About Pilanesberg

Pilanesberg Wildlife

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". 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.

Bird watching is excellent with over 300 species recorded. Some are migrants, others permanent inhabitants; some eat carrion or live prey, others eat seeds, fruit or tiny water organisms.

There is a self-guided trail in the Walking Area at Manyane Complex in the east, which offers environmental education whilst enjoying game viewing and bird watching on foot. Also at Manyane is a walk-in aviary with over 80 species of indigenous birds.

Pilanesberg Terrain

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, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone. Springbok, brown hyena, the redeyed bulbul, and camel thorn trees usually found in arid areas are found co-habituating with moist-area-limited impala, black-eyed bulbul and Cape chestnut trees. The colourful hues, varied habitats and panoramas will delight and entertain photographers and all but the most unobservant visitor. Pre-sunrise and post-sunset drives are possible owing to gate opening/closure times.

Pilanesberg Tariffs | Gate Times

 Gate Times : +27 (0) 14 555 1600

		Entrance Rates Pilanesberg tariffs are per person and per vehicle. Adults: R80 Adults Foreign Nationals - R110 Children (6-12 yrs) - R30 Pensioners (SA only) - R40.00   Vehicles (sedan/LDV/SUV) : R40.00 SA citizens should produce identity document to substantiate citizenship

Gate Times

Pilanesberg is a malaria-free park that is open year round.

March & April
06h00 - 18h30

May - September
06h30 - 18h00

September & October
06h00 - 18h30

November - February
05h30 - 19h00

The History of Pilanesberg National Park

		Pilanesberg Game Reserve is 50 000 hectares in size and is located in the North West Province of South Africa, 150 km north west of the Gauteng metropolis and 60 km north of Rustenburg.   The history of Pilanesberg Game Reserve is also unique amongst national parks in Africa. Pilanesberg National Park's special features of rugged landscape, well-watered valleys and attractive dwelling sites have made it a preferred site for human settlement for thousands of years.

Prior to its proclamation as a reserve in 1979, the Pilanesberg National Park Complex was degraded and depleted of indigenous game populations due to fairly intense settlement by commercial farmers. At considerable expense, the land has been restocked with game, the scars of human settlement were removed and tourism infrastructure was developed during the first 15 years (1979 and 1993). This constituted the largest and most expensive game stocking and land rehabilitation project ever undertaken in any African game reserve at the time.

A 110 kilometer peripheral Big Game fence was erected over some very rugged terrain, 188 kilometer of visitor roads have been developed and more than 6 000 head of game were introduced during the Operation Genesis game trans-location program. Thus, while wildlife resources are rapidly declining in most developing countries in Africa, Pilanesberg National Park is one of the few areas where this trend has been dramatically reversed. For this far-sighted action the North West Province (Previously Bop Parks) and its people have received worldwide acclaim and recognition. The challenge that lies ahead is to further develop and manage Pilanesberg National Park in such a way that the conservation, cultural, recreational and economic benefits of this far-sighted action can be optimally utilised to the benefit of current and future generations.