Dinokeng Game Reserve: Difference between revisions
No edit summary Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit Newcomer task Newcomer task: copyedit |
Open access status updates in citations with OAbot #oabot |
||
(18 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown) | |||
Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
| established = 2011 |
| established = 2011 |
||
}} |
}} |
||
The '''Dinokeng Game Reserve''' is a |
The '''Dinokeng Game Reserve''' is a [[wildlife sanctuary]] in the province of [[Gauteng]], [[South Africa]] and can be accessed via the [[N1 (South Africa)|N1 route]]. It is a 40-minute drive from [[Pretoria]] or 75 minutes from the [[O. R. Tambo International Airport|O. R. Tambo Airport]] and [[Johannesburg]]. The reserve has the [[Big five game|Big Five game animals]], and is open for visitors to explore. It covers an area of approximately 21,000 hectares. The name, Dinokeng, is derived from the language of the [[baTswana|Tswana]] and [[baPedi|Bapedi]] people, and is translated as “a place of rivers”. |
||
==History== |
==History== |
||
The Dinokeng Game Reserve is part of the Gauteng government's “[[Blue IQ]]" project (an entity of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development).<ref name="BlueIQ" /> The initiatives for conservation taken by the Gauteng Provincial Government have led to the establishment of the Dinokeng Game Reserve that has promoted the concept of [[ecotourism]] in Dinokeng.<ref name="evaluate" /> In 1997, the then Premier of Gauteng, [[Tokyo Sexwale]], announced a project to develop “Big Five” wild animal sanctuaries in the northeastern part of Pretoria. The main purpose of the government to establish Dinokeng Game Reserve was to develop tourism through the use of local natural resources, thereby increasing the [[employment rate]] and living conditions of local people.<ref name="BlueIQ" /> The goal is to promote local [[Socio-Economic Development|socio-economic development]] through the development of “all Africa” destinations, especially those that are historically disadvantaged.<ref name="BlueIQ" /> The government will help with this project and will work with local landowners to attract private sector investment and ultimately achieve a self-sufficient tourism-based local economy. The Gauteng Provincial Government and more than 170 landowners have developed the concept that ecotourism can be a source of sustainable rural employment for rural communities.<ref name="BlueIQ" /> The formal planning of Dinokeng and negotiations with landowners began in early 2000, and Dinokeng Game Reserve was officially opened on September 22, 2011. Big Five animals such as [[African leopard|leopard]], [[Panthera leo melanochaita|lion]], [[bush elephant|elephant]], and [[Cape buffalo|buffalo]] were gradually re-introduced. When a group of [[black rhinoceros]] was re-introduced into the reserve in 2018, a Big Five Reserve had been established in the true sense.<ref name="big5" /> |
The Dinokeng Game Reserve is part of the Gauteng government's “[[Blue IQ]]" project (an entity of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development).<ref name="BlueIQ" /> The initiatives for conservation taken by the Gauteng Provincial Government have led to the establishment of the Dinokeng Game Reserve that has promoted the concept of [[ecotourism]] in Dinokeng.<ref name="evaluate" /> In 1997, the then Premier of Gauteng, [[Tokyo Sexwale]], announced a project to develop “Big Five” wild animal sanctuaries in the northeastern part of Pretoria. The main purpose of the government to establish Dinokeng Game Reserve was to develop tourism through the use of local natural resources, thereby increasing the [[employment rate]] and living conditions of local people.<ref name="BlueIQ" /> |
||
The goal is to promote local [[Socio-Economic Development|socio-economic development]] through the development of “all Africa” destinations, especially those that are historically disadvantaged.<ref name="BlueIQ" /> The government will help with this project and will work with local landowners to attract private sector investment and ultimately achieve a self-sufficient tourism-based local economy. The Gauteng Provincial Government and more than 170 landowners have developed the concept that ecotourism can be a source of sustainable rural employment for rural communities.<ref name="BlueIQ" /> The formal planning of Dinokeng and negotiations with landowners began in early 2000, and Dinokeng Game Reserve was officially opened on September 22, 2011. Big Five animals such as [[African leopard|leopard]], [[Panthera leo melanochaita|lion]], [[bush elephant|elephant]], and [[Cape buffalo|buffalo]] were gradually re-introduced. When a group of [[black rhinoceros]] was re-introduced into the reserve in 2018, a Big Five Reserve had been established in the true sense.<ref name="big5" /> |
|||
==Geography and climate== |
==Geography and climate== |
||
Line 28: | Line 30: | ||
==Wildlife== |
==Wildlife== |
||
[[File:Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina, at Dinokeng Game Reserve, Gauteng-Limpopo, South Africa (16186669007).jpg|thumb|The migratory [[icterine warbler]] at Dinokeng Game Reserve]] |
