Pilanesberg National Park, or Pilanesberg Game Reserve as it is often called, is located in North West Province – about 2,5 hours drive north of O.R. Tambo International Airport. The park also borders on the Sun City entertainment complex.
With an area of 550km²(55000 hectare), it is the fourth largest park in South Africa. The volcano crater in which the park is situated erupted 1300 million years ago. Pilanesberg was originally owned by 3 of the local tribes. Many of the Stone Age and Iron Age sites around the reserve show proof of the presence of man.
Pilanesberg park opened in 1979 in one of the largest game resettlement projects in the history of South Africa.
In this park it is easy to get around in an ordinary car. If you do not want to go on a self drive safari, there are tour operators and private concessions within the park. Although most of the 188 kilometers of track is not surfaced, it is all maintained in good condition. The three main tarred roads are named Kgabo, Kubu and Tshwane. There are several camps, including Bakgatla and Manyane
WILFLIFE
The park has a rich array of southern African wildlife included the BIG 5; lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Elephants and rhinos are commons sights, but leopard, lion and buffalo more seldom.
Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and hippos are also common species, as well many different antelopes – and over 360 bird species have been counted.
We have visited this park several times, either on the way to the Kruger National Park or on the way back, before going home from Johannesburg. We have seen 4 of the big5 in Pilanesberg; rhinos and elephants every time, lions a couple of times – and buffalo only once.
Of the big cats we have also spotted cheetah once but never seen leopard.
Always rhinos, elephants, zebras and giraffes, and often these antelopes; wildebeest, kudu, springbok, waterbuck and tsessebe.
Let me take you on a self drive safari in the Pilanesberg:
Usually we start at Bakubung entrance in the south of the reserve.
When driving along the main road Kubu you soon reach the Kubu dam where you often see hippos and several kinds of birds. We have often seen Malibu storks by this dam – on the ground – or in the trees nearby.
Malibu storks
Further north of the Kubu road you pass grassy hills with bushes – where we have seen rhinos several times
and also giraffes..
As you come closer to the Mankwe Dam – which is situated in the middle of the park – more grassy plains where you often see zebras and antelopes.
By the Mankwe Dam: springbok, wildebeest and ostrich!
Springbok has long, pointed ears, long neck and slender body. Both males and females have lyre-shaped horns.
Wildebeest (gnu) with calf
Osterich – The largest and heaviest living bird – and also the fastest – it can sprint at over 70 km/hr, covering up to 5m in a single stride.
Not far from the Mankwe Dam – you find the Pilanesberg Centre – with a gift shop and a restaurant . Nice place to have lunch or just a stop – to stretch your legs and have a cold drink.
From the large, open deck area at the front of the centre – panoramic views across the plains and rolling hills of the park and wildlife. Like here – some kudus just a few meters away – and a go-away-bird close to the tables!
A big elephant at the Kgabo drive, north of the Pilanesberg Centre:
Many zebras and wildebeests – along the Tshwene drive.
Wildebeest and zebra graze in harmony together. The reason they do so is that they each eat different parts of the same type of grass.
Some of the zebras had foals and some wildebeest had calves.
There are many routes in the game reserve; many loops on gravel roads – out from the main roads.
Here are some of the wildlife along these routes, from different self drive safari tours:
Antelopes species :
Tsessebe – is a rather a large antelope and known to be the fastest antelope in Africa. It can run at speeds over 90 km/h.
The horns appear typical crescent shaped. This antelope is also called “crescent antelope” in my home country Norway – when translating it directly to English.
Kudu (Greater Kudu) – This is one of the largest species of antelope. The male kudu – the bull – is easy to recognize with its long, spiral horns ! Other characteristic features of this species are white stripes and spots on the body – and large and round ears.
Kudu female
Reedbuck – Pilanesberg is the only game reserve where I have seen this antelope species. Reedbuck live alone, in pairs or in small family groups within a territory defended by a mature ram, while the ewe (female) dictate where and when the group moves. They graze mostly from dusk to dawn, preferring to hide in shady reedbeds and patches of long grass during daylight hours.
