Rietvlei Nature Reserve: Facilities and Tariffs

Rietvlei Dam and Nature Reserve offer a variety of entertainment and sport. The Nature Reserve Game can be viewed on 40 km of road, of which 30 km is tarred. Toilet and braai facilities are available. Visitors can buy firewood at the entrance gate. There are overnight facilities for visitors who have booked weekend hiking or horse-riding trails. Admission times: Summer: September to March 05:30 - 17:00 (You may remain inside until 19:00 when the gates close). Winter: April to August 06:00 - 16:00 (You may remain inside until 18:00 when the gates close). How to get there: From the R21 take the IRENE / RIETVLEI DAM off-ramp. Drive in an easterly direction to the first four-way stop and turn right towards Olifantsfontein and the St George's Hotel. Drive for 1,5 km, crossing the Sesmylspruit. On the left is a sign indicating RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE. Turn left here and follow the road up the hill to the main gate. (Drive past the stone entrance until you get to the offices and entrance gate.) Bookings and contact numbers: Bookings are only necessary for the overnight facilities (four weeks in advance) and if a guide is required for a hiking or horse-riding trail. Tel: 012 345 2274 012 358 1811 012 358 1812 Fax: 086 516 5798 Email: riaanm@tshwane.gov.za (management) rietvleinatuurreservaat@tshwane.gov.za (bookings) Address: Rietvlei Nature Reserve PO Box 1454 Pretoria 0001 Visiting hours Summer (September to April): 05:30 to 19:00 Winter (May to August): 07:00 to 18:00 Tariffs: Admission fee per day Per person 17 years and older: R40,00 Children 6 to 17 years R20,00 Pre-school children 0 to 5 years R5,00 People 60 years and older R20,00 Season tickets (day visits; valid for 6 months) Season tickets are not transferable. R550,00 per person   Activities Organised group tours Organised group tour ( with private vehicle) per person Normal entrance fee Guide per tour group R125,00 Organised groups for children, 0-6 years, per child R6,00 Lion Camp tours Lion camp tours per person ( guided on Vehicle) Adults (per person) R40,00 School children, 6 -16years (per child) R20,00 Pre-school, 0 - 5 years (per child) R5,00 Persons 60 years and older R20,00 Day-hiking trails (min 10, max 15 people) Per person R50,00 Non-refundable deposit per booking R300,00 Overnight hiking trails (2 nights, guided, min 6, max 8 people, self-catering) Per person per booking R150,00 Non-refundable deposit per booking R300,00 Game drives (2 hours, guided, min 10, max 22 people) Per person R125,00 Non-refundable deposit per booking R500,00 Day horse trails (4 hours, guided, min 6, max 8 people) Per person R110,00 Non-refundable deposit R300,00 Overnight horse trails (2 nights, guided, min 6, max 8 people, self-catering) Per person R250,00 Non-refundable deposit R750,00 Environmental education (only for school learners, advance booking required) Day groups, 2-hour programme (min 10, max 120 children) Per learner R10,00 Per adult accompanying group R35,00 Per qualified guide R125,00 Deposit per booking R250,00 Environmental education: Organized bus tour (own bus) Per bus R460,00 Training facilities Hiring of lecture room and audio-visual equipment (max 66 people) R740,00 Hiring of lapas Hiring of main lapa (max 200 people, kitchen, toilets, braai facilities, walk-in fridge, stove, ice machine, firewood, tables, chairs) per day or part of a day R2 000,00 Refundable damage deposit per booking R2 000,00 Angling Angling area Tel 012 345 3917 Times of admission: 06:00 to 18:00, every day of the week. Only permit holders may enter. Permits are available at the angling gate itself. Entrance through the angling gate. Tariffs: Per person 0 - 5 years (pre-schoolers) R5,00 6 - 16 years R20,00 17 years and older R40,00 60 years and older R20,00 Season tickets on request

Mountain bike trails Per person per ride

R10,00

Overnight facilities

Yacht Club

Only club members are allowed to enter.
Contact the secretary at 012 345 0621 or 082 488 9900, or email psc@sailing.org.za for more information. No other members of the public will be allowed on the water.

Lapa

• Access the lapa from Olifantsfontein Road.
• The lapa can accommodate between 30 and 200 people (maximum 200)
.
• Firewood is supplied. A caretaker and guard will be available at the entrance gate and the lapa. Power points, an ice machine, a stove, walk-in refrigerator, cushions and toilet facilities are also available.
• No loud music will be allowed and groups must be out by 24:00 (no exception).
• No entrance into the reserve is allowed, except by prior arrangement and after paying the normal entrance fees.

Bus tours

A group, including school learners booked for environmental education, may organise a bus themselves, but normal entrance tariffs apply.

Hiking

The reserve offers day and overnight hiking under the guidance of a nature conservationist. Please book trails at least two weeks in advance. Those who do the overnight trails arrive on Friday afternoon and leave the reserve on Sunday afternoon. The facilities include two overnight rondavels with beds and mattresses, cold and (solar-heated) hot water, basic cooking utensils and firewood (no electricity). The trail covers a distance of 21 km across the 3 800 ha terrain that supports some 1 500 head of game. There are several historical structures on the trail.

Horse rides

Day and overnight rides are available. Day rides last about four hours. Overnight riders arrive at 17:00 on Friday and leave at 14:00 on Sunday. The riding times have to be arranged beforehand. Rides take place under the guidance of a nature conservationist, and each rider is provided with a horse, saddle and saddle bags. The trail covers a distance of 36 km. Riders must be able to ride and have some experience of riding.

Age restriction: No person under the age of 12
Weight restriction: No person over 120 kg

Night drives

Night drives with a guide are undertaken from 18:00 to 22:30 from Monday to Saturday. Open cross-country vehicles are used and game is tracked by spotlight. Groups of 10 to 20 people are allowed. The winter months are extremely cold and warm clothes are essential. Wood, fire and blankets are supplied. A bring-and-braai is usually held afterwards at the Fish Eagle Lapa at no extra cost, but own food, drinks and cutlery must be brought along.

Environment Education Centre

At the Environment Education Centre, nature conservationists offer educational programmes to school children and other interest groups. Day groups of 10 to 120 children are allowed.

Further information and bookings:

Friends of Rietvlei