Bothongo Lion and Rhino Reserve

The Bothongo Lion and Rhino Reserve and WonderCave Review     

Not many game reserves can boast a 2.2-billion-year-old cave beneath their soil.

The Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a treasure trove of natural wonders, ancient history, and incredible biodiversity. One of the region’s most popular attractions is the Bothongo Lion and Rhino Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary which is also home to a fascinating cave. Under an hour away from Johannesburg, this privately owned reserve spans around 1600 hectares, encompassing several diverse attractions. We spent a day there.

The WonderCave

On arrival, we collected our tickets at the Booking Office and headed to the WonderCave for a 45-minute guided tour.  The cave was discovered in 1898 by Italian miners, who extracted limestone from its depths until 1902, when mining stopped. It is the 3rd largest cave in South Africa, after the Cango Caves in the Western Cape and Sudwala Caves in Mpumalanga.

Bothongo WonderCave

The entrance to the cave is steep and narrow. Joseph, our guide, led us down the 87 steps until we reached the elevator, which took us a further 18 metres into the cave. On emerging from the elevator, we were awestruck by the size of the eerily lit chamber with its impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Joseph enlightened us on the history of the cave and pointed out some of its most prominent features as we explored its depths. Then we made our way back up the elevator and the steep steps to the surface.

The Game Drives

We then proceeded to the meeting point for our 2-hour game drive. The reserve has over 600 animals, including three of the Big Five: lions, white rhinos, and buffalo. Rogue leopards occasionally roam the area too. Game drives are conducted in huge 22-seater open game vehicles. However, self-driving is also allowed.

Some of the predators we saw.

We drove through the general game section, where we saw white rhinos, springboks, roan antelopes, elands, and ostrich, as well as black wildebeest and Hartmann’s mountain zebras, which we don’t see often. Then we headed to the predator camp, where we saw lions, cheetahs, and African wild dogs at feeding time. The predators are kept separately from each other and from other game, therefore they are unable to hunt and are fed instead.

Some of the wildlife we saw.

Other activities

There was still much more to see and do at the reserve, and we continued to explore our surroundings.

The Neck & Deck Restaurant is one of three restaurants at the reserve. It has an elevated deck from where one can feed the giraffes with pellets purchased from the restaurant. We also saw zebras and Barbary sheep there.

Neck & Deck Restaurant

The wildlife centre houses predators, including tigers, jaguars, white lions, and the only clouded leopard in the country. Many of them were rescued, rejected, hand-reared and are now being rehabilitated and cared for as part of conservation efforts to ensure their sustainability. More predators can be found near the hippo walkway.

The hippo walkway across the road from the reserve leads to a deck over the river where we saw hippos bobbing in the water.

The African garden near the wildlife centre features cycads, aloes and other indigenous plants.

Rare Cape vultures can be seen from the vulture hide. Other exotic birds can be seen at the Waterfowl Park and at the wildlife centre.

The Snake and Reptile Park is home to anacondas, black mambas, cobras, and pythons. We attended an educational snake show.

The Cradle Bike Park has a variety of cycling tracks to suit different cyclist skills and abilities. There are also multiple play areas for the kids and a swimming pool.

Cradle Bike Park

The braai and picnic area is where visitors can braai their own meat or enjoy a picnic brought from home.

There are hiking trails and 4×4 trails too.

The reserve also offers accommodation in chalets and log cabins.

If you’re looking for a fun day out near Johannesburg, or a safari experience without straying far from the city, then the Bothongo Lion and Rhino Nature Reserve is a must-visit. The WonderCave alone is worth visiting the reserve for, but there is so much more to do there that you should plan to spend the whole day.

For more information, visit Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve.

Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.