Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve and Game Park
The 22 000 ha Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve and Game Park is situated east of the town of Bethulie on the Gariep Dam, between the Caledon and Orange Rivers as they flow toward the dam.
Large herds of game can be found here, their great numbers both controlled and supported by commercial hunting culls during winter months from May to August, when the Reserve is closed to the general public.
The hunting season is from March 1 – August 31. During this period the reserve is restricted to hunters. Outside this period it is open to sightseers. For hunting information: Professional hunter Tim Rudman of Trophy Hunters Africa: Mobile:+27(0)82 566 7784 Email:
From September to April, Tussen-die-Riviere runs as a normal reserve with game drives and chalet accommodations. Night drives are also offered, as there are a number of interesting nocturnal species on the reserve including aardvark and bat-eared fox.
You can expect to see buffalo, eland, rhino, steenbok, impala, reedbuck, gemsbok, wildebeest, kudu, zebra and warthog among other species. Since the reserve was developed for hunting, there are no large predators among the populations of game and smaller predators such as jackal. Wildlife enthusiasts have almost 120km of dirt road routes to explore the reserve. The roads are good and you don’t need a 4×4, and the routes offer a variety of scenery and wildlife.
Tussen-die-Riviere is also a popular birding area, and supports populations of water-birds, fish eagles, black eagles, the magnificent secretary bird in the grasslands as well as a variety of species in the bush and on the stone koppies that dot the park.
Other features of Tussen-die-Riviere Reserve include rock art, lush grassland and green gorge vegetation thanks to the bordering rivers.
Important Note:There used to be hiking trails on the reserve in the summer months, but they have all been closed down after the introduction of rhino and buffalo. However, there is still a challenging 4×4 trail open to off-road enthusiasts.
The reserve is also not privately owned as commonly stated. It is run by Free State Nature Conservation for the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
For more information and to book: call Josh on 051 – 763 1000
Getting there: Take the R701 out of Bethulie, travel for 6.5km, turn right, travel a further 10.2 km, turn left. Travel along this road for 8.3km, then turn right to Tussen-die-Riviere. The entrance is 5.2 km along the road.
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