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Pilanesberg Game Reserve is the closest premier Big Five safari destination to Johannesburg. It has a lovely hilly setting in an ancient volcano and wildlife is plentiful, with white rhino and elephant being especially common. It is a relatively busy park, particularly over weekends when city dwellers head up for a bush break, so purists might feel it lacks wilderness appeal.
Best Time to Visit
The best time for wildlife viewing in Pilanesberg Game Reserve is during the dry winter months from May to September. The vegetation thins out as the ground gets drier and animals tend to gather around permanent water sources, which makes them easier to spot.
May to September –Dry Season – Winter
October to April –Wet Season – Summer
Scenery
Pilanesberg is one of South Africa’s most picturesque safari destinations. The landscape is dominated by four concentric rings of hills, some of which rise 700m/2,300ft above the grassy valleys. This onion-like hill formation, referred to as an alkaline ring complex by geologists, was formed by volcanic activity roughly 1,500 million years ago. Mankwe Dam, in the center of the park, is a great place to see animals coming to drink at sunset.
Activities
All lodges offer guided game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, with many including this activity in their package rate. It is also possible to self-drive (4x4 not required), ideally planning a route that allows you to spend time in a couple of the park’s excellent hides. Guided night drives are highly recommended and offer a fair chance of seeing leopards, brown hyenas, and other predators that are active at night. Hot-air balloon excursions, which depart before sunrise, offer wonderful panoramic views over the volcanically formed landscape.
From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day
From: May to September (Dry season)
From: October to April (The park is busier, especially during school holidays)
From: 572km² / 221mi²
Pilanesberg Game Reserve has healthy populations of all the Big Five. Elephant and white rhino are common. Black rhino and buffalo are less so, as these animals tend to stick to dense thickets, so sightings are unusual. As in any thickly vegetated reserve that doesn’t allow off-road driving, big cat sightings are hit-and-miss. A noteworthy feature of Pilanesberg is a network of five photographic hides, all overlooking waterholes that attract plenty of thirsty wildlife in the afternoon heat.
Wildlife Highlights
Pilanesberg is one of the most reliable places in Africa for white rhino sightings. You’re also almost certain to see elephant, giraffe, zebra, warthog and hippo. Most common among the 14 antelope species are impala, springbok, wildebeest, greater kudu, and waterbuck. Also look out for tsessebe, Africa’s fastest antelope. Lion, leopard, and cheetah sightings are quite regular but far from certain. Night drives offer the opportunity to spot nocturnal hunters such as serval, genet, and the rare brown hyena.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife viewing in Pilanesberg is not strongly seasonal and tends to be good throughout the year. However, the best months are during the Dry season from May to September. During this period the drought thins the foliage creating a better view, and animals gather at permanent water sources to drink.
Pilanesberg Game Reserve is located within an area of summer rainfall. Winter (May to September) is the Dry season and has mild daytime temperatures and cool nights. Warm clothing is recommended for night and early morning game drives. The reserve is in the southern hemisphere, so summer and winter occur at opposite times in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Dry Season –May to September – Winter
There is virtually no rainfall during winter and the humidity is very low. These drought-like conditions cause foliage to thin and animals are drawn to permanent water sources, making them easier to see.
Wet Season –October to April – Summer
Regular rains break up the heat. They usually come in the form of afternoon storms. Average daytime temperatures are around 30°C/86°F. Because of the low humidity, the heat is less of a burden when compared to the coastal regions.
The main point of entry to South Africa for most travelers is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. You can rent a car there to drive to Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The 200km/124mi drive takes up to 3 hours* and is very scenic if you use the route via Hartbeespoort Dam.
There are currently no scheduled flights to Pilanesberg.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Airlines & Ticket Prices
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), and what tickets would cost.
Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements
Please check our Getting There – South Africa page to learn more about passports, visas, COVID-19, and other entry requirements.
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