3-Day Pilanesberg Safari Tours

3.9/5 – 103 Pilanesberg Reviews

Pilanesberg Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s most accessible and best parks for wildlife. Yes, it can get busy because it’s so easy to get to and it’s right next to the wildly popular Sun City resort. And no, it doesn’t really feel like a wilderness as a result. But this is a great place to see animals, including white rhinos and elephants. You might even see the rest of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant) if you’re lucky. And it doesn’t take a major expedition to get here. When you add in some of the best volcanic scenery in northeastern South Africa, Pilanesberg is one park where you could very happily spend 3 days or even longer.

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5 Questions About 3-Day Pilanesberg Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has been traveling to southern Africa and writing about safaris for more than a decade. He has co-written Lonely Planet’s ‘South Africa’ and ‘Southern Africa’ guidebooks, and he is the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’.
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What kind of accommodations can I expect in Pilanesberg?

“There are a few exclusive lodges tucked away in remote corners of Pilanesberg Game Reserve. But most of the accommodations are just outside the park boundary, especially near Manyane or Bakubung Gates. Most of these are in the midrange or top-end price categories and are supremely comfortable. Many also have facilities such as a swimming pool, restaurant, bar and lounge area. They may also have an activities center where you can book excursions and game drives, if they’re not already included in your safari package. You could also stay at the neighboring Sun City complex, which has an incredible array of accommodations as well as restaurants, entertainment and other attractions. Remember, however, that to reach the park each morning, you’ll have to pass through Sun City’s access gates and Pilanesberg’s park gates, which some would consider a waste of valuable safari time.”

Which activities are available on a 3-day Pilanesberg safari?

“As with most safaris to South Africa’s national parks and reserves, the main activity in Pilanesberg is likely to be a guided game drive. This means that a driver and a guide will take you out to look for animals for a few hours inside the reserve. If you go with a vehicle organized by your safari tour operator, your game drive is likely to be in a 4WD safari vehicle with canvas roof, open sides and tiered seating. If it’s organized through the park or your accommodations, it will likely be in a large, crowded, open-topped vehicle high off the ground with a park guide speaking into a microphone. If you’re on a self-drive safari, you’ll get to be your own guide. Pilanesberg is an easy park to find your way around: just pick up a map at the park entrance. In addition to driving around, there are several bird or wildlife hides and lookouts where you can stretch your legs and enjoy the view from a sheltered vantage point. Hot-air balloon safaris are an exciting add-on activity and provide an incredible aerial view over this beautiful park at sunrise.”

Will I be able to see the Big Five?

“The simple answer to this question is that it is certainly possible to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) while you’re in Pilanesberg. The reserve is known for having the Big Five within its boundaries, and it may well be one of the most accessible parks in Africa where spotting these safari icons is possible. Giving yourself 3 days in the park is a good way to increase your chances of being successful in this quest. That said, seeing the Big Five in Pilanesberg is by no means guaranteed. Elephant and white rhino are very common and often encountered along the main surfaced road through the park. Lion and buffalo are more elusive, but there’s still a good chance that you’ll see them in 3 days. Leopard and black rhino are much harder to find: join a guided night drive for your best chance of spotting them. Even if you don’t see the Big Five, remember that these are just the animals that hunters in the early 20th century decided were the most dangerous to hunt. Other wildlife highlights might include giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, greater kudu and tsessebe, maybe even cheetah, brown hyena or serval if you’re very lucky. The birding is also outstanding: some visitors see up to 100 different species in a single Pilanesberg day.”

How do I get to Pilanesberg Game Reserve?

“Pilanesberg is a really easy park to get to. It lies roughly 200km/124mi from Johannesburg along good roads, and the drive takes a maximum of three hours. The same applies if you’re arriving here from the northern Limpopo region or elsewhere in South Africa. The vehicle you’ll travel in to get here will most likely be a 4WD vehicle, or the tour operator may use a minibus or even a bigger bus for larger safari groups. It may also be possible to arrive here on a charter flight, but this would be expensive and only worthwhile if you’re in a big hurry. Some itineraries that include Pilanesberg also include a stop (even an overnight one) in Sun City, which makes sense given that they are so close to each other. Visiting both is like catching a glimpse of two fascinating extremes of South African life. At one you get to surround yourself with Africa’s amazing megafauna. At the other you enter a world of crowds and bright lights and endless entertainment options.”

How much does a 3-day Pilanesberg safari cost?

“Going on a 3-day Pilanesberg safari can be expensive, although a lot will depend on what sort of accommodations you choose to stay in. If you go for a five-star luxury experience, it will be very expensive when compared to something more modest. As a starting point, you can expect prices to begin at US$150 to US$250 per person per day, although they can go two or three times higher for a luxury experience. Things to consider when working out how much you’ll pay include the time of year that you’re planning on traveling. High season (with its higher prices) begins in October and continues through to April, although low season prices tend to be only a little cheaper. Other things that can affect the cost include the size of your group (if any), and whether you’re on a private, group or self-drive safari.”

Pilanesberg Reviews

3.9/5 103 Reviews

Expert

Philip Briggs –

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

The closest Big Five destination to Johannesburg

4/5

The main selling point of this malaria-free reserve, set within a collapsed volcanic crater 2-3 hours’ drive northwest of Johannesburg, is its proximity to South Africa’s largest city and most important international transport hub. I...

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Expert

Lucy Corne –

Lucy is travel writer for a range of publications, including Lonely Planet's guides to Africa, Southern Africa and South Africa.

Family Friendly Wildlife Viewing in Easy Reach of Johannesburg

4/5

The main reason you would visit the Pilanesberg is for its proximity to Johannesburg – it’s an easy three-hour drive. Those with more time might be better heading to the Kruger or the Kgalagadi for a wilder safari experience, but...

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Nittaya –

Reviewed: May 17, 2024

4/5

From the game, we found many animals, but for big 5 we found only 3 (Leopard, Elephant, Rhino). However, our driver, Lethabo, he is an experienced driver with lot of knowledge. He tried very hard to find the places where we might see Lion...

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Francine –

Reviewed: Feb 8, 2024

Amazing Days and Nights

5/5

Since we were staying in and flying out of Johannesburg, we chose the closer Pilanesberg over Kruger NP so we would have more time viewing animals and less time driving in the two days we had for the safari. It did not disappoint us at all....

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Aurelia kelly –

Reviewed: Nov 2, 2023

Breathtaking, absolutely love it there, it's so peaceful and calm, so much to see.

5/5

I absolutely loved this place, great get away with my family, amazing wildlife, I'm not a early morning person but getting up for the the game drives was worth it........ we had the best time!!! Would def do it again

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Tracey Skagias –

Reviewed: Jun 8, 2023

4/5

I have been around many game parks in my life - I was born and raised in Kenya. I know you have to be lucky to see certain animals. I did find the tarmac road through the park rather unusual, and although I understand the why, I found...

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