Pilanesberg National Park safari is 3-day African wildlife safari in South Africa. This tour will give you a vast overview of what Pilanesberg National Park has to offer. On the Pilanesberg National Park safari you will have an opportunity to explore the park with a number of open- vehicle game drives.

Your 3-day Pilanesberg National Park safari will include a series of game drives. You will enjoy relaxation at the lodge, sumptuous dinners and a chance at coming across the famous Big 5.

The 3 days on Pilanesberg National Park safari promises to be an adventure- packed yet relaxing experience that will show off all of Pilanesberg’s best features and will leave you wanting more.

About Pilanesberg National Park Safari

The Pilanesberg National Park safari is a great wildlife getaway or add-on trip from Johannesburg to Pilanesberg National Park, and back.

This South African safari lets you encounter a profusion of wild African animals. They include healthy populations of the Big Five, and a remarkable diversity of birds. Explore the scenic Pilanesberg Park on game drives conducted by expert local guides using open-sided safari vehicles.

On the Pilanesberg National Park safari, you will stay at an affordable tented safari camp within the Manyane Resort Camping Grounds in Pilanesberg. Here you will be enjoying a simple back-to-nature experience, with a touch of extra comfort.

This is an authentic, malaria-free bush adventure, under three hours from the largest city in South Africa.

Pilanesberg National Park Safari Highlights

If you don’t have the time for a Kruger Park Tour then Pilanesberg National Park Safari is your best alternative. This 4th largest national park in South Africa is only about two hours from Pretoria / Johannesburg.

The park is malaria-free 58 000-hectare park and is situated on the eroded remains of a 1,2 billion-year-old extinct volcanic crater. It is home to the Big Five including lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant and more than 365 bird species.

Highlights on the 3-day Pilanesberg National Park Safari include:

• Unique Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex
• Big 5 Game Drive

Pilanesberg National Park Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Gauteng – Pilanesberg National Park

Your the 3-day Pilanesberg National Park Safari departs Johannesburg or Pretoria early in the morning. Pick up from most hotels between 6am and 7am. Enjoy a 2-hour drive that takes you North West towards Pilanesberg 5 National Park.

This unique National Park is encircled by 4 rings of hills. Geologically fascinating alkaline complex which is the largest in the world and the habitat of Africa’s most famous wildlife.

Begin enjoying the game drive the moment we enter the park. On your first drive through the park your guide will give you an introduction to Pilanesberg National Park and the greater ecosystem. Have your cameras ready as who know what sightings await us.

This park has great year-round sightings of Lions, Elephants, giraffes, Buffaloes, Rhino and many other species of wildlife.

Your the 3-day Pilanesberg National Park Safari will drive to your lodge in time for a hearty lunch. After lunch guests are invited to relax around the pool or on the view deck which provides panoramic views of the landscape around. Your rooms will be ready between 2-3 pm for check in.

In the late afternoon your first exciting open vehicle game drive will begin. Depending on the season and light conditions this will start between 3.30am and 4.30pm. A thrilling game drive with an open elevated view.

You should look forward to seeing much of the wildlife that moves around at this time when it is cooler.  As the sun goes down your guide will bring out spot lights to look for nocturnal animals. You might be lucky to see lions on the hunt.

After our afternoon/sunset drive you will return to the lodge for a well-deserved dinner with tales to tell of the days’ sightings

After our drive, we will return to the lodge to serve dinner.

Day 2: Full day in Pilanesberg National Park

It’s an early start today on your 3-day Pilanesberg National Park Safari. You will begin the day with a quick snack and set off before the sun rises its head.

The sunset and sun rise are a great time for game viewing as we may have the opportunity to see some of the nocturnal creatures before they hide away. Pilanesberg National Park is home to a wide variety of animals including the Big 5.

After your wild start to the day, return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast after which you will have time to relax at the lodge and enjoy the facilities on offer. Lunch will be served around 2 pm.

After lunch we will depart on our afternoon game drive which may continue into the early hours of the evening. On our return to the lodge we will have dinner. Your day will end the day on 3-day Pilanesberg National Park Safari around a warm camp fire, reminiscing about the day’s events.

Day 3: Pilanesberg National Park – Johannesburg

Another early start on 3-day Pilanesberg National Park Safari day. However, in the African bush the morning start is always worthwhile. Before the sun gets up we head out into the park for the last time to hopefully find some of the parks nocturnal creatures.

The wealth of flora and fauna in the park make it a unique destination that needs to be explored first- hand. After our game drive we return to the lodge for breakfast.

Check out of your lodge as your guide will be waiting to pick you up. Again, depending on season -game drive and breakfast may be swopped around depending light conditions.

You have the choice of joining your guide for lunch and going on another game drive through Pilanesberg in a closed Vehicle.

Alternatively, you have the option of spending the remaining of the day with a visit to Suncity. In this case your entrance to Sun city will be covered but you would need to budget for your own lunch.

