Johannesburg Nature Reserves

Get up close and personal with rare white lions The Lion Park offers terrific close encounters with lions, other predators and large herbivores indigenous to Africa. You can also expect some superb filming and photographic opportunities.The Lion Park is home to over 80 lions including the rare white lions and many other carnivores such as cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, striped hyena, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, side-striped jackal, and a wide variety of antelope which roam freely in the antelope area.Visitors have an opportunity to interact with some of the animals in the Cub World area. A giraffe feeding platform puts you at eye level with the tame resident giraffe creating a fun experience for all ages. The hugely popular cub interaction allows guests to touch the cubs and take photographs.Need to know? The Lion Park is open every day of the year. Opening hours: weekdays 8:30am to 5pm;Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays 1 September to 30 April 8:30am to 6pm; 1 May to 31 August 8:30am to 5pm

The magnificent Witpoortjie waterfall forms the backdrop to this lovely botanical garden covering almost 300 hectares of both landscaped and natural veld areas. Previously called the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden, the natural vegetation of the area is known as the "Rocky Highveld Grassland" and consists of a mosaic of grassland and savanna, with dense bush in kloofs and along streams. The variety of habitats accommodates over 600 naturally occurring plant species. seasonal highlights.These fabulous gardens are also home majestic Black Eagles (Verreaux's Eagles), who nest on the cliffs alongside the waterfall. The garden has an abundance of wildlife. Together with the other 220 bird species, there are also a number of reptile and small mammals, including small antelope and jackal, which occur naturally in the Nature Reserve.Take a stroll Several short walks run through the gardenand the surrounding natural areas. The SASOL Dam & Wetland has a boardwalk through the wetland and a bird hide. The JCI Geological Trail gives visitors the opportunity to not only walk along the Roodekrans Ridge and in the Nature Reserve portion of the Garden, but also to learn something about the fascinating geology of the area. Guided tours can be arranged for groups.Need to know? The Garden is open daily from 08:00 to 18:00, no entry after 17:00. R23 for adults, R13 for students (with a valid student card), R7 for scholars (children), R2 for pre-school groups (per child). Children under the age of 6 and Botanical Society members (with valid cards) have free entry.

Undulating golden grassy hills, vleis and a brilliant blue dam characterise the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Situated 18 kilometres from the centre of Pretoria, the reserve is an idyllic home to 1 600 head of game – and you can spot them easily from your vehicle.Blesbuck, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, Burchell's zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck, springbuck, mountain reedbuck, steenbuck and grey duiker all roam the open plains.Don’t forget to pack a picnic basket – the Marais Dam is a great place to take a break from driving. There’s a fabulous bird hide, shady spots where you can braai and ablutions. While you munch your boerewors roll you can watch the antics of the hippos and waterbirds. Twitchers are usually delighted by some new bird to tick off at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.And that’s not all – brown hyena, black-backed jackal, ant-bear, aardwolf, porcupine, springhare and bush pig can often be seen on guided night drives. These trips end at the popular Rietvlei Nature Reserve Lapa for a memorable braai under African stars.You can also have amazing encounters with white rhino, cheetah, leopard and buffalo on guided hiking trails and horse riding trails. Day and weekend trails are on offer. Booking is essential for all activities.