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Pilanesberg Elephant Back Safaris |
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Elephant Back Safari (Letsatsing Game Reserve, Pilanesberg National
Park)
For queries and bookings on the Elephant Back Safari or accommodation,
please contact us per email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Guests staying in the Pilanesberg area are invited to join Pilanesberg
Elephant Back Safaris on a unique and extraordinary African adventure.
Join Chikwenya, Sharu, Sapi, Mana, Michael & Lesego for a game viewing experience
with a difference, on elephant back, as though part of this special herd.
These
elephants are all orphans as a result of reduction exercises carried
out by the Zimbabwe National Parks Department in the 1980's. Most orphans were sold to
Zoo's and Circus's around the world,
however these were fortunate enough to stay on African soil and passed
their early lives on private game farms. They were soon to outgrow this
lifestyle and Wild Horizons in an effort to improve and secure the elephants
existing lifestyle, created this amazing safari experience. In 2002,
Wild Horizons created Pilanesberg Elephant-Back Safaris. Join Chikwenya
and her herd for an amazing safari and at the same time a deeper insight
into their lifestyle and history.
PILANESBERG ELEPHANT-BACK SAFARIS - An Age Old Concept:
A New Adventure
* ELEPHANT BACK SAFARI *
Pick up from the Gametrackers Outdoor Adventures desk located
at the Welcome Centre. Transfer to “The Elephant Wallow” will
be approximately 20 minutes through the Letsatsing Game Reserve giving
guests an opportunity to view game along the way. On arrival, welcome drinks
are served and guests are given an introductory talk and introduced to
the elephants and their handlers. The elephants are then saddled and the
safari commences. After approximately an hour on elephant back guests return
to “The Elephant Wallow” for light snacks. Guests are returned
to the Welcome Centre, Sun City.
DURATION: approximately 2-3 hours MAX 10 people – No
under 5 years
R 1250.00 per person
(from 1 Januar 2012 to 31December 2012)
* SUNRISE ELEPHANT BACK SAFARI *
Pick Up: 06.00 summer 1 Sept – 30 April
08.00
winter 1 May – 31 August
* MID-MORNING ELEPHANT-BACK SAFARI *
Pick Up: 08.00 summer 1 Sept – 30 April
10.00
winter 1 May – 31 August
* SUNSET ELEPHANT BACK SAFARI *
Pick Up: 15.30 summer 1 Sept – 30 April
15.30
winter 1 May – 31 August
* EXCLUSIVE ELEPHANT SAFARI *
Any of the above may be booked on an exclusive basis.
Pay for 10 and walk with the entire herd yourself!
* DAILY ELEPHANT INTERACTION EXPERIENCE (Lunch
Included) *
Available throughout the year.
Join Chikwenya, Sharu, Mana, Sapi, Michael & Lesego at their home in the Letsatsing
Game Reserve, only 20 minutes from Sun City. Join these five for an
interaction - filled Elephant Experience. Guests will be collected
from the Welcome Centre at 12.30 and transferred to “The Elephant
Wallow” where they are met by their hosts and offered
a welcome drink. Take time to touch, feed and photograph these truly amazing
animals, Marvel at their intelligence, diversity and majesty, or simply
sit back and reflect on this unusually harmonious relationship in a
beautiful, secure and pristine environment. Guests will be returned
to the Welcome Centre at 14.00.
DURATION: approx. one and a half hours/minimum
2 pax - (inclusive of transfer and a welcome drink & lunch)
Rates: R 320.00 per person (from
1 Januar 2012 to 31December 2012)
Included in the rate is:
• Transfer from the Welcome Centre at the Sun City Resort
• Light snacks
• Educational talk about elephants, as well as about the flora
and fauna in the game reserve
• Transfer back to the Welcome Centre at the Sun City Resort.
*****************************************************************************************************************
* GROUP ELEPHANT INTERACTION EXPERIENCE*
Available Throughout the Year
Situated only 20 minutes from Sun City is “The Elephant Wallow”,
a large thatched boma overlooking a magnificent waterhole catering for
up to 65 guests under thatch. Bush dinners and finger lunches can be
taken with the elephants themselves providing the main attraction.
A presentation will be given on the elephants, their lifestyle and
history. Have a chance to interact with these gentle giants on a personal
level. Afterwards, sit down and relax whilst enjoying your meal with
the elephants in the background mud wallowing, swimming or just settling
down to a meal themselves.
DURATION: one and a half hours, interaction only 2 – 3 hours
with interaction and meal
Elephant Interaction only (inclusive of transfer,
welcome drink)
Pick-up 12.30 (Min 10 pax - Max 150 pax)
Pick-up unscheduled time (Min 20 pax – Max 150)
Rates: R 360.00 per person (from 1 Januar 2012 to 31December 2012)
Elephant Interaction with Lite Lunch
(inclusive of transfer, welcome drinks & lite lunch)
Pick-up 12.30 (Min 10 pax - Max 150 pax)
Rates: R 480.00 per person (from 1 Januar 2012 to 31December 2012)
Elephant Interaction with Finger Lunch
(inclusive of transfer, welcome drinks & finger lunch)
Pick-up 12.30 (Min 10 pax - Max 150 pax)
Rates: R 630.00 per person (from 1 Januar 2012 to 31December 2012)
Elephant Interaction with Dinner
(inclusive of transfer, welcome drinks & dinner)
Min 20 pax - Max 50 pax
Rates: R 480.00 per person (from 1 Januar 2012 to 31December 2012)
The above group rates include the exclusive use of the facility, transfers
and welcome drinks. The
above prices exclude costs of beverages however a bar can be provided.
