To improve germination as well as achieve high nursery recovery of good quality seedlings, seeds of Dichrostachys cinerea were subjected to alcohol scarification for different exposure times. Seeds soaked in methanol for 10 min achieved the highest percentage germination (72%) and germination energy (65%). Similarly, 5 min methanol pre-treatment gave good results. Seedlings resulting from these treatments were mostly of the high vigour class when compared to other alcohol pre-treatments. The 2 min methanol and ethanol pre-treatments gave low germination in percentages and germination energies, and the resultant seedlings were mostly in the low vigour category.