see. 3 restaurant to eat at. Loads of stuff for the kids to do. This place is a must see and you can even feed a giraffe on the deck of 1 of the restaurants.Very well spent money on a guided game drive around at the reserve.Most of the different animals were visible and the nature in the reserve was really beautiful.The guide was the big start of the tour. She was very informative with a great passion.I can highly recommend this trip.Wonderful experience. It felt like money well spent. There was lots to do: Cave experience, reptile show, feeding of predators and variety of buck during driving around the reserve.Cars can go for safari here, if you don’t have car then you can choose open safari vehicle. There is a feeding time for lions, wild dogs, cheetahs. There is a cave, visit it. This area is safe. The staffs are friendly. It is completely outside of Johannesburg. While returning it would be tough to get taxis using bolt or uber. Come here at 9 or 10 AM and spend enough time here. 3 hours could be enough but with kids, you can spend more time. Photographers must bring good zooming lens.Went for a day, to the restaurant. Let’s start with the drive: lovely views of mountains and green trees —felt like a local gateway which was fun. The entrance is clean and well-maintained. This place is popular for their restaurant, but it also offers overnight accommodation and a game drive.We went to the restaurant, the attraction point is *drum roll* feeding the giraffe😅 while you wait for your meal or after your meal, you have the option to feed the giraffe for R50 (how cool).The food was amazing, and well priced. It’s a good place to go for a first-date, birthday celebration or just a simple Sunday family outing. Definitely recommend!
Latest News
Family Specials – 1 October to 30 November 2024
OCTOBER FAMILY SPECIALS | BOOK NOW Experience an unforgettable family
Discovering the Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve with the Expresso Show and SABC 3
Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. It is located in
Live crossing on the Expresso Morning Show between 7am – 9am.
Live crossing on the Expresso Morning Show between 7am –
FAMILY SPECIAL: SAVE BIG & GO WILD!
It’s time to pack up the family and dive into an epic day at Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve. Whether you’re cruising on a self-drive or spotting wildlife on a game drive, our Save BIG family special has you covered! 🦁
BONUS: Don’t forget to add the WonderCave for an extra dose of fun!
📅 Valid 1 October – 30 November#GoWildcats
BOOK NOW:
Family of 4 Self Drive: bothongorhinoandlionnaturereserve.activitar.com/services/13572
Family of 4 Game Drive: bothongorhinoandlionnaturereserve.activitar.com/services/14205
Family of 3 Self Drive: bothongorhinoandlionnaturereserve.activitar.com/services/15650
Family of 3 Game Drive: bothongorhinoandlionnaturereserve.activitar.com/services/15652
Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime – book your spot now and SAVE BIG! 🚗💨
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Henk Kruger
Tyron Watkins
Itumeleng Nkwani
Happy Heritage Day, Mzansi! 🇿🇦 Let’s honour our roots and the wildlife that makes South Africa extraordinary. Together, we can protect our heritage for future generations. 🦏🌿 Celebrate with us at Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve!
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2 CommentsComment on Facebook
I enjoy every moment,a very nice place to relax and enjoy with family and friends.
Nice, ke a tla nounou Is Neck & Deck openef
Happy World Rhino Day! Join us in celebrating one of Africa's most iconic animals 🦏. Let’s help protect these incredible giants and ensures their future for generations to come. 🌍#WorldRhinoDay #SaveTheRhinos #RhinoAndLionNatureReserve … See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
God bless 🙏