[[File:Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina, at Dinokeng Game Reserve, Gauteng-Limpopo, South Africa (16186669007).jpg|thumb|The migratory [[icterine warbler]] at Dinokeng Game Reserve]] |
||
In addition to the [[Big five game|Big Five]] animals ([[Panthera leo melanochaita|lion]], [[African leopard|leopard]], [[bush elephant|elephant]], [[cape buffalo]] and [[black rhinoceros|rhinoceros]]), there are [[Cheetah|cheetahs]], [[South African giraffe|giraffes]], [[Burchell's zebra|zebras]], [[Brown hyena|brown hyenas]], [[blue wildebeest|wildebeests]], [[red hartebeest]]s, [[tsessebe]], [[Common eland|eland]], [[Greater kudu|kudu]], [[impala |
In addition to the [[Big five game|Big Five]] animals ([[Panthera leo melanochaita|lion]], [[African leopard|leopard]], [[bush elephant|elephant]], [[cape buffalo]] and [[black rhinoceros|rhinoceros]]), there are [[Cheetah|cheetahs]], [[South African giraffe|giraffes]], [[Burchell's zebra|zebras]], [[Brown hyena|brown hyenas]], [[blue wildebeest|wildebeests]], [[red hartebeest]]s, [[tsessebe]], [[Common eland|eland]], [[Greater kudu|kudu]], [[impala]]s, [[vervet monkey|monkey]], [[hippopotamus]] and [[Nile crocodile|crocodiles]].<ref name="big5" /> And more than three hundred species of birds, including [[Common ostrich|ostrich]], [[osprey]], a pair of breeding [[martial eagle]]s, the endangered [[blue crane]], [[helmeted guineafowl|guineafowl]], [[heron]]s, the [[pied avocet|avocet]], [[black-winged stilt|stilt]], [[African jacana|jacana]] and various [[plover]]s, [[grey go-away-bird|go-away-bird]], [[Tockus|hornbills]], [[kingfisher]]s, [[woodpecker]]s, [[shrike]]s, [[lark]]s, [[bulbul]]s, [[swallows]], [[starling]]s, [[Turdus|thrushes]], [[Ploceidae|weavers]] and [[Estrildidae|waxbills]].<ref name="gauteng"/> Martial eagles have been classified as a vulnerable species by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|IUCN]].<ref name="redlist" /> Also, Dinokeng Game Reserve may be counted among South Africa's main bird watching sites, rivalling areas like [[Ndumo Game Reserve]] in KwaZulu-Natal province in terms of its number of birds.<ref name="birds" /> Due to the unique environment, the relatively close positions of water, grass and bush, various groups of birds are attracted.<ref name="birds" /> |
||
==Tourism== |
==Tourism== |
||
[[File:Ndlovu-hek van Dinokeng-wildtuin, Gauteng, a.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Ndlovu (i.e. elephant) Gate on the R734, one of five access points to the reserve. The others are Ts'ukulu on the R734, Tau and Yingwe on the D48, and Nyati on the D1333 road.]] |
|||
Many adventure tourism companies are located in the metropolitan areas of South Africa, which is an important part of the South African urban tourism market.<ref name="bulletin" /> Dinokeng is one of the popular tourist destinations in Gauteng that offers the natural, historical and [https://dgrtrails.co.za/dinokeng-reserve-activities/#cultural_tours cultural sites] for the visitors. There are four famous tourist hubs: Dinokeng Central, A Birder's Paradise, the [[Roodeplaat Dam]], and the Dinokeng Game Reserve. Boat cruises, self-drive tours, professional game-drives, [https://dgrtrails.co.za/dinokeng-reserve-activities/#cultural_tours cultural tours], [https://dgrtrails.co.za/dinokeng-reserve-activities/#fishing fishing], spa treatments, hot air ballooning, and restaurants are located in the reserve.<ref name="big5" /> In the Dinokeng Game Reserve, users of self-driving routes can choose from three different picnic sites along the route. These picnic sites are built and maintained by private landowners who do not charge for use unless they want visitors to leave these locations. Like most picnic spots in the game reserve, in order to provide a tighter jungle encounter, they are not fenced.<ref name="big5" /> During the [https://dgrtrails.co.za/dinokeng-reserve-activities/#game_drives game-drives], visitors are asked to use the cars in the protected area instead of their own because those cars minimize the damage and erosion of the soil. In order to avoid excessive interruptions to animals, people are allowed to do game drives only at certain times, one is when the animal is awake in the morning, and the other is when the animals return to the shelter in the evening.<ref name="big5" /> Dinokeng Game Reserve tries to make travel more than enjoyment but to integrate learning and promote attitude and behavioral change.<ref name="evaluate" /> There are many posters of endangered species in the reserve, to appeal to locals and tourists to protect animals. Camping visitors are expected to use existing camping camps to prevent the felling of trees.<ref name="evaluate" /> One measurement Dinokeng Game Reserve has taken is to use a hot air balloon to show visitors from an aerial perspective. When visitors saw wildlife activities and some documentaries filmed, it helped them to connect with nature.<ref name="evaluate" /> People who encountered this experience will more likely assume responsibility for protecting the natural environment.<ref name="evaluate" /> |
|||
