Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Rietvlei Nature Reserve
4.3
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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26 within 3 miles
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22 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.3
759 reviews
Excellent
315
Very good
347
Average
78
Poor
10
Terrible
9
Trail46436625730
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Family
We arrived at 3:40pm on the 6th of July 2024 and managed to see a-lot of the animals advertised on the boards. It was incredible and beautiful. There are roads that are blocked off in the reserve which are shortcuts to the main gate so i would not suggest going after 4pm as we got lost at 5:30pm on our way out and was blocked off by a heard of buffalos on our way out making us go around the whole reserve again and leaving at 6:37pm. The only reason for the 4 stars, the 2 night shift guards at the exit did not want us to exit and forced us to bribe them R300 to exit (which we refused!), luckily for the ranger we were able to exit. Beautiful scenery.
Written July 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mobu E
13 contributions
Sep 2024 • Family
This wildlife park near Pretoria provides a lovely drive even though it's not the biggest "safari". There will be a lot of animals visible (although I haven't seen the rhinos yet). When you need a pleasant little break, there's a café inside, along with a few additional informational and observational stops.
Written October 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wikus M
Port Edward, South Africa20 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
What a pleasant surprise. We went as family for a picnic and game drive. The roads are well marked and the picnic area is neat and clean. The restrooms at the picnic spot could be better but other than that I cannot fault the reserve. The cheetahs gave us a spectacular show with them just lying next to the road and we could probably get within 20meters from them.
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bydisee
Pretoria, South Africa59 contributions
Jan 2023
Peace and quiet on the outskirts of Pretoria. The self-drive option is inexpensive and includes several bird hides, lookouts, picnic spots and even a coffee shop, which we haven’t visited yet. The diversity of wildlife is amazing and you can take pictures of buffalo, rhino, zebra and many more at close range. Definitely worth a visit, especially at sunset.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaliDreamer28
San Diego, CA16 contributions
Jan 2020
I already had booked a trip for Kruger National Park but my housemate connected me to a friend she'd met in a previous trip who lived in Johannesburg area. So I added to visit this city the weeknd before going to Kruger, and what a joyous surprise this game reserve was! She lived in Kempton Park, so this was less than an hour drive away, and I was surprised when the cashier said it was only 60 Rand as the entrance fee!! There weren't that many cars when we went on a cloudy Friday afternoon and it was so relaxing and laid back. Most memorable sightings were buffalos crossing in front of us, zebras to the side of our car (including a baby one!) and rhinos not too far from the road. I saw Big 2 here without even knowing it :)
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margritte B
The Netherlands5 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Small jewel in between Pretoria and Johannesburg. So if you don’t have time to drive all the waytonthe bigger parks this one’s offers several animals and very nice views. At the end of the day on our way out we encountered mamma Cheetah with cubs, amazing.
Written July 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Willem v
14 contributions
Oct 2021
Rietvlei is a true Gem! It is a wonderful way to escape the city living for a few hours in a pristine reserve that is very well managed with good roads. There are various antelope, buffalo, small mammals and loads of birds to be seen. We have always left the reserve feeling very happy and satisfied with what we saw and the experience we had. Highly recommend a trip to Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Written October 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paulmey37
Pretoria, South Africa5 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
Although everyone says it's very unsafe, we have camped there a couple of times without incident. I like it because it's close by, well maintained and quite inexpensive. Lots of fishing and camping spots with clean ablution blocks close by.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Albert
7 contributions
Nov 2022
Treated like a criminal, I have declared I have a handgun and I was told that I cannot enter the Reserve this after I have supported them for many years. I ask for a safe place where I can store the weapon but they had no facility for it. I find this to be pathetic as most other reserves offer a place of safe keeping.
Written November 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaggiLo
Pretoria, South Africa14 contributions
Feb 2020
My father's two brothers and their wives were visiting Pretoria and I was looking for a special place to take the septuagenarians and octogenarians. Restaurants are too noisy and costly and they all love nature, so a braai at Rietvlei nature reserve sounded perfect - and it was. I was a bit concerned as they all walk with walking sticks, and although the path from the parking to the picnic spot at Marais dam is well kept and paved, I was concerned they may struggle, but I got them all to the water's edge in good shape. The warden on duty approached me and allowed me to drive in and pick them up after the braai.
Apart from numerous water birds and zebra we spotted red hartebeest, wildebeest and some blesbuck.
It was a perfect day and one of those memories we will all treasure forever.
Apart from numerous water birds and zebra we spotted red hartebeest, wildebeest and some blesbuck.
It was a perfect day and one of those memories we will all treasure forever.
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PrisciÄşla
Krugersdorp, South Africa
Do you have camping sites at Rietvlei please?
Written March 11, 2024
Good afternoon, we would like to picnic at the Dam on 25 December. Do we have to book, or can we just turn up early to find a good spot?
Written December 10, 2022
Trail34443784342
Pretoria, South Africa
Hoe much wil it cost me to go camping in a tent and fishing with 4 people for 2 days in rietvlei
Written November 15, 2022
Can we take your pet with in the vehicle for the game drive
Written August 8, 2020
Simoney
Pretoria, South Africa
How is the picnic spots around, is it clean and safe to use?
Is there any views when sitting and having a picnic?
Written February 12, 2020
The picnic spots are really nice. You can braai & picnic at the dam, and they also have a viewing deck there.
Written February 14, 2020
We are planning on visiting end Nov 2019. We will drive a hired VW minibus. Can I do the roads in this vehicle? What is the entry fee per person?
Written August 30, 2019
Hi yes there are tarred roads so the bus will be fine. The is R80 per adult(not 100%sure) and then R100 for the vehicle.
Written September 23, 2019
Hi,
Is it necessary to have a 4x4 type vehicle to visit Rietvlei?
Thank you. (I have a Honda Jazz)
Written April 23, 2019
For the most part we have done it in Honda balade so 4x2 is fine. of course the best 4x4 is a 4x2 rental car :-) so it should not be a problem.
Written May 8, 2019
Hi we would like to know the prices for the self catering chalets near the dam at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Written January 3, 2019
Hi. I looked googled Rietvlei Nature Reserve tariffs and it seems to cost R900 per night for the chalet and requires a R500 deposit. It might be best to contact them.
Regards,
Michelle
Written January 7, 2019
Entrance Fees from 1st July 2018 Adults 18 years and older R59.00 Children 7-17 years R32.00 Children 2-6 years R11.00 Infants to 2 years Free Pensioners 60 years and older R34.00 Disabled persons R34.00
Written September 28, 2018
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