By Vicky · Published Jan. 23rd, 2026 · Updated Jan. 27th, 2026
This guide to Pilanesberg National Park will tell you everything you need to know about this popular safari destination in South Africa.
Page Contents:
Location
Pilanesberg National Park is located in the North West Province of South Africa. It’s about 2 hours drive from Pretoria, and slightly longer from Johannesburg. There’s no public transport to the park, so you have to drive. Find cheap rental cars here*! Alternatively, full-day tours from Johannesburg* are very popular.
Pilanesberg National Park Map
Tips for Pilanesberg National Park
- Per day entrance fees to Pilanesberg are R748 for foreigners and R168 for South Africans (children halfprice), plus a vehicle fee of R168. Even though it’s called a National Park, it’s not a SAN National Park, so WildCards are not valid here.
- Gate times range from 5:30am-7pm in summer to 6:30am-6pm in winter. Make sure you leave the park on time, else you may be locked in.
- Pilanesberg National Park is free of malaria, so no need to take tablets.
- Bring binoculars* and a wildlife guide*.
- If you’re staying inside the park, a headlamp* can be useful to walk to/from your accommodation in the dark.
- South African holidays and weekends see many more visitors, while during the week out of season, it is fairly quiet.
- There’s no fuel within the park, but several fuel stations nearby, including the Engen by Sun Village.
- For more fun guides and hikes, check our South Africa page.
Things to do in Pilanesberg National Park
What can you do in Pilanesberg National Park?
- Go on a Self-drive Safari
- Take a Guided Game Drive
- Go on a Guided Walking Safari
- Bird Watching
- Hot Air Ballooning
1. Go on a Self-Drive Safari
A self-drive safari is the most popular activity in Pilanesberg National Park. You can buy a park map at any of the entrance gates, which is useful for planning your routes. Additionally, a Wildlife Guide can make a self-drive safari much more fun. You can identify the animals and read a little about them, plus cross them off the list when you’ve seen them! I’d recommend the Signs of the Wild Wildlife Guide*, though it only includes mammals.
As with almost all game viewing, it’s best in the early mornings and late afternoons. This means you should be at the gate as soon as it opens! And you should return just before the gate closes – but make sure you are in time or you might be stuck!
In the middle of the day, you can relax at a picnic site, or choose the Manyane Day Visitor Picnic area, which has a pool. If you want a restaurant, you’ll find one at Manyane or Bakgatla Resort, or at the Pilanesberg Centre in the middle of the park. Alternatively, you can return to your accommodation for a mid-day break if it isn’t too far away.
When setting out on your self-drive safari, make sure you have enough water and snacks for your trip. A flask of warm tea can also be very welcome for those early morning outings.
The best time of year to visit Pilanesberg for the animals is the dry season, June to September (this is opposite to when you want to see the birds). Animals will cluster at the dams and waterholes, and the vegetation is less dense, making sightings easier.
Notes
- Gate times are March-April 6am-6:30pm, May-Aug 6:30am-6pm, Sept-Oct 6am-6:30pm, Nov-Feb 5:30am-7pm. to 7pm Nov – Feb (summer) and 6am to 6pm Mar-Oct (winter).
- The speed limit in the park is 40 km/hr.
- There’s a mix of paved and gravel roads, with most suitable for all cars. The exception is on the plateau at the top of Lenong Pass, for which high clearance is recommended.
Best Places to Visit on a Self-Drive Safari in Pilanesberg National Park
Generally, there are exciting animals all over the park. Check the sightings boards at the gates to find where animals have been seen recently! Additionally, vehicles cluster at sightings of any big cat, so if you spot a cluster of cars in the distance, make your way there.
That being said, there are several hides in the park from which cool sightings can be had. You will probably at least see lots of birds and probably hippos from these hides.
Do I need a 4×4 for Game Drives in Pilanesberg?