Many adventure tourism companies are located in the metropolitan areas of South Africa, which is an important part of the South African urban tourism market.<ref name="bulletin" /> Dinokeng is one of the popular tourist destinations in Gauteng that offers the natural, historical and cultural sites for visitors. There are four famous tourist hubs: Dinokeng Central, A Birder's Paradise, the [[Roodeplaat Dam]], and the Dinokeng Game Reserve. Boat cruises, self-drive tours, professional game-drives, cultural tours, fishing, spa treatments, hot air ballooning, and restaurants are located in the reserve.<ref name="big5" /> In the Dinokeng Game Reserve, users of self-driving routes can choose from three different picnic sites along the route. These picnic sites are built and maintained by private landowners who do not charge for use unless they want visitors to leave these locations. Like most picnic spots in the game reserve, in order to provide a tighter jungle encounter, they are not fenced.<ref name="big5" /> |
|||
During game-drives visitors are asked to use the cars in the protected area instead of their own because the latter minimize damage to and erosion of the terrain. In order to avoid excessive interruptions to animals, people are allowed to do game drives only at certain times, one is when the animal is awake in the morning, and the other is when the animals return to the shelter in the evening.<ref name="big5" /> Dinokeng Game Reserve tries to make travel more than enjoyment but to integrate learning and promote attitude and behavioral change.<ref name="evaluate" /> There are many posters of endangered species in the reserve, to appeal to locals and tourists to protect animals. Camping visitors are expected to use existing camping camps to prevent the felling of trees.<ref name="evaluate" /> One measurement Dinokeng Game Reserve has taken is to use a hot air balloon to show visitors from an aerial perspective. When visitors saw wildlife activities and some documentaries filmed, it helped them to connect with nature.<ref name="evaluate" /> People who encountered this experience will more likely assume responsibility for protecting the natural environment.<ref name="evaluate" /> |
|||
==Conservation== |
==Conservation== |
||
Line 49: | Line 54: | ||
=== Lion conservation === |
=== Lion conservation === |
||
There are two wildlife sanctuaries large enough to self-regulate, [[Kruger National Park]] and Kgalagadi Park in South Africa.<ref name="big5" /> All other reserves such as the Dinokeng game reserve must be managed by people to maintain a predator-prey balance and avoid inbreeding. The Dinokeng game reserve is a member of the Lions Management Forum (LiMF), a community of reserve managers from all over the country who shares management experience, discuss and find a management solution that is suitable for long-term subsistence of lions.<ref name="big5" /> Although the Dinokeng game reserve has successfully managed the total number of lions through selective contraception, the reserve must address the existence of too many young males. In a vast ecosystem, nature will provide solutions.<ref name="big5" /> |
|||
As sexual maturity, young males will be driven out by the dominant males, and eventually, they will find new pride in themselves. But this natural rule is not applicable to the small reserves, such as Dinokeng. Pressure from the dominant male lion has caused young males to try to escape from the reserve. This can cause serious damage to the perimeter of the reserve. At Dinokeng game reserve, managers make decisions based on evidence and apply ethical principles to determine the management scheme for lions.<ref name="LiMF" /> They value the overall ecosystem approach rather than species-specific approaches, consistent with regional and international laws, policies, guidelines and strategies.<ref name="LiMF" /> |
|||
====Fatal lion attack==== |
|||
On 27 February 2018 a young woman was mauled to death by a lioness that was under the care of [[Kevin Richardson (zookeeper)|Kevin Richardson]]. Richardson lost track of the lioness when she pursued an [[impala]] for some {{convert|2|km}}, whereupon the lioness attacked the day visitor to the reserve.<ref name="WashingtonPost2018">{{cite news |author=Torchia, C. |title=Lion kills woman at refuge of South African 'lion whisperer' |work=[[The Washington Times]] |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/28/lion-kills-woman-at-refuge-of-south-african-lion-w/ |date=2018-02-28 |access-date=2021-04-15}}</ref><ref name="CNN2018">{{cite news |author=Feingold, S. |title=Lion mauls woman to death at popular South African wildlife sanctuary |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/28/africa/woman-killed-lion-sanctuary-intl/index.html |date=2018-03-02 |access-date=2018-03-02}}</ref> Wildlife biologist Luke Dollar responded to the killing in an article by [[National Geographic]], stating that "behaviors and programs that skirt the reality of our place in the food chain seem to be an accident waiting to happen."<ref name="National Geographic">{{cite news|url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/woman-mauled-death-lion-kevin-richardson-lion-whisperer-south-africa-private-reserves-lion-walks-spd/|title=Fatal Lion Mauling Highlights Controversy of Private Reserves|date=2 March 2018|work=[[National Geographic]]|access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref> |
|||
====Fatal lion attacks==== |
|||
