Thorn Tree Bush Camp

There are some packages provided by the team at Thorn Tree Bush Camp that you might want to try out before you venture out into Dinokeng Game Reserve on your own. As well as that free guided game drive, there’s a guided bush walk (you might even spot some residents of the reserve that you’d usually miss from the vehicle) and night drives that will bring you face-to-face with some of the reserve’s more nocturnal animals. While the Big Five are, well, a big draw, there’s plenty else to do nearby if you’d had your fill of gentle giants and slinking cats. Start with scuba lessons and clay pigeon shooting less than five minutes from the site before heading further afield for hot air ballooning, microlight flights or brewery tours, all within 20 minutes’ drive of Thorn Tree. If your idea of prime game is more water-based, you can grab your rod and reel and head to Rust de Winter dam (35 minutes) for a spot of fishing, and if you’re craving more variety from your fauna, the Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park is half an hour away. The small town of Cullinan, 45 minutes from the site, is a must for abseiling, quads, horse riding, hiking and tours of the old diamond mines, but if you’re seeking a far more urban experience, set your sights on Pretoria (50 minutes) or Johannesburg (roughly an hour and a half).