All bookings for an elephant interaction with a lunch/dinner (50 pax & above)
are to be
booked with Events and Incentives at Sun City Resort.
Included in the rate is:
• Transfer from the Welcome Centre at the Sun City Resort
• Elephant Back Safari
• Light snacks
• Educational talk about elephants, as well as about the flora
and fauna in the game reserve
• Transfer back to the Welcome Centre at the Sun City Resort.
For queries and bookings on the Elephant Back Safari or accommodation,
please contact us per email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
While staying at one of the following hotels and game lodges, we recommend
our guests to participate in this exciting outdoor adventure:
• Bakubung
Bush Lodge
• Kwa
Maritane Bush Lodge
• Tshukudu
Bush Lodge
• Ivory
Tree Game Lodge
• Cabanas
Hotel at the Sun City Resort
• Sun
City Hotel at the Sun City Resort
• Cascades
Hotel at the Sun City Resort
• Palace
Hotel at the Sun City Resort
For more information call +27 (0)21 433 0142 or dial Ext. 583 from within
the Sun City complex or simply enquire at the Gametrackers Outdoor Adventures
desk located at the Welcome Centre.
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Pilanesberg Specials
 Pilanesberg Specials. Read More
Pilanesberg Activities
 Pilanesberg Activities. Read More
Pilanesberg Bush Lodges
 Pilanesberg Bush Lodges. Read More
Pilanesberg Game Reserve Species List
 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...
 Bird-life: 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.Read More
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Lion
Big 5 - The Lion
 ( Panthera leo) Most people will hope to see a lion or three while on safari in Africa. Luckily they are not quite as difficult to spot as the rhino or leopard. You have a good chance of seeing lion at most of the major game parks in southern and eastern Africa. Unlike most felines, lions are actually quite social and live in prides of up to 15 members. So, you can get the chance to watch the little ones play and interact with their bored looking mothers. There is nothing quite so chilling as hearing a lion roar in the night while you are camping but they are actually not prone to attacking humans unless you're unlucky and come across a man-eating lion.
Leopard
Big 5 - The Leopard
 (Panthera pardus) While leopards are more numerous than rhino in the Big 5 pantheon, they are sometimes just as difficult to spot while on safari in Africa. Leopards use trees as observation platforms and for protection, so you have to remember to look up to see this solitary, beautiful cat. Leopards are shy and nocturnal, quite modest for a cat that can climb, swim and live in a wider range of habitats than most other wild cats.
Elephant
Big 5 - The African Elephant
 There are two distinct species of African elephant: African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) and the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana). The largest mammal in the world is remarkably adaptable; you can see elephants in rain forests, deserts and savannahs while on safari in Africa. Elephants are usually quite peaceful if left alone, but if they feel threatened, watch out. There's nothing quite like being charged at by 12,000 lb's of animal, flapping its ears and trumpeting loudly. Did you know that an elephant's trunk has more than 40,000 muscles?
Buffalo
Big 5 - The Cape Buffalo
 ( Syncerus caffer) When you spot the Cape Buffalo while on safari in Africa, you usually don't spot them alone. They tend to appear in very large (and intimidating) herds. Even when looking at them through binoculars from a distance, the males always seem to be staring right at you with intense dislike. Weighing in at over 700 kg's (1540 lb's) even lions don't dare take a chunk out of this beast. Cape Buffalo are said to have killed more big game hunters than any other animal in Africa. Hence they have earned their place in the Big 5.
Rhino
Big 5 - The African Rhino
 In Africa, there are two distinct species of rhinoceros; the Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Both of these species have two upright horns on the snout.
Rhinos are large mammals (only second in size to the elephant), shortsighted, bad tempered but magnificent to look at. Unfortunately there aren't too many to look at these days due to poaching. Rhino horn, used for medicinal purposes, is much prized in the Middle East and the Far East where it is more valuable than gold.
There are two species of rhino in Africa, the Black rhino and the White rhino, both of which you can see while on safari. Black rhinos have suffered the most drastic reduction in population in the last 20 years.
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How to get here
From Johannesburg/Pretoria take the N1 north towards Polokwane. Take the N4 Rustenburg split. A signboard indicates Pilanesberg to the left on route 91.
Where to stay
Pilanesberg offers a variety of affordable accommodation, like the self-catering Manyane, Bakgatla and Metswedi camps. The Tshukudu, KwaMaritane and Bakubung game lodges are also situated in the reserve.
Best time to visit
Summers can get hot, but visitors to Pilanesberg will enjoy the park all year round.
Around the area
Sun City, with its entertainment centre, golf course, water world and casino, is right next door.
Tours to do
Activities include game drives, either self-driven or guided, game walks and birding. Pilanesberg also operates balloon safaris.
Did You Know?
There is an initiative underway to join Pilanesberg with Madikwe, creating a new superpark.
Location
Pilanesberg Game Reserve is in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province, adjacent to Sun City.
Tariffs from 1 february 2009
Adults: R45,00
Children: R20,00
Pensioners: R20.00
Vehicles: R20.00
Bus (17-25 seater): R60.00
Bus (25-50 seater): R80.00
Bus (50+): R170.00
Gate Times
March & April
06h00 - 18h30
May - September
06h30 - 18h00
September & October
06h00 - 18h30
November - February
05h30 - 19h00
Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust
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