On 27 February 2018 a young woman, Megan van der Zwan (22), was mauled to death by a lioness that was under the care of [[Kevin Richardson (zookeeper)|Kevin Richardson]].<ref name="cww1">{{cite web |title=The Tragedy Of Reality |url= https://www.facebook.com/notes/678999339665461 |website=Facebook |publisher=Captive Wildlife Watchdog |access-date=3 September 2023 |date=14 March 2021}}</ref> Richardson lost track of the lioness when she pursued an [[impala]] for some {{convert|2|km}}, whereupon the lioness attacked the day visitor to the reserve.<ref name="WashingtonPost2018">{{cite news |author=Torchia, C. |title=Lion kills woman at refuge of South African 'lion whisperer' |work=[[The Washington Times]] |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/28/lion-kills-woman-at-refuge-of-south-african-lion-w/ |date=2018-02-28 |access-date=2021-04-15}}</ref><ref name="CNN2018">{{cite news |author=Feingold, S. |title= Lion mauls woman to death at popular South African wildlife sanctuary |publisher=[[CNN]] |url= https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/28/africa/woman-killed-lion-sanctuary-intl/index.html |date=2018-03-02 |access-date=2018-03-02}}</ref> Wildlife biologist Luke Dollar responded to the killing in an article by [[National Geographic]], stating that "behaviors and programs that skirt the reality of our place in the food chain seem to be an accident waiting to happen."<ref name="National Geographic">{{cite news| url= https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/woman-mauled-death-lion-kevin-richardson-lion-whisperer-south-africa-private-reserves-lion-walks-spd/ | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180302215838/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/woman-mauled-death-lion-kevin-richardson-lion-whisperer-south-africa-private-reserves-lion-walks-spd/ | url-status= dead | archive-date= March 2, 2018 |title=Fatal Lion Mauling Highlights Controversy of Private Reserves|date=2 March 2018|work=[[National Geographic]] |access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref> On 13 August 2023, Johannes Matshe (30), an employee of a land owner at Dinokeng, was killed by three lions while navigating the reserve on foot after dark.<ref name="ncw1">{{cite news |last1=Ncwane |first1=Nokwanda |title=Dinokeng Game Reserve to euthanise lions who mauled employee to death |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/dinokeng-nature-reserve-employee-mauled-to-death-by-lions-latest-18-august-2023/ |access-date=2 September 2023 |agency=The South African |publisher=thesouthafrican.com |date=18 August 2023}}</ref> |
|||
=== Cheetah conservation === |
=== Cheetah conservation === |
||
The cheetah is the second most threatened carnivore in South Africa after the African wild dog. They are listed as endangered species in South Africa.<ref name="cheetah" /> Cheetahs have disappeared from 76% of Africa's historical geographic regions and almost all of Asia's vast historical regions.<ref name="big5" /> In the past 13,000 years, cheetahs have been killed because of threats to livestock and human security.<ref name="big5" /> Over time, due to crop cultivation and urban development, the cheetah population has been insufficiently spaced. Most importantly, wildlife and humans do not coexist well.<ref name="big5" /> One way to deal with this problem is to establish wildlife sanctuaries and isolate humans from animals to ensure the safety of both parties. The challenge with this solution is the limitation of natural gene flow.<ref name="big5" /> Wild cheetahs appear in three locations in South Africa. First, huge reserves, such as Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi, with a large enough gene pool |
The cheetah is the second most threatened carnivore in South Africa after the African wild dog. They are listed as an endangered species in South Africa.<ref name="cheetah" /> Cheetahs have disappeared from 76% of Africa's historical geographic regions and almost all of Asia's vast historical regions.<ref name="big5" /> In the past 13,000 years, cheetahs have been killed because of threats to livestock and human security.<ref name="big5" /> Over time, due to crop cultivation and urban development, the cheetah population has been insufficiently spaced. Most importantly, wildlife and humans do not coexist well.<ref name="big5" /> One way to deal with this problem is to establish wildlife sanctuaries and isolate humans from animals to ensure the safety of both parties. |
||
The challenge with this solution is the limitation of natural gene flow.<ref name="big5" /> Wild cheetahs appear in three locations in South Africa. First, huge reserves, such as Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi, with a large enough gene pool of more than 600 cheetahs in total, so they do not require human intervention and management. Second, in the farmland on the border of Botswana, the free-roaming population is 350–400. Third, there are about 340 scattered cheetahs distributed in 54 reserves including the Dinokeng game reserve. Each protected area has an average of 6 or 7 cheetahs, which means that inbreeding is a problem that needs to be avoided.<ref name="big5" /> Therefore, the Dinokeng game reserve is part of the [[Endangered Wildlife Trust|EWT]] (Endangered Wildlife Trust) Cheetah Metapopulation project. The purpose of the Metapopulation project is to prevent this inbreeding and to ensure the long-term viability of cheetahs in small, fenced reserves, also ensure the long-time genetic and demographic integrity of the collective population.<ref name="EWT" /> |
|||
==Administration== |
==Administration== |
||
Line 61: | Line 70: | ||
As a part of the municipal spatial planning process, an environmental management framework (EMF) is utilized to promote sustainable development through holistic planning efforts. Regional planning initiatives such as the EMF project and regional space development frameworks contribute to strengthening the planning framework. The EMF process integrates stakeholders from both physical and virtual environments and has a specific goal of creating a self-sustaining tourism economy in the case of Dinokeng Game Reserve. The EMF has established resources and parameters to ensure the sustainable development of various natural activities, which directly or indirectly influence planning decisions related to natural resources.<ref name="bulletin" /> <ref name="evaluate" /> |
As a part of the municipal spatial planning process, an environmental management framework (EMF) is utilized to promote sustainable development through holistic planning efforts. Regional planning initiatives such as the EMF project and regional space development frameworks contribute to strengthening the planning framework. The EMF process integrates stakeholders from both physical and virtual environments and has a specific goal of creating a self-sustaining tourism economy in the case of Dinokeng Game Reserve. The EMF has established resources and parameters to ensure the sustainable development of various natural activities, which directly or indirectly influence planning decisions related to natural resources.<ref name="bulletin" /> <ref name="evaluate" /> |
||
<!-- ==Site locations== |
|||
{{GeoGroupTemplate}} |
|||
*Abendruhe Lodge 25°22'55.6"S 28°20'00.3"E |
|||
*Afsaal Karavaan en Boskamp (camping site) 25°22'43.5"S 28°20'10.9"E |
|||
*Almega Karavaan Park 25°20'27.4"S 28°23'16.1"E |
|||
*Armar 25°25'45.1"S 28°27'35.2"E |
|||
*Bayethe picnic site 25°23'33.2"S 28°24'01.7"E |
|||
*Bird Hide at Dinokeng Nature Reserve 25°23'23.6"S 28°27'33.8"E |
|||
*Bongo 25°22'47.4"S 28°21'00.1"E |
|||
*Boskoors 25°23'10.3"S 28°24'56.9"E |
|||
*Bundhu-Rus Guest House 25°24'56.3"S 28°27'28.0"E |
|||
*Bushveld Magic Guesthouse 25°20'08.8"S 28°22'34.1"E |
|||
*Chameleon Bush Lodge 25°20'55.8"S 28°21'18.3"E |
|||
*Crimson Bush Lodge 25°21'08.8"S 28°22'39.6"E |
|||
*De Kleine Serengeti Game Lodge 25°21'13.2"S 28°20'36.1"E |
|||
*De Rust Caravan Park (camping site) 25°24'33.4"S 28°18'54.3"E |
|||
*Destination Africa 4x4 Rentals 25°23'34.1"S 28°23'35.7"E |
|||
*Didimala Game Lodge 25°17'18.1"S 28°23'59.9"E |
|||
*Dino-Tau Lodge 25°22'23.9"S 28°23'04.0"E |
|||
*Dinokeng Bush Camp (camping site) 25°22'42.3"S 28°24'57.6"E |
|||
*Dinokeng Resort 25°21'02.6"S 28°24'11.6"E |
|||
*Dinonyane Bush Lodge 25°22'14.5"S 28°23'53.7"E |
|||
*Don de Dieu Game and Guest Farm 25°19'03.1"S 28°25'10.0"E |
|||
*Dula Nokeng Picnic Spot 25°21'35.0"S 28°20'58.9"E |
|||
*DVR Den 25°22'45.3"S 28°23'21.0"E |
|||
*Elephant Waterhole 25°23'31.8"S 28°23'19.2"E |
|||
*Erasmus Bush Camp 25°23'34.4"S 28°20'20.8"E |
|||
*Explorers Little Mongena Tented Camp 25°19'46.4"S 28°21'11.4"E |
|||
*Foreva Wild 25°22'12.6"S 28°23'41.8"E |
|||
*Golden Impalas Bush Resort 25°21'46.3"S 28°21'45.4"E |
|||
*Gopane Lodge 25°19'48.1"S 28°23'10.2"E |
|||
*Green Finch Lodge 25°22'07.4"S 28°21'37.9"E |
|||
*Hanati Chalets 25°22'18.0"S 28°19'15.1"E |
|||
*Hartbees Boskamp 25°23'44.7"S 28°26'23.9"E |
|||
*Hayward's Game Lodge 25°20'35.8"S 28°22'45.0"E |
|||
*Heavens Road Lodge 25°28'16.6"S 28°29'07.8"E |
|||
*Hogs Guest House 25°21'53.8"S 28°21'53.5"E |
|||
*Homestead 25°19'58.1"S 28°23'03.1"E |
|||
*Honey Lodge 25°24'01.2"S 28°21'40.9"E |
|||
*Hunter's Pride 14 25°20'00.4"S 28°22'40.1"E |
|||
*iKhaya LamaDube Game Lodge 25°24'27.9"S 28°26'12.4"E |
|||
*Intibane Hideaway 25°22'49.5"S 28°23'07.6"E |
|||
*Isinkwe lodge 25°19'53.5"S 28°22'56.4"E |
|||
*Jabula Bush Camp (camping site) 25°21'32.5"S 28°21'12.9"E |
|||
*Jimmy's Place Stone Cottages 25°21'32.6"S 28°20'42.8"E |
|||
*Kamba Game Lodge 25°25'03.6"S 28°21'02.2"E |
|||
*Karen's Dinokeng 25°22'24.6"S 28°23'35.9"E |
|||
*Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary 25°26'55.8"S 28°27'56.0"E |
|||
*Kierieklapper Private Bush Camp 25°18'57.9"S 28°24'49.1"E |
|||
*Koedoesrus (camping site) 25°22'40.2"S 28°23'23.4"E |
|||
*Korwe Lodge 25°21'23.5"S 28°22'48.2"E |
|||
*Kudu Bush Camp (camping site) 25°23'20.4"S 28°23'36.7"E |
|||
*Kukama Private Bush Camp (camping site) 25°25'01.7"S 28°22'56.6"E |
|||
*Kwalata Adventure Camp 25°23'33.7"S 28°19'53.4"E |
|||
*Kwalata Game Lodge 25°23'22.9"S 28°19'22.9"E |
|||
*Kyleu Bush Camp (camping site) |
|||
*Lefokeng Bush Camp (camping site) |
|||
*Lekkerbreek Lodge 25°18'55.0"S 28°24'07.4"E |
|||
*Letlotse Lodge 25°24'35.4"S 28°19'33.9"E |
|||
*Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary 25°28'28.0"S 28°28'34.5"E |
|||
*Little Dinokeng Bush Lodge 25°20'15.1"S 28°22'26.9"E |
|||
*Leopardsong Game Lodge 25°19'35.2"S 28°23'07.8"E |
|||
*Lobatse Camp 25°23'36.6"S 28°24'27.1"E |
|||
*Lords and Ladys Bush Lodge 25°24'53.5"S 28°20'39.0"E |
