Pilanesberg Game Reserve

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Philip is author of ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve has healthy populations of all the Big Five. Elephant and white rhino are common. Black rhino and buffalo are less so, as these animals tend to stick to dense thickets, so sightings are unusual. As in any thickly vegetated reserve that doesn’t allow off-road driving, big cat sightings are hit-and-miss. A noteworthy feature of Pilanesberg is a network of five photographic hides, all overlooking waterholes that attract plