Safaris often imply long road trips, with many hours spent behind the wheel before arriving at the dreamed-of safari hideaway. Not so if you’re travelling from Johannesburg to a safari lodge in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve – there are no more than 2 hours of travelling between you and your big game safari – how easy is that! The second thumbs-up is that you’re heading for a reserve where you’re not at risk of contracting malaria. Another plus is that there are some very good value-for-money safaris available in the Pilanesberg. And, what’s more, the Pilanesberg is a close neighbour with Sun City, so if you feel called to the charms of Sun City’s vibrant entertainment, waterworld, casino and golf course – you can visit there too.
Pilanesberg Game Reserve
The Pilanesberg is incredibly scenic. The setting is an ancient crater produced by volcanic eruptions some 1300 million years ago, and forming a rocky amphitheatre populated by large concentrations of wild animals. In fact, almost all of Southern Africa’s mammals are represented here, and the Big Five most certainly. Not only is the safari experience excellent, but another fascination are the numerous Stone and Iron Age sites in the reserve, which reveal the very early presence of man. A central lake adds to the beauty of the Pilanesberg landscape.
Where to Stay
Black Rhino Game Lodge is a good-value safari lodge, tucked away in an old Tamboti forest. Families are welcome here, though children under 6 are not usually permitted on game drives for safety reasons. Explore, with your ranger, the beautiful grasslands, valleys, forests and mountainsides, on game drives and walking excursions. The lodge is also a hub of wildlife activity, since it looks out on a waterhole where elephants (among other animals) often congregate. In addition to wildlife viewing, guests can take a hot-air balloon trip. Mail us.
Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge is a five-star option in the Pilanesberg, though well-priced nonetheless. It lies in an exclusive-use concession, where family suites, executive suites and standard rooms are very private, and offer excellent views of the bush. The days are made up of ranger-guided safari drives and walks, treatments at an award-winning spa, and if you wish, quad biking and airgun shooting at a sister lodge. Mail us.
Ivory Tree Game Lodge offers a rewarding Pilanesberg experience, and is especially well suited to executive groups. The lodge has 64 rooms and a conference facility, which makes it ideal for groups wanting to conference in tandem with a memorable safari experience. Enjoy game drives and spa treatments between conference sessions. Mail us.
Tambuti Lodge is a small, luxury lodge offering an excellent Big 5 safari in the Pilanesberg and Black Rhino Game Reserves in North-West. Five suites set amid Tambuti trees make elegant bush havens – they are spacious, and have private decks, deep baths, indoor and outdoor showers. The Honeymoon Suite offers the extra indulgence of a jacuzzi. Feast on bush cuisine served in the lodge and in the boma, or privately under the stars.
Combine Sun City Resort with a Pilanesberg safari. Enjoy 5-star luxury and an exciting choice of entertainment and recreation, including a glamorous casino, live entertainment events, bars and restaurants, wellness spa, shopping, a water park, golf and plenty of outdoor adventure activities.
- Mail us to book a Pilanesberg safari, or call +27 21 797-7122.