|||
*LFGA Tau Camp 25°20'02.8"S 28°21'50.3"E |
|||
*Mangwa Valley Game Lodge 25°22'26.7"S 28°27'49.8"E |
|||
*Maroela Treetop Lodge 25°19'10.6"S 28°25'05.8"E |
|||
*Mela Luxury Game Lodge |
|||
*Mongena Private Game Lodge 25°20'38.8"S 28°21'06.4"E |
|||
*Mooiplasie Bushcamp 25°23'38.5"S 28°25'03.7"E |
|||
*Moretele-Metsi Bushcamp (camping site) 25°24'27.7"S 28°18'54.5"E |
|||
*Morekuri Safaris 25°21'21.5"S 28°22'12.5"E |
|||
*Mphata Game Lodge 25°22'16.6"S 28°20'20.4"E |
|||
*Muqurati Lodge 25°21'57.6"S 28°23'22.9"E |
|||
*Ngala Lodge 25°19'41.8"S 28°23'11.2"E |
|||
*Nyati Gate 25°25'33.1"S 28°28'57.9"E |
|||
*Oppi Plaas Bush Camp (camping site) 25°23'02.1"S 28°23'21.6"E |
|||
*OuKlip Game Lodge 25°23'32.9"S 28°23'46.7"E |
|||
*Owl Spot Lodge 25°23'47.8"S 28°22'39.3"E |
|||
*Phakama Lodge 25°18'07.8"S 28°24'37.2"E |
|||
*Phangwa Bush Camp |
|||
*Plaas Toe! |
|||
*Posh Functions |
|||
*Pretoria Conference Venue |
|||
*Pumba Game Camp 25°20'20.8"S 28°23'05.8"E |
|||
*Ritsako Game Lodge 25°24'11.6"S 28°21'43.0"E |
|||
*Rooibank Guest Farm 25°21'49.6"S 28°22'05.3"E |
|||
*Rus Te Vrede Guest Lodge 25°22'18.7"S 28°23'12.1"E |
|||
*Safari Mall 25°20'50.7"S 28°22'14.8"E |
|||
*Siyaya Bush Lodge 25°20'07.0"S 28°22'58.1"E |
|||
*Sharon Lodge 25°22'42.1"S 28°21'33.1"E |
|||
*Sunset Bush Camp 25°23'57.9"S 28°26'03.2"E |
|||
*Tambuki Research Camp 25°23'39.5"S 28°18'33.1"E |
|||
*Tandala Tails Camp 25°18'29.9"S 28°20'25.3"E |
|||
*The Leadwood Safari Camp 25°22'09.5"S 28°21'15.6"E |
|||
*Tok Tokkie Bush & Caravan Park 25°24'52.0"S 28°20'53.7"E |
|||
*Tamboti Bush Lodge 25°22'52.5"S 28°20'41.8"E |
|||
*Tendeni Private Lodge 25°25'03.9"S 28°27'40.7"E |
|||
*The Lookout Safari Lodge 25°23'20.1"S 28°20'27.1"E |
|||
*Thekwane Holiday House 25°21'50.0"S 28°23'47.0"E |
|||
*Thekwane Lodge 25°21'44.8"S 28°23'51.5"E |
|||
*Thorn Tree Bush Camp 25°22'24.4"S 28°24'09.7"E |
|||
*Tjailatyd Lodge 25°19'35.2"S 28°22'58.8"E |
|||
*Tomkati Lodge 25°20'05.7"S 28°22'39.8"E |
|||
*Uvivi 25°22'34.2"S 28°23'44.8"E |
|||
*Veldjierondom Picnic Site 25°24'12.0"S 28°25'39.1"E |
|||
*Wild & Water 25°25'33.8"S 28°22'15.0"E |
|||
*WildWays Bush Lodge 25°20'06.9"S 28°23'08.6"E |
|||
*Willems Rus 25°22'09.1"S 28°23'11.9"E |
|||
*YS Private Collection 25°22'19.7"S 28°24'22.9"E |
|||
*Za Zoe Kamp (camping site) 25°23'51.6"S 28°22'09.1"E |
|||
*Zebra Bush Camp Dinokeng Game Reserve (camping site) 25°23'01.2"S 28°21'37.6"E |
|||
<small>{{coord|00|00|00|S|00|00|00|E|region:ZA_type:landmark|display=inline|name=000}}</small> --> |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Line 81: | Line 203: | ||
<ref name="birds">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gauteng.net/attractions/attraction-dinokeng-game-reserves-bird-species|title=A flight of fancy for bird lovers – Gauteng Tourism Authority|website=www.gauteng.net|language=en|access-date=2019-05-31}}</ref> |
<ref name="birds">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gauteng.net/attractions/attraction-dinokeng-game-reserves-bird-species|title=A flight of fancy for bird lovers – Gauteng Tourism Authority|website=www.gauteng.net|language=en|access-date=2019-05-31}}</ref> |
||
<ref name="bulletin">{{Cite journal|last=McKay|first=Tracey|date=2017-09-26|title=The South African Adventure Tourism Economy: An urban phenomenon|journal=Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series|language=en|volume=37|issue=37|pages=63–76|doi=10.1515/bog-2017-0025|s2cid=6111261 |issn=2083-8298}}</ref> |
<ref name="bulletin">{{Cite journal|last=McKay|first=Tracey|date=2017-09-26|title=The South African Adventure Tourism Economy: An urban phenomenon|journal=Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series|language=en|volume=37|issue=37|pages=63–76|doi=10.1515/bog-2017-0025|s2cid=6111261 |issn=2083-8298|doi-access=free|url=https://apcz.umk.pl/BGSS/article/download/bog-2017-0025/12490/33018}}</ref> |
||
<ref name="evaluate">{{Cite journal|last=Trust Antony Chinyama|date=2017|title=To evaluate if Dinokeng Game Reserve can be classified as an ecotourist destination?|url=http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.2.19509.47849|journal=Unpublished|doi=10.13140/rg.2.2.19509.47849}}</ref> |
<ref name="evaluate">{{Cite journal|last=Trust Antony Chinyama|date=2017|title=To evaluate if Dinokeng Game Reserve can be classified as an ecotourist destination?|url=http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.2.19509.47849|journal=Unpublished|doi=10.13140/rg.2.2.19509.47849}}</ref> |
Latest revision as of 20:52, 26 July 2024
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Dinokeng Game Reserve | |
---|---|
Location | Dinokeng Game Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa |
Coordinates | 25°40′00″S 28°40′00″E / 25.66667°S 28.66667°E |
Area | 210 km2 (81 sq mi) |
Established | 2011 |
The Dinokeng Game Reserve is a wildlife sanctuary in the province of Gauteng, South Africa and can be accessed via the N1 route. It is a 40-minute drive from Pretoria or 75 minutes from the O. R. Tambo Airport and Johannesburg. The reserve has the Big Five game animals, and is open for visitors to explore. It covers an area of approximately 21,000 hectares. The name, Dinokeng, is derived from the language of the Tswana and Bapedi people, and is translated as “a place of rivers”.
