Pilanesberg Game Reserve

— Reservations for Safari Accommodation —

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A wild dog in Pilanesberg Game Reserve - one of the rarer wildlife species

Pilanesberg Game Reserve, also know as the Pilanesberg National Park, is situated within a 2-hour drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, making it an ideal location for a quick safari.

Spanning 55 000 hectares (135900 acres), the park is home to a large variety of animals, birds, and trees. They also have the Big 5.

Being so close to the central hubs of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the park is a favorite among guests due to its wide variety of accommodation, diverse biosphere and that it is completely Malaria Free.

With the park being a public game reserve, accommodation tends to be more “budget-friendly” than other game reserves in South Africa. To assist in booking your safari, we suggest contacting one of our Safari Specialists to start your African Safari journey.

Smiles Bookings Safari Specialist team will be eager to find the best option for your needs.

Bakubung Bush Lodge

in Pilanesberg

family friendly hotel
overlooks a waterhole
breakfast and dinner

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Ivory Tree Game Lodge

in Pilanesberg

a 5-star lodge
beautiful setting
overlooks a busy waterhole

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Black Rhino Game Lodge

in Black Rhino

beautifully decorated
dining area overlooking the bush
friendly service

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Buffalo Thorn Lodge

in Black Rhino

self catering lodge
exclusive use
game drives included

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Pilanesberg Game Reserve

— At a glance —

Accommodation

Pilanesberg Game Reserve has a variety of accommodation to offer:

Camping: Camping is managed by Golden Leopard Resorts
Hotels: There are two 4 star hotels in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, Kwa Maritane and Bakubung Bush Lodge
Safari Lodges: There are 4 and 5 star luxury lodges at Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The main difference between a lodge and a hotel is that the guest rooms are separate at a lodge, while at a hotel they are adjacent to each other.

Transport

Getting to Pilanesberg Game Reserve is very easy. All roads to the reserve are paved and renting a car is the cheapest way of getting to the reserve and you don’t need a 4x4 vehicle.

The alternative is to hire a private shuttle. These shuttles will pick you up at your hotel or directly from the airport. After your stay they will transport you back to Gauteng.

Landscape and Wildlife

See the Big Five just 2 hours from Johannesburg and Pretoria in one of the country's most popular wildlife areas - Pilanesberg National Park.

Set in the crater of a long extinct volcano, the park ranks among the largest of the parks in South Africa.

This well-stocked park has a dramatic landscape that supports a wide variety of plants, animals and birds. Pilanesberg accommodates virtually every mammal of southern Africa and is also home to the Big Five. An abundance of wild life proliferate in some 580km² of diverse and arresting bushveld terrain.

Over time, wind and water have carved a spectacular landscape with rocky outcrops, open grasslands, wooded valleys and thickets.

The beauty of Pilanesberg is reflected in a large central lake, the Mankwe Dam. Standing above the surrounding bushveld, the park unfolds colourful hues and panoramas - a delight for photographers and guests.

Quick facts

Short on time?

For those short business visits to South Africa's economic hub, Gauteng, the Pilanesberg & Madikwe Game Reserves offer the ideal opportunity to view the Big 5 when time is lacking to visit game reserves such as the Kruger National Park, which are further away.

When to go

Summers can get hot, but visitors will enjoy Pilanesberg all year round

Malaria-free

The malaria-free Pilanesberg is in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province, adjacent to Sun City.

What to do

Activities include game drives or wildlife safaris, either self-driven or guided, game walks and birding. Pilanesberg also operates hot-air balloon safaris over the park.

Visitors can explore nearly 200km on self-drives or guided game drives. There are a number of hides and scenic picnic sites available.

Sun City, with its entertainment centre, golf course, water world and casino, is just next door.

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Special Sightings

The Brown Hyaena

Brown hyaenas have shaggy, long dark coats, distinct cream-colored fur around the neck, pointy ears, short tail and striped legs.

They live in clans of extended families of four to six individuals. Unlike spotted hyaenas, brown hyaenas are born with their eyes closed, and open them after eight days.

They are solitary scavengers and feed on carrion, wild fruits, insects and eggs. They rarely kill small animals. These shy, mainly nocturnal animals may be seen in early mornings and late afternoons.
The Cheetah

Cheetahs have tan colored coats with black spots, small head and ears and distinctive "tear stripes".
They run as fast as 113 km/h (70mph) and use their tails to help them steer and turn.

Unlike other big cats, cheetahs cannot roar. However, they purr almost like domestic cats.

They hunt mostly during late morning or early evening. Only half of the chases, which last from 20 - 60 seconds, are successful. The cheetah is poorly equipped to defend itself against other large predators. Vulnerable.
The Aardwolf

Aardwolves resemble a thin striped hyena, but has a more slender muzzle and black vertical stripes on a yellowish fur coat. It is a small, shy, nocturnal insect-eating mammal.

Unlike many of its carnivore relatives the aardwolf eats mainly termites but also other insects, larvae, and eggs.

Due to their specific food requirements, they are only found in regions where termites, especially harvester termites, occur. These shy, elusive animals may thus be spotted in Pilanesberg.