Mongena Private Game Reserve

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Hammanskraal
Mongena Private Game Reserve

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Private Big 5 Game Reserve with four unique safari lodges, just one hour from Johannesburg, within the Greater Dinokeng Game Reserve.
(1922)

Mongena Private Game Reserve is situated in the malaria-free, north-western section of the greater Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve near Hammanskraal. It is accessible by tarred main road or tarred private airstrip – a convenient 40 minutes drive north of Pretoria. It consists of four safari lodges, each with their own unique style:

Mongena Main Lodge can sleep 63 people, has a stylish bar and is open to day visitors for game drives and to enjoy a meal at the famous Kingfisher Restaurant. Little Mongena Tented Camp is a fully catered lodge and accommodates 20 people in luxury safari tents with en-suite bathrooms. It has sweeping views over largest dam in the game reserve, Mongena Dam. Tandala Trails Camp sleeps 12 people in two-person tents and is aimed at those that enjoy being closer to nature. Self-catering and catered options are available. The Barnhouse is a self-catering, exclusive, off-the-grid house situated in an exclusive part of the game reserve. It sleeps five people and is aimed at groups that want to reconnect with nature.

30/10/2026

On Tuesday morning, while conducting routine monitoring of the rhino population, Wildlife Monitor Danelle came across a four-day-old black rhino calf that was weak and unresponsive.

Concerned that the calf would not survive the heat of the day, the decision was made to secure and move the calf to Rhino Connect where she could receive the intensive care it needed. Limpopo Wildlife Vet and a helicopter were called in, and both the mother and calf were tranquillised to allow the calf to be safely secured for transport.

Once secured, the calf was blindfolded, placed on an IV drip and driven to the orphanage, where it has been receiving dedicated, round-the-clock care.

We are happy to share that two days later, the calf is much stronger, has started walking again and even playing with her carers.

This is the second black rhino calf of the Reserve to have been placed in the care of Rhino Connect in the past six months. The first calf (a male) has been doing well and will be transferred back to the Reserve in the near future to continue the next phase of his journey back to the bush.

28/10/2026

The majestic Welgevonden Male found resting not far from Mongena Dam late in the afternoon.

After a couple of big yawns, he was up and started his evening patrol where he later joined up with the Nkawu Pride lioness.

23/10/2026

An animal almost never encountered during a bushwalk.

Field Guide Olivia came across this very relaxed aardvark during a bushwalk earlier in the year.

This specific individual was seen regularly in the vicinity of the area and when the group was inspecting a network of underground burrows, this aardvark was suddenly spotted as he was enjoying the early morning sun.

Video by Liv

21/10/2026

It has been immensely hot the past few weeks with relative little rain fall as the dry spring turns into a dry early summer.

With the dry heat, the waterhole at the underground photography hide has attracted all sorts of special animals, notably the DGR F1 cheetah mother and her cubs as well as this beautiful elephant bull that popped in late afternoon.

Field Guide Stefan and his guests enjoyed the presence of this gentle giant as he quenched his thirst and cooled down after the afternoon heat.

Video by Stefan de Jager

16/10/2026

The DGR F1 female is at the moment the only female with cubs in the Reserve. Her four young cubs still have the classic white fur on the back of the neck and spine resembling a homey badger.

Field Guide Andrew found the mother and her young moving late one afternoon across the grasslands in the northern part of the Reserve. We are keeping our fingers crossed that these four cubs make it to adulthood.

Video by Andrew Bourne

13/10/2026

A bushwalk allows you to experience the most intimate moments of the bush. Catered towards exploring, learning and understanding the smallest participants in the ecosystem, it sometimes reveals so much more when animals are unaware of the human presence observing them.

One such case played out when Field Guide Andrew followed the Pienaarsriver during a bushwalk and came across a cape clawless otter. The otter, oblivious to the party of onlookers, was enjoying the warmth of the sandy riverine sand after emerging from the water and displaying behaviour we don’t usually see when we encounter these shy animals from a vehicle.

Video by Andrew Bourne

11/10/2026

One of the great advantages of being out after the sun has set, is that you have a great chance to come across more seldom seen animals.

Field Guide Cheyenne found this honey badger early evening after a drinks stop with a rare catch. A large leopard tortoise had unfortunately been discovered by the honey badger and its hard shell proved a futile defence as the honey badger flipped the tortoise over and started feeding on it.

Video by Cheyenne| Bush/Ocean • Photography • Wildlife

09/10/2026

A scene straight from a dream.

Field Guide Andrew and his guests were in the company of the Welgevonden Male at sunset. With the beautiful pink African dusk sky serving as his backdrop, the Welgevonden Male asserted his dominance over the surrounding bush with a thunderous roar.

Video by Andrew Bourne

07/10/2026

This young serval has been seen regularly over the past couple of weeks along a stretch of road next to the Boekenhoutspruit.

Field Guide Andrew and his guests spent some time with the youngster and the serval’s habituation has been interesting to follow. The shy cat has become increasingly more relaxed as the weeks have passed, with fleeting glimpses at first now turning into sightings lasting much longer. As this youngster grows, so does its confidence and hopefully also the time it will allow us to view her.

Video by Andrew Bourne

04/10/2026

The Welgevonden Male has been on the trail of the oldest lioness of the Nkawu Pride over the past week and was seen mating with her over the past few days.

As is customary with lions mating, both lions are sporting some new scratches to the face, with the female having a visible cut next to her right eye.

Video by Andrew Bourne

Address

Rust De Winter Road, Dinokeng Game Reserve
Hammanskraal
0400

Website

http://www.mongena.co.za/, https://www.mongena.co.za/safari-experiences/

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