The Gauteng Province has directed its socio-economic development focus towards pursuing a number of innovative projects that should transform its urban-rural infrastructure significantly. One such project is the envisaged Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve in the north-eastern part of the Province. An important founding principle of the project is that a unique mutually beneficial partnership agreement should be negotiated in which local communities (historically disadvantaged), land owners (smallholdings and farms), the business sector and the respective local, district and provincial authorities are involved to establish a conservation area and tourism destination of note. Feasibility studies have indicated that if such an entity should be established, it could enhance Gauteng's social development and economic growth trajectory exponentially. In this article, aspects relating to different forms of partnerships, and the intricacies ass