History
[edit]The Dinokeng Game Reserve is part of the Gauteng government's “Blue IQ" project (an entity of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development).[1] The initiatives for conservation taken by the Gauteng Provincial Government have led to the establishment of the Dinokeng Game Reserve that has promoted the concept of ecotourism in Dinokeng.[2] In 1997, the then Premier of Gauteng, Tokyo Sexwale, announced a project to develop “Big Five” wild animal sanctuaries in the northeastern part of Pretoria. The main purpose of the government to establish Dinokeng Game Reserve was to develop tourism through the use of local natural resources, thereby increasing the employment rate and living conditions of local people.[1]
The goal is to promote local socio-economic development through the development of “all Africa” destinations, especially those that are historically disadvantaged.[1] The government will help with this project and will work with local landowners to attract private sector investment and ultimately achieve a self-sufficient tourism-based local economy. The Gauteng Provincial Government and more than 170 landowners have developed the concept that ecotourism can be a source of sustainable rural employment for rural communities.[1] The formal planning of Dinokeng and negotiations with landowners began in early 2000, and Dinokeng Game Reserve was officially opened on September 22, 2011. Big Five animals such as leopard, lion, elephant, and buffalo were gradually re-introduced. When a group of black rhinoceros was re-introduced into the reserve in 2018, a Big Five Reserve had been established in the true sense.[3]
Geography and climate
[edit]Dinokeng Game Reserve is located in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, in northeast Gauteng, 130 km (81 mi) from Johannesburg, close to the western N1 and N4 motorways. It covers an area of approximately 21,000 ha (52,000 acres). It has a latitude of between 25°40'00"S and 25°10'00" and a longitude of between 28°15'00"E and 28°40'00"E, including the current 18,500 ha (46,000 acres).
The Dinokeng area experiences summer rainfall patterns in the form of thunderstorms, which are changeable and varied. Most of the rainfall occurs during the summer, and from December to February, temperatures rise to more than 20 degrees. Rainfall varies from 350 mm (14 in) to 750 mm (30 in) per season.[4] In winter, from May to August, the temperature is relatively mild, sunshine is sufficient, but the temperature difference is large in one day, cold in the morning and evening, and sometimes may drop to zero.[4] During a year, the temperature varies between 0° and 40° with a long-term daily average of 21°. The south area of Dinokeng has a relatively mild climate with hot summers and usually rains in the afternoon. It is cool to very cold in winter. The Dinokeng Game Reserve is free of malaria.[4]
Wildlife
[edit]In addition to the Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, cape buffalo and rhinoceros), there are cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, brown hyenas, wildebeests, red hartebeests, tsessebe, eland, kudu, impalas, monkey, hippopotamus and crocodiles.[3] And more than three hundred species of birds, including ostrich, osprey, a pair of breeding martial eagles, the endangered blue crane, guineafowl, herons, the avocet, stilt, jacana and various plovers, go-away-bird, hornbills, kingfishers, woodpeckers, shrikes, larks, bulbuls, swallows, starlings, thrushes, weavers and waxbills.[5] Martial eagles have been classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN.[6] Also, Dinokeng Game Reserve may be counted among South Africa's main bird watching sites, rivalling areas like Ndumo Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal province in terms of its number of birds.[7] Due to the unique environment, the relatively close positions of water, grass and bush, various groups of birds are attracted.[7]
Tourism
[edit]Many adventure tourism companies are located in the metropolitan areas of South Africa, which is an important part of the South African urban tourism market.[8] Dinokeng is one of the popular tourist destinations in Gauteng that offers the natural, historical and cultural sites for visitors. There are four famous tourist hubs: Dinokeng Central, A Birder's Paradise, the Roodeplaat Dam, and the Dinokeng Game Reserve. Boat cruises, self-drive tours, professional game-drives, cultural tours, fishing, spa treatments, hot air ballooning, and restaurants are located in the reserve.[3] In the Dinokeng Game Reserve, users of self-driving routes can choose from three different picnic sites along the route. These picnic sites are built and maintained by private landowners who do not charge for use unless they want visitors to leave these locations. Like most picnic spots in the game reserve, in order to provide a tighter jungle encounter, they are not fenced.[3]
During game-drives visitors are asked to use the cars in the protected area instead of their own because the latter minimize damage to and erosion of the terrain. In order to avoid excessive interruptions to animals, people are allowed to do game drives only at certain times, one is when the animal is awake in the morning, and the other is when the animals return to the shelter in the evening.[3] Dinokeng Game Reserve tries to make travel more than enjoyment but to integrate learning and promote attitude and behavioral change.[2] There are many posters of endangered species in the reserve, to appeal to locals and tourists to protect animals. Camping visitors are expected to use existing camping camps to prevent the felling of trees.[2] One measurement Dinokeng Game Reserve has taken is to use a hot air balloon to show visitors from an aerial perspective. When visitors saw wildlife activities and some documentaries filmed, it helped them to connect with nature.[2] People who encountered this experience will more likely assume responsibility for protecting the natural environment.[2]
Conservation
[edit]Dinokeng game reserve partnered with the South African government to enforce laws that protect the natural resources of protected areas.[2] Most employees in Dinokeng Game Reserves are local residents living in protected areas and local residents from the communities surrounding the Reserve.[3] At Dinokeng, it implemented different actions that helped spread environmental awareness to surrounding communities and visitors. Wildlife and Ecological Investment (WEI) conducted ecological surveys and biodiversity monitoring in the Dinokeng Game Reserve.[9] Protected areas use the data collected and analyzed by WEI to review changes in protected areas, and management can gain insight into the operation and health of protected areas. In addition, baseline data can contribute to future professional research or management decisions.[9]
Lion conservation
[edit]There are two wildlife sanctuaries large enough to self-regulate, Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Park in South Africa.[3] All other reserves such as the Dinokeng game reserve must be managed by people to maintain a predator-prey balance and avoid inbreeding. The Dinokeng game reserve is a member of the Lions Management Forum (LiMF), a community of reserve managers from all over the country who shares management experience, discuss and find a management solution that is suitable for long-term subsistence of lions.[3] Although the Dinokeng game reserve has successfully managed the total number of lions through selective contraception, the reserve must address the existence of too many young males. In a vast ecosystem, nature will provide solutions.[3]
As sexual maturity, young males will be driven out by the dominant males, and eventually, they will find new pride in themselves. But this natural rule is not applicable to the small reserves, such as Dinokeng. Pressure from the dominant male lion has caused young males to try to escape from the reserve. This can cause serious damage to the perimeter of the reserve. At Dinokeng game reserve, managers make decisions based on evidence and apply ethical principles to determine the management scheme for lions.[10] They value the overall ecosystem approach rather than species-specific approaches, consistent with regional and international laws, policies, guidelines and strategies.[10]
Fatal lion attacks
[edit]On 27 February 2018 a young woman, Megan van der Zwan (22), was mauled to death by a lioness that was under the care of Kevin Richardson.[11] Richardson lost track of the lioness when she pursued an impala for some 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), whereupon the lioness attacked the day visitor to the reserve.[12][13] Wildlife biologist Luke Dollar responded to the killing in an article by National Geographic, stating that "behaviors and programs that skirt the reality of our place in the food chain seem to be an accident waiting to happen."[14] On 13 August 2023, Johannes Matshe (30), an employee of a land owner at Dinokeng, was killed by three lions while navigating the reserve on foot after dark.[15]
Cheetah conservation
[edit]The cheetah is the second most threatened carnivore in South Africa after the African wild dog. They are listed as an endangered species in South Africa.[16] Cheetahs have disappeared from 76% of Africa's historical geographic regions and almost all of Asia's vast historical regions.[3] In the past 13,000 years, cheetahs have been killed because of threats to livestock and human security.[3] Over time, due to crop cultivation and urban development, the cheetah population has been insufficiently spaced. Most importantly, wildlife and humans do not coexist well.[3] One way to deal with this problem is to establish wildlife sanctuaries and isolate humans from animals to ensure the safety of both parties.
The challenge with this solution is the limitation of natural gene flow.[3] Wild cheetahs appear in three locations in South Africa. First, huge reserves, such as Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi, with a large enough gene pool of more than 600 cheetahs in total, so they do not require human intervention and management. Second, in the farmland on the border of Botswana, the free-roaming population is 350–400. Third, there are about 340 scattered cheetahs distributed in 54 reserves including the Dinokeng game reserve. Each protected area has an average of 6 or 7 cheetahs, which means that inbreeding is a problem that needs to be avoided.[3] Therefore, the Dinokeng game reserve is part of the EWT (Endangered Wildlife Trust) Cheetah Metapopulation project. The purpose of the Metapopulation project is to prevent this inbreeding and to ensure the long-term viability of cheetahs in small, fenced reserves, also ensure the long-time genetic and demographic integrity of the collective population.[17]
Administration
[edit]Dinokeng Game Reserve is a wildlife area in which tourism and conservation are combined, and it was created through a public-private partnership that required the collaboration of local landowners and the South African government. The Dinokeng project is funded by public funds and managed by the government, but the private landowners retain ownership of the land.
As a part of the municipal spatial planning process, an environmental management framework (EMF) is utilized to promote sustainable development through holistic planning efforts. Regional planning initiatives such as the EMF project and regional space development frameworks contribute to strengthening the planning framework. The EMF process integrates stakeholders from both physical and virtual environments and has a specific goal of creating a self-sustaining tourism economy in the case of Dinokeng Game Reserve. The EMF has established resources and parameters to ensure the sustainable development of various natural activities, which directly or indirectly influence planning decisions related to natural resources.[8] [2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Mafika (2002-06-13). "Blue IQ invests in mega-projects". Brand South Africa. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g Trust Antony Chinyama (2017). "To evaluate if Dinokeng Game Reserve can be classified as an ecotourist destination?". Unpublished. doi:10.13140/rg.2.2.19509.47849.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Dinokeng Game Reserve – Big 5 Game Reserve Gauteng". Retrieved 2019-05-29.
- ^ a b c "Gauteng weather – Gauteng Tourism Authority". www.gauteng.net. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- ^ "Martial eagles rule the roost in Dinokeng Game Reserve". Gauteng.
- ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ a b "A flight of fancy for bird lovers – Gauteng Tourism Authority". www.gauteng.net. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ a b McKay, Tracey (2017-09-26). "The South African Adventure Tourism Economy: An urban phenomenon". Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series. 37 (37): 63–76. doi:10.1515/bog-2017-0025. ISSN 2083-8298. S2CID 6111261.
- ^ a b "SA75 – Assessing human-wildlife interactions in Dinokeng Game Reserve". Operation Wallacea. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- ^ a b "LiMF – Lion Management Forum of South Africa". Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ "The Tragedy Of Reality". Facebook. Captive Wildlife Watchdog. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ Torchia, C. (2018-02-28). "Lion kills woman at refuge of South African 'lion whisperer'". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ^ Feingold, S. (2018-03-02). "Lion mauls woman to death at popular South African wildlife sanctuary". CNN. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Fatal Lion Mauling Highlights Controversy of Private Reserves". National Geographic. 2 March 2018. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ Ncwane, Nokwanda (18 August 2023). "Dinokeng Game Reserve to euthanise lions who mauled employee to death". thesouthafrican.com. The South African. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Cheetah Fact File | Wildlife South Africa". www.wildlifesouthafrica.com. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- ^ "The Endangered Wildlife Trust". The Endangered Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
External links
[edit]- Dinokeng Game Reserve
- Martial Eagles Mating A sighting of the largest African eagle, mating at a nesting site in Dinokeng Game Reserve.