We depart Suncity/ Pilanesberg around 4pm to 5pm. Expect to be back on Johannesburg +- 7pm depending on your hotels location.

—— End of 3 Days Pilanesberg National Park Safari——

3 Day Pilanesberg National Park Safari Costs:

What is included in the 3 Day Pilanesberg National Park Safari Cost?

• Transfer in comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
• Guided open 4×4 vehicle game drives in the Pilanesburg Nature reserve
• Comfortable tented accommodation
• Meals on full board basis
• Entrance fees
• Entrance fees into Sun City
• Good Chance to Spot the Big 5
• Leisure Time in Sun City

3 Day Pilanesberg National Park Safari Price excludes:

• Visa
• Items of personal use
• Deviation from the above program
• Drinks and beverages

What to Carry on the 3 Day Pilanesberg National Park Safari

• Sun glasses
• Light and some few heavy clothing
• Sun screen
• Insect repellant
• Hat
• Comfortable shoes

Other South Africa Safari Tours

• 3 Day Kruger National Park Safari
• 3 Days Garden Route Tour
• 4 Days Garden Route Tour
• 7 Day Royal South Africa safari
• 14 Day South Africa Adventure
• 15 Days Best South African Safari
• 10 Days South African Flying Safari

Pilanesberg National Park Safari Destination

Pilanesberg National Park safari heads to the famous Pilanesberg National Park. The Pilanesberg National Park rises up spectacularly from the great plains of Africa.

A flagship reserve and tremendous success illustrating how man’s negative effects on the environment can be returned to conservation, the spin-off being supporting local communities, protecting wildlife, and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems.

The Pilanesberg National Park safari takes you less than 200 km from Johannesburg. The parks is closer to Pretoria, and then Rustenburg and with thrice weekly flights from Cape Town. Pilanesberg National Park is one of South Africa’s ultimate adventure tour and wildlife safari destinations.

The park is in close proximity to several major cities and airports and the park is close enough for a day visit from Johannesburg. Just 3 hours’ drive and you’ll be surrounded by wildlife and nature!

Next to the park is the Sun City resort and casino. Here kids enjoy the Valley of Waves and Waterworld. Golfers can get their fix at the Gary Player Country Club.

A protected game reserve, over 550 km2, the Pilanesberg Alkali Ring Complex is the remnants of vast volcano, around 1.3 billion years old.

This enormous structure stood over 7000 m above sea level. Now greatly reduced and an approximate diameter of approximately 24 km. The Pilanesberg is a rare type of volcano, categorized as an Alkali Ring Complex due to the mineral content of the fascinating geography.

A vast road network of over 200km provides ample area and opportunity to explore this truly unique game reserve.

Guests on Pilanesberg National Park safari come to Pilanesberg National Park to enjoy the untamed African landscape. Here the Big 5 roam free. The mixture of Lowveld and Kalahari vegetation ensure a lush environment for the wildlife to thrive.

What to See in Pilanesberg National Park

Due to geology and location, the ecology of the Pilanesberg is fairly unique. Rising out of the great Kalahari flats.  Pilanesberg National Park with its alkaline base is generally considered a separate vegetation type, Pilanesberg Mountain Bushveld, a transition zone of Dry Kalahari Thornveld and Moist Bushveld.

As such, the two ecozones merge and you find unusual species interacting and surviving in the same space. Some of these examples could be Dark Capped Bulbul’s and the Cape Bulbul, others like Springbok and Impala. Pilanesberg is also known to have one of the largest brown hyena (hyenadae brunnie) in South Africa.

On Pilanesberg National Park safari expect to see the brown hyena, cheetah, sable antelope, springbok, caracal, giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodile. It also has healthy populations of black rhino, white rhino, elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard.

Black Rhino Game Reserve is a 2000 hectare reserve that was included into the Pilanesberg, officially in 2011.

The unusual volcanic structure of the park is known as the ‘Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex’ and its position between the dry Kalahari and wetter ‘lowvelt’ vegetation generates a mixed environment to host a very diverse range of wildlife in a really spectacular setting.

It is a ‘family’ must see, being malaria-free, but also provodes a great educational content on the geological side, with great infrastructure and outstanding wildlife experiences. The best wildlife viewing time in Pilanesberg is in the winter drier season from May to September.

For a park of its size Pilanesberg has a fascinating diversity of large mammalian species. Much of Pilanesberg’s diversity is owed to Operation Genesis of 1979, in which the reserve was fenced and many species were reintroduced to their natural habitat. Today Pilanesberg National Park has more than 50 species of large mammals and many smaller species.

Pilanesberg National Park safari game viewer’s wish list is topped by the Big Five consisting of lion, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard, but Pilanesberg has much more to offer. The African wild dog is threatened by loss of habitat and hunting and Pilanesberg is a good place to see this social predator.

