The Dinokeng Game Reserve, north of Pretoria, secured an urgent interdict against land invaders at the weekend, according to a report.
Beeld newspaper reported on Monday that hundreds of people destroyed the reserve's fence on Friday and set the veld alight.
Stones were hurled at Dinokeng workers who tried to put out the fire.
Reserve manager Piet Venter said the court granted an urgent interdict against the land invaders on Saturday evening.
He said the reserve received a letter from the community last week saying 19 hectares of the reserve's land belonged to them and demanded that the fence be taken down for them to build a school and clinic.
"We explained that the fence was necessary to keep the Big Five inside the reserve," said Venter.
By Sunday, the situation seemed to be under control with police patrolling the area, reported Beeld.
The local ANC has requested a meeting on Monday with reserve and police officials.