You do not need a 4×4 for game drives in the park. The main routes, for example, those between the gates and the two main camps, are tarred. The other roads are gravel but are well-maintained, making them drivable for any car. The exception is the plateau above Lenong Pass, which is quite rocky, so high-clearance is recommended. However, a 4×4 is always an advantage as the seating is higher, so you have a better view of the game.
2. Take a Guided Game Drive
Guided game drives take place in the early morning or late afternoon, and start from Manyane or Bakgatla Resort. These drives last roughly 3 hours and are R885/450 for South African adults/children and R1555/1160 for foreign adults/children. You can alternatively book private game drives, which are more expensive.
An advantage of a Guided Game Drive is that the safari guides/drivers all communicate with each other, sharing information about any exciting animals they have spotted. This means that, e.g. if one vehicle spots some lions, your vehicle will soon find out about it and will also drive to see those lions. However, this can also be a disadvantage since there will be many other vehicles at the same animal sighting.
3. Go on a Guided Game Hike
You aren’t allowed to walk in the game area without a guide, so a guided game hike is a great way explore the park on foot. Apart from animals, your guide will also tell you about the smaller creatures like insects and birds, plus the different types of vegetation. Guided game hikes take place every day (with a minimum of 4 people) and start from either Manyane or Bakgatla Resort. The hikes last roughly 4 hours and the minimum age requirement is 16 years.
4. Bird Watching
Bird watching is a great year-round activity in Pilanesberg. It’s especially good in the rainy summer season (Nov-Apr), when migrant birds from the northern hemisphere arrive. The many reservoirs within the park also attract waterbirds, and most of the hides overlook the water. If you’re a beginner, this small guide* is a great companion for identifying the most common birds.
5. Walking at Manyane Resort
There are a couple of easy trails from Manyane Resort through the bush. These trails are outside the game area, but you can still see antelopes and other grazers. The Giraffe Trail is almost 5 km and the Wildebeest Trail is roughly 1.5 km. The start of the trails can be difficult to find – ask at the information centre or look closely at our Pilanesberg National Park map above.
6. Hot Air Ballooning
If you want to splash out, a hot air balloon ride over the park is a magical way to observe the animals. Another highlight is seeing the circular nature of the park, with concentric rings of hills making up the boundary. It’s like this because of volcanic activity over a billion years ago. Flights last at least one hour and include sparkling wine with a full English breakfast. Rates are R6090/7430 per person for South Africans/foreigners.
Animals in Pilanesberg National Park
Does Pilanesberg National Park have the Big 5?
Pilanesberg National Park does have the Big 5 animals – lions, buffalo, elephants, rhinos and leopards. Of these, elephants are the easiest to find, followed by rhinos. If you see a large congregation of cars, there are probably lions, which are also relatively easy to see compared to other parks. Leopards are less easy to spot, while buffalo mainly keep to the wild part of the park, which has no roads.
Equally exciting, there are quite a few cheetahs and a pack of wild dogs within the park. To help identify all the different types of antelopes and other mammals, it’s a great idea to have a wildlife guide*.
Accommodation in Pilanesberg National Park
The two main resorts in the park are Manyane and Bakgatla, and both have chalets plus camping, similar to a SANParks rest camp. They both offer guided game drives or walks, and tribal dancing – with participation! Alternatively, there are many luxurious lodges within the park, most of which include two game drives and food in their rates.
Manyane Resort
Manyane Resort offers chalets, studio rooms, safari tents and camping. You’ll also find a restaurant, small shop, two swimming pools and a playground. Additionally, there’s a short walking trail and a mini golf course on-site. You can book accommodation on the official Pilanesberg National Park website.
The Chalets have full kitchens and braai facilities. You can book as either Bed & Breakfast, or Bed & Breakfast & Dinner. The chalets are for 2 or 4 people and are close to a pool and playground.
Studio Rooms are smaller, each with two beds, a kettle, small fridge and braai facilities but no full kitchen. You can book either as Bed & Breakfast, or Bed & Breakfast & Dinner.
Safari Tents are for two people, with a fridge, kettle, braai area and electricity. You can book as either Self-Catering, Bed & Breakfast, or Bed & Breakfast & Dinner.
Camping at Manyane Resort
You can book camping sites with or without electricity, or caravan sites which automatically have electricity.
Bakgatla Resort
Bakgatla Resort is slightly smaller than Manyane and offers chalets or camping. A highlight is the Olympic-sized swimming pool. There’s also a restaurant, small shop, and a playground. You can book accommodation on the official Pilanesberg National Park website.
The Chalets accommodate five people, with one double bed and three single beds. There are full kitchens and a braai area. You can book as either Bed & Breakfast, or Bed & Breakfast & Dinner.
Camping at Bakgatla Resort
You can book camping sites with or without electricity, or caravan sites which automatically have electricity.
Lodges within the Park
There are many lodges within Pilanesberg, which range from exclusive-use self-catering properties to luxury all-inclusive lodges. Kwa Maritane Lodge* and Ivory Tree Game Lodge* are the most popular and cheapest all-inclusive lodges, located by Kwa Maritane and Bakgatla Gate, respectively. On the other hand, Tshukudu Bush Lodge* is one of the most luxurious, situated in the middle of the wilderness. There are also a few exclusive-use self-catering lodges such as Nkala Safari Lodge* within the park, which allow for total freedom, ideal for a large family or group of friends.
Camping in Pilanesberg National Park
There are two campsites in Pilanesberg National Park, one at Manyane and one at Bakgatla. These are the two largest resorts in the park, along the edge of the wildlife area. They both have a small shop, restaurant, swimming pool and playgrounds. You can book a campsite with or without electricity, or a caravan site with electricity. There are no other camping sites nearby.
Private Concessions
Black Rhino Game Reserve
Black Rhino Game Reserve is a private game reserve adjacent to the park. There’s no fence in between, so wildlife wanders freely between the two, but only guests staying in Black Rhino Game Reserve are allowed to visit the private game reserve.
There are several lodges on the reserve, with some exclusive use. The lodges are mainly small, luxury lodges, with two mid-range lodges, including the largest, Black Rhino Lodge*. This is the cheapest lodge, with rates starting at R5200 per adult per night, including all meals and two game drives.
Shepherds Tree Game Reserve
Shepherds Tree Game Reserve is another private concession within Pilanesberg. There is one lovely luxury lodge* in the reserve, with twice-daily game drives and food included in the price. You can choose from standard rooms, family suites, or the private villa.
Accommodation outside Pilanesberg National Park
You’ll find many accommodation options just outside Pilanesberg National Park, and these are best booked on Booking.com*.
Some of the best include:
Kamogelo Guest House* – a lovely place to stay with rooms or family suites, a swimming pool and breakfast included.
Elephant House* – a self-catering house with everything you need for a family to stay close to Pilanesberg. Located in a secure compound, the views aren’t great, but the inside is very clean and modern.
The Kingdom Resort* – a much smaller version of Sun City, which some people prefer, this resort is very kid-friendly, with swimming pools and slides, and a lot of other entertainment. There’s a variety of accommodation, from double rooms to large family villas.
Recommended Guidebook
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. For more hikes and activities, check out our Guide to South Africa.
FAQS: Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg entrance fees are R168/748 for South Africans/foreigners. It’s not a SAN Park, so WildCards are not accepted.
No, there is no malaria in Pilanesberg National Park.
Pilanesberg National Park is a lot smaller than Kruger, and consequently has a slightly more ‘zoo’, or artificial feeling. However, an advantage is that Pilanesberg is closer to Johannesburg and it is non-malarial. It’s probably also easier to spot rhinos in Pilanesberg, and perhaps also easier to spot lions. If you have enough time, for a wilder safari, head to Kruger.
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