Pilanesberg Nature Reserve

Discover the exquisite Pilanesberg National Park, located in an extinct volcanic crater. Departing from Sun City, enjoy a 3-hour game drive to experience the pristine flora and wildlife, offering some of the best game viewing in South Africa.   Come face to face with the unspoilt beauty of the bush. From a 25-seater open vehicle you could encounter Africa’s big five animals and many other natural inhabitants at close range. Bring your binoculars and a camera, to capture the incredible sightings.

After being collected in the early morning by a registered field guide, travel in an open safari vehicle from your respective hotels at Sun City Resort or lodges in Pilanesberg area to the Pilanesberg National Park. Day visitors can be collected from Bakubung Gate. The transfer through the park takes approximately 1 hour as the balloon launch site is situated in the center. At the launch site, be met by the pilot and crew who will proceed to give a briefing. Climb into a 1.2m high basket and commence your unforgettable journey that lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Experience the finest way of viewing the wildlife of the Pilanesberg National Park including 'the big 5':  lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and elephants. On landing, enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and orange juice to celebrate the flight. The field guide will then transport you back through the Pilanesberg National Park to a private lodge, where a full English breakfast will be served. Each guest will receive a first flight certificate signed by the Pilot. After breakfast, you will be transferred back to your hotel or lodge. The total duration of this activity is approximately 5 hours.

Visit Pilanesberg Game Reserve on a full-day safari from Johannesburg. More than 7000 animals roam freely through Pilanesberg, and the park is home to all of the big five game animals (elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffalos and lions). You may encounter zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, jackals, wild cats, various antelopes, as well as over 300 species of bird. On your tour you will enjoy 2 extensive game drives, conducted by an experienced tour guide. After collecting you from your hotel or residence in Johannesburg between 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM, you will travel to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Upon arrival, your guide will take you on an exciting 2.5-hour morning safari in search of animals that inhabit the park.  During the heat of the day, you will enjoy lunch at one of the many rest camps in the Game Reserve. After lunch, you will depart on another 2.5-hour afternoon safari drive in an open vehicle. Ask your knowledgeable guide any questions you might have about the animals and the natural environment. You will leave Pilanesberg between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM in order to arrive back in Johannesburg before sunset, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Enjoy a convenient pickup from your Johannesburg accommodation or directly from O.R. Tambo International Airport and make your way to the North West Province. Travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle and learn interesting facts from your knowledgeable guide on your drive.  Once you arrive at the Pilanesberg National Park, keep a lookout for Africa's Big Five along with the abundance of wildlife that calls this park home. Spot giraffes, wildebeest, elephants, impala, and many other animals. Learn about the fauna and flora from your guide and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the African bush.  Your wildlife safari concludes after around four or five hours in the park, after which you'll travel back to Johannesburg and end your day back at your accommodation or O.R. Tambo International Airport. 

Set off on a full-day safari in Pilanesberg National Park. This one-day safari in an open-top jeep will give you the opportunity to not only see, but also to snap close-up shots of some of the most famous inhabitants of the African savanna. The park covers an area of 55,000 hectares. More than 7,000 animals live in the park in a free and unobstructed environment. Pilanesberg is also home to all Big 5 (elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo, and lion). Other animals you can find are zebra, giraffe, cheetah, hyena, hippopotamus, crocodile, jackal, wild cat, several antelopes, in addition to more than 300 species of birds; the list is endless. Pilanesberg offers more than 200 kilometers of safari roads and the excursions are guided by experienced guides who are always at your disposal, not only to answer your questions, but more importantly to ensure you have an incredible safari experience.

Sit back and enjoy the two hour journey to Pilanesberg, passing by the scenic Magaliesberg Mountains and the picturesque Hartbeespoort Dam. The Pilanesberg National Park lies in a caldera of an extinct, ancient volcano and is dramatically beautiful with mountains, plains, wooded valleys and dams. Look for over 7000 animals that roam freely across the spectacular volcanic landscape. Try and spot the Big Five and a large variety of antelope.  Journey to Mankwe Dam, at the centre of the reserve, a large watering hole that draws animals and birds to it on a daily basis. After a three hour morning game drive in a closed minibus at Pilanesberg, you will be transferred to Sun City, an oasis of leisure, flamboyance and relaxation that shimmers in the heat of the African sun. Spend the afternoon at leisure at the Valley of Waves, a fun family destination where you can swim, enjoy water rides and sunbathe. The 70 meter slide and two body slides are sure to be a hit with the whole family. Stroll through the tropical forest surrounding the Valley of Waves and discover rare plant varieties. 