Waterbucks – live near water and will wade in to hide from predators. Males are larger than females, have brown or grey fur and, most notably, long horns which are prominently ringed, widely spaced and curve gracefully back and up – like this male:
Some of the birds we spotted, beside Malibu storks, ostrich and go-away-bird :
European Bee-eater 
Yellow-billed hornbill- juvenile 
Helmeted guineafowl 
Crimsonbreasted Shrike 
Grey heron 
African fish eagle 
African fish eagle
The only time we got to see buffalo – the fourth of the big5 – was in July 2014. Older male buffalo, often strike out in smaller clusters – or on their own like this one:
Other special moments :
January 2013
Along the Ntshwe drive – we had a special experience with some rhinos.
A mother with child in the middle of the road. We had to be careful, it is extra protective when with child. We stopped at a good distance, and watched them. After a while they turned around and walked to the other side of the road, and into the high grass.This was about 18:40 in the evening and the gate closes at 19:00, so we had to move on or else we would be too late.
Suddenly another rhino came out of the high grass at our left side.. A big male – the father himself – and what a big and sharp horn! So we had to wait until he crossed the road before moving on. As soon as he came to the other side of the road, we could pass. We were afraid that the male would attack the car as he still was very close to the road. Just as we passed him, he took a few steps towards the car. My heart was in my throat, but luckily all went well and we reached the entrance on time..
July 2014
Another special moment – the first and only time we got to see a cheetah in the Pilanesberg.
We spotted far in the distance, driving along the Kwalats Drive/Tshepe Drive. It was at the other side of the valley. These photos are taken by zoom lens. We watched it walking along the hillside, and then it caught sight of a springbuck which it tried to get. It was an exciting moment as it ran after the antelope! The antelope had a lucky day, it manage to escape!
Cute mongooses –
June 2015
Lions – on a self drive safari – along the Mankwe Drive. Four young ones.
I guess the mother was not far away.
Lovely sunset – we have left the park, on our way to a lodge outside the park.
ACCOMMODATION
The two first times we visited the Pilanesberg we stayed at a lodge outside the park. The two next visits, we stayed at Bakubung Bush Lodge inside the park. It is situated just after the Bakubung Entrance to Pilanesberg, the south entrance.
Bakubung Bush Lodge is a very nice place to stay, nice rooms and a great restaurant. They have one safari tour per day included in the stay.
View to a south part of the reserve – from the Bakubung Bush Lodge
Here is some moments from the safaris – arranged by Bakubung Bush Lodge.
This was a rainy afternoon safari – a elephant herd crossed the road. At Kubu Drive, December 2013:
Later same evening, some male lions by the road. They crossed the road in front of us. People in two safari cars in the other direction were also lucky to get this moment!
July 2014.
This time we also spotted some lions. Two female lions eating on a baby giraffe. This was on a morning drive. The rancher told us that the mother giraffe probably would be nearby, still looking for her child…And yes, when we were driving on we saw a female giraffe wandering around – not so nice moment..
BLACK RHINO GAME RESERVE
On the North Western side of the Pilanesberg National Park, you will find the Black Rhino Game Reserve . It is a private reserve within the Pilanesberg National Park.
The reserve has many varied habitats such as the alluring combination of rolling hills, rocky outcrops, thickly forested ravines, graceful valleys and grassland covered plains and supports a wide variety of game species. According to the park, common sightings include elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dogs.
There are 9 lodges within this reserve and in June 2015 we stayed two nights at The Black Rhino Game Lodge
The Black Rhino Game Lodge – is nestled in a tamboti forest and is a 4-star accommodation, with lovely suites, a very good restaurant and an outdoor pool. All meals are included at the restaurant, as well as two daily safaris.
We enjoyed both a afternoon and a morning safari – in addition we enjoyed a self drive safari in the main Pilanesberg Game reserve.
This is from our afternoon safari:
Jackal
Young kudu
Before sunset we had a stop and enjoyed a sundowner and some snacks.
At the morning safari we spotted rhino again.
The Black Rhino Lodge is a accommodation with luxurious chalets, stunning food in the restaurant, and great facilities. But the best wildlife sights was in the main Pilanesberg Game reserve – outside the Black Rhino Reserve.
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NB – all photos by me – Birgitte Røe/Big5Travel
If you want to use some of the pictures – please refer to my website -www.Big5Travel.com
