The name Dinokeng – a place of rivers – is derived from the languages of the Batswana and Bapedi who traditionally made this region their home. Dinokeng lies in the catchment area of the Olifants and Limpopo Rivers – which means, according to some African cultures, that this is a sacred place with healing powers.
Marketed as the place the world’s largest diamond was discovered because of its proximity to Cullinan, Dinokeng lies about 45 minutes’ north-east of Johannesburg, and a mere 14 minutes from Pretoria / Tshwane. Referring to an area, rather than a particular town, Dinokeng is part of an initiative by the government to establish a tourist destination close to urban Gauteng that lies roughly in the catchments area of two rivers – the Elands and Pienaars – that subsequently flow into the greater Olifants and Limpopo Rivers.
The land has witnessed a number of different cultures, which together form something of a melting pot of history. The Tswana, Pedi, Afrikaans, Ndebele, English and Tsonga-speaking people have all had significant effects upon the land and rolling grasslands of Dinokeng; and Anglo-Boer War blockhouses, battle sites, cemeteries and forts are all evidence of the conflicts that have left their mark.
Game Viewing in Dinokeng, Gauteng
There is a lot to do and see in the Dinokeng Region. Three dams lie in the area – Mkhombo, Rust de Winter and Roodeplaat; the historic homes of the Sammy Marks Museum, the village of Rust de Winter, and what remains of the Wallmansthal Mission all reflect the old ways of life; whilst Dinokeng is one of the country’s prime bird watching areas, second only to Ndumo in the St Lucia area in terms of the diversity of species.
The Dinokeng Nature Reserve, part of the government’s initiative, is run by a non-profit company and combines about 270 property-owners’ land in what will be a 90 000 hectare game reserve that offers Big Five game viewing, a wealth of archaeological sites that take visitors back to the Stone Age, and a unique cultural experience in the form of art and craft studios for local artisans.
June 2011 was the launch of the vibrant new “Meet Dinokeng” campaign. The campaign highlights some of the exciting people that make Dinokeng the rich and diverse place that it is today. By supporting the Small and Medium Micro-Enterprises in the Dinokeng Project area you are helping the project to realize its aims of boosting job creation through tourism.