Discover the “Big Five” of South Africa on a full-day safari tour of Pilanesberg National Park, just 2 hours from Johannesburg. Located in the Bonjanala region, adjacent to Sun City, Pilanesberg National Park is a 55,000-hectare game reserve, making it the 4th largest in South Africa. Depart from Johannesburg (or Pretoria) at 06:00 for the journey to the northwest province. Upon arrival at the 1,200-million-year old extinct alkaline volcanic crater (one of only 3 in the world) discover the beauty of Pilanesberg reflected in the Mankwe Dam. The area lies in a transition zone between the Kalahari Sandveld and the Lowveld. Due to this transition zone, an overlap of mammals, birds, and vegetation occurs. For instance, the red-eyed bulbul and black-eyed bulbul, which normally occur in separate areas, overlap. Marvel at the syenite koppies, thickly forested ravines, typical bushveld, rolling grasslands, and lightly wooded areas. Today, the Game Reserve accommodates almost every mammal of southern Africa, including the “Big Five,” so called because they are the 5 most dangerous game animals in Africa. Home to over 360 species of bird, Pilanesberg is also an ornithologist’s delight. Enjoy excellent game viewing opportunities in a malaria free climate. Plans are under way to create a heritage park that will link Pilanesberg and Madikwe to form another super-large “Big Five” game and nature park.  Lunch will be enjoyed at the famous Bakubung Lodge. Depart Pilanesberg at approximately 16:00 for the return transfer to your accommodation in Johannesburg or Pretoria.

Depart at 6:00 AM from Johannesburg for a full day excursion to explore Pilanesberg National Park and Sun City Resort. Sit back and enjoy the two-hour journey to Pilanesberg, passing by the scenic Magaliesberg Mountains and the picturesque Hartbeespoort Dam. The Pilanesberg National Park lies in a caldera of an extinct 1200 million-year-old volcano and is dramatically beautiful with mountains, plains, wooded valleys and dams. Over 7000 animals roam freely across the spectacular volcanic landscape, including the Big Five, predators and a large variety of antelope. Mankwe Dam, at the center of the reserve, is a large watering hole that draws animals and birds to it on a daily basis. See all this beauty and more on a 3-hour morning game drive through the Park in a minibus. Then, you will be transferred to Sun City Resort, an oasis of leisure, flamboyance and relaxation that shimmers in the sun, only 1 km away from the National Park. The world’s most unique resort is internationally renowned for its glamorous casinos, gourmet restaurants, extensive sports facilities and star-studded spectaculars. After an orientation tour, enjoy some free time to have lunch or stroll through the beautiful gardens. In the afternoon, return to Pilanesberg for another exciting 3-hour 4x4 game drive. Feel the wind in your hair and the thrill of getting closer to nature in an open-air safari vehicle. As the sun starts to set, keep your eyes peeled for stealthy predators such as wild dog, Cape fox and spotted hyena. After your game drive concludes at 6:00 PM, depart for your return trip to Johannesburg, where you will arrive between 8:00 and 9:00 PM.     

Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa’s fourth largest game park, is situated in a crater in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province. This crater is the product of a volcano that erupted many millions of years ago, and has evolved to become one of the most fascinating landscapes for you to visit. Pilanesberg offers over 200 kilometers of roads for guided or self-drive game viewing. Throughout your tour you will enjoy an extensive game drive, conducted by an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide who will answer all your questions about the fascinating wildlife and environment. Day 1: After being picked up in Johannesburg, you will depart for Pilanesberg. You will enter the park for a morning game drive in a closed, air-conditioned vehicle. At around midday you will be provided with some free time for lunch, followed by check-in at your camp. In the afternoon you will continue to explore in an open 4x4 vehicle safari drive. You will later have dinner, which will be prepared by your guide at Bakgatla or Manyane Camp. Day 2: You will start your day with an early morning game drive in an open-roof vehicle. You will then return to the lodge for breakfast. At midday you will have some time for relaxation and lunch, before enjoying another afternoon open-roof vehicle drive. You will later have dinner, which will be prepared by your guide at Bakgatla or Manyane Camp. Day 3: Begin your day with an early morning game drive in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. You will then depart to Johannesburg where you will later be dropped off at a location of your choosing.

Go in search of the 'Big Five' (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) and other animal species on a guided closed vehicle game drive in the malaria-free Pilanesberg Game Reserve. This will be followed by a guided orientation tour of the famous Sun City complex, nestled deep in the rugged Bushveld, in the heart of an ancient volcano. The Sun City resort complex captivates visitors with its combination of golf, game and gambling. Enjoy this glamorous oasis with its world-class bars and restaurants and have time to explore and enjoy the many attractions this resort has to offer. Bordering this entertainment complex in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, you will find one of the world’s outstanding geological phenomena, a crater of a long extinct volcano and the result of eruptions some 1,200 million years ago.