About the park

Until very recently, the Pilanesberg National Park was possibly the most accessible Big 5 game reserve for the large population of wildlife enthusiasts from the Johannesburg and Pretoria region. Whilst the newer Dinokeng Game Reserve is now a lot closer than Pilanesberg, it still does not have the wildlife population or the diversity that Pilanesberg National Park can offer. Situated in the ecologically rich transition zone between the Kalahari and the Lowveld, this vast area offers fantastic big game viewing in a malaria- free environment with a wide variety of accommodation to suit your needs.

Geologically, the area is world famous. Its structure, termed the “Pilanesberg National Park Alkaline Ring Complex” was formed by volcanic eruptions some 1 200 million years ago. Apart from its unique size, shape and rock types, the volcanic origin and resultant weathering of the extinct crater has resulted in a wide variety of landscapes. This provides some of the most spectacular scenery in Southern Africa. It also provides a wide range of habitats for game animals

The rugged wilderness of this Big 5 Game Reserve is characterised by wooded mountains and magnificent gorges contrasting with sweeping grassy plains and savannahs.

The game reserve is home to over 50 different mammals, including the Big Five. There are rare and unusual species too, such as brown hyena, pangolin, aardwolf and aardvark – all best seen at night.

Pilanesberg exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as “Bushveld”. Unlike any other large park, unique overlaps of mammals, birdlife and vegetation occur because of this transition zone and Pilanesberg has the potential to carry a wider variety of game species than any other similar sized game reserve in Southern Africa.
Pre-sunrise and post-sunset drives and visits to the Mankwe Dam are possible owing to gate opening and closure times. Since late 1979, thanks to Operation Genesis – the largest game translocation ever undertaken at the time, tourists have been able to take note of nature’s alphabet – from aardvark to zebra.

The park boasts healthy populations of lion, leopard, black and white rhino, elephant and buffalo – Africa’s “Big Five”.
Springbok, brown hyaena, the red-eyed bulbul, and camel thorn trees, usually found in arid areas, are found co-habitating with moist-area-limited impala, black-eyed bulbul and Cape chestnut trees. A wide variety of rare and common species exist with endemic species like the nocturnal brown hyaena, the fleet-footed cheetah, the majestic sable, as well as giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodile, to mention but a few, being found in the park.
The park’s potential for supporting rare and endangered species such as black rhino, roan, sable, tsessebe, foot-and-mouth free buffalo and wild dogs is particularly high, and guests to the park are frequently fortunate enough to spend time with these amazing animals.