Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa

© Richard Du Toit/Minden Picture

Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Rietvlei Nature Reserve in southern Pretoria is one of the largest city-based nature reserves in South Africa. Spanning almost 4,000 hectares, this wildlife hangout is home to more than 400 species of birds and around 1,600 individual large mammals. Cheetah, zebra, springbuck, leopard, white rhino, buffalo and hippopotamus are all found here and can be spotted on guided hiking or horse trails.

Established in 1948, Rietvlei Nature Reserve was designed around Rietvlei dam, which provides Pretoria with around 15% of its water. The reserve was created to protect this important water source, with the city council later introducing a variety of game species. With open grassland, rolling hills and native trees, it’s almost impossible to imagine that the reserve is located in one of the highest population density areas in South Africa. And while this presents its own challenges, such as the threat of human development, it provides city residents with access to wide-open plains and wildlife.