By air
O. R. Tambo, Johannesburg (JNB), ~2.5 h
South Africa
Pilanesberg, South Africa
The Big Five in an ancient volcanic crater
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — the dry winter
Don't miss
The Pilanesberg crater
Mankwe Dam
The Kgabo lookout
Things to do
Game drives
Balloon safaris
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Joonas Lyytinen, Käyttäjä:Joonasl · CC BY 2.5
What to pack
Neutral colours
A quieter corner
The Mankwe hide at dawn
Questions travellers ask
What's the ideal season for Pilanesberg?
May to September, during the dry winter. Wear neutral colours on game drives.
What makes Pilanesberg special?
It puts the Big Five in an ancient volcanic crater. Look for them on game drives, or drift over it on a balloon safari.
Where should I stop inside Pilanesberg?
Mankwe Dam and the Kgabo lookout. For a quiet start, be at the Mankwe hide at dawn.
Is Pilanesberg within reach of Johannesburg?
Yes: it's about 2.5 hours from O. R. Tambo, Johannesburg (JNB). Lodge braais round off the stay.
About Pilanesberg
- Hills
Where it is
Pilanesberg National Park lies in South Africa's North West province, next to the Sun City resort, inside the eroded crater of an ancient volcano whose rings of hills rise from the surrounding bushveld.
History
The Pilanesberg was formed by volcanic eruptions around 1.2 billion years ago, and its hills were farmed and grazed until the land was made a national park in 1979. Operation Genesis then brought in thousands of animals, including elephants, rhinos and lions, in one of the largest game relocations ever undertaken.
People
The Pilanesberg lies in the lands of the Bakgatla and other Batswana communities, and Setswana is the main language of the area, alongside English and Afrikaans. Many local people work in tourism and in the platinum mines of the surrounding district.
Known for
- Big Five game drives
- Hot-air balloon safaris
- The Mankwe Dam and its hide
- The volcanic crater landscape
- The nearby Sun City resort
Did you know?
The Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic alkaline ring complexes in the world, and its park takes its name from Pilane, a 19th-century chief of the Bakgatla.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.