The cheetah is a delicate creature that hunts at a speed of well over 100 km/h in the open plains. Other mammalian predators include the African wild cat, caracal, serval, jackal, bat-eared fox, brown hyena and the nocturnal aardwolf.

Situated in the transition zone of the Kalahari and the Lowveld Pilanesberg offers a unique and varied habitat that is home to 15 species of antelope. The species range from the hardy Oryx to the shaggy-coated waterbuck. The sable antelope and the kudu with its spiral-shaped horns are popular sightings, while springbok, impala and wildebeest are important prey species.

Where to Sleep on Pilanesberg National Park Safari

Whether you want to stay at a luxury lodge, go camping or rent a caravan site, there’s something to suit everyone’s needs and budget.

Camping on Pilanesberg National Park Safari

Pilanesberg camping facilities are popular with foreign and local visitors who frequent the park on Pilanesberg National Park Safari.

Pilanesberg National Park has been the most popular wildlife and conservation destination in South Africa over the last few years. Pilanesberg National Park offers two resorts that cater to camping and caravanning: Manyane and Bakgatla.

Manyane Resort

Manyane Resort is close to the Manyane entrance gate to the malaria-free Pilanesberg. You will find an abundance of wildlife and birds in this region. Surrounded by the Bushveld, Manyane Resort offers a host of facilities.

Those on Pilanesberg National Park Safari can choose from caravanning and camping to value-for-money accommodation.

There are two large swimming pools and a children’s playground. A famous lodge to stay in for one or two weeks at a time, Manyane offers a wide range of accommodation to match your ideal Pilanesberg National Park holiday.

Bakgatla Resort

Bakgatla Resort is next to the Bakgatla entrance gate to the Pilanesberg National Park. Bakgatla is at the foot of Garamoga Hill. This area is home to a diverse range of bird species and mammals. The vegetation is of rolling grasslands, subtropical woodland and forested ravines.

From Bakgatla resort, you can easily access two individual sites. Firstly, there’s Thabayadiotso, also known as the Proud Mountain. And secondly, the Mankwe Dam is the large central lake in the Pilanesberg National Park.

Bakgatla offers a wide range of accommodation for those on Pilanesberg National Park Safari. You can choose between the executive safari tents, the 5-sleeper chalets, camping or a caravan site.

The resort provides a relaxed environment. Children can explore the playground while more adventurous guests can enjoy some of the many activities in the area.

Pilanesberg Tented Safari Camp

Pilanesberg Tented Safari Camp is situated in the Manyane Resort, close to the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park that hosts the Big 5.

Camping while on Pilanesberg National Park Safari here offers an affordable, authentic safari experience with local safari guides that share their extensive knowledge of the area with morning and afternoon open safari vehicle game drives. You can expect regular visits from resident warthogs, impalas and banded mongooses.

Pilanesberg Tented Safari Camp accommodation is a small intimate camp with only 5 safari tents. Each safari tent comes with comfortable beds, luxurious linens, electricity, camp chairs, carpeted flooring and large canvas windows with mosquito nets.

There is a large tented lounge as well as a dining area and an inviting fire pit. Furthermore, our communal bathrooms and safari tents are serviced daily, and each safari tent has a small deck overlooking the campfire. The safari tents have two single beds and a fan to cool you down in summer and electric blankets to warm the cold winter evenings.

Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge

Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge is in an exclusive-use zone within the Pilanesberg National Park. This luxury boutique lodge offers those on Pilanesberg National Park Safari stunning views from every suite. Also, there is a wide range of activities available in this malaria-free Big Five National Park. Furthermore, an award-winning beauty and health spa offer luxurious pampering.

In short, Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge offers upmarket accommodation with brilliant facilities. The intelligent architecture ensures a great view of the surrounding wilderness. Furthermore, guests can enjoy complete privacy. Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge also offers a variety of activities.

Tshukudu Bush Lodge

The luxurious Tshukudu Bush Lodge is on an elevated hill with stunning views overlooking the natural surroundings. This intimate lodge offers six luxury cottages to guests on Pilanesberg National Park Safari. Here, attention to detail and personalized service is guaranteed.

Tsukudu means “place of the rhino”. It is not uncommon to spot the Big Five from this luxury lodge. The small intimate size of the lodge is perfect for guests who seek tranquillity in nature. Ideal for small groups.

High tea and meals are provided on the deck overlooking the plain, and there’s a waterhole at the foot of the hill. After a delicious high tea, guests go on a guided game drive that lasts up to 4 hours.

The cuisine has a strong African influence and is prepared to five star standards. Plus, a splendid selection of wines provides the perfect accompaniment to your carefully ready meal. At night, sit under the African sky beside the blazing fire and listen to the distant roar of lions.

To reach Tshukudu cottages, guests on Pilanesberg National Park Safari must climb 132 steps. Tshukudu Bush Lodge is renowned for its intimate setting, tranquillity and superb service 7.4 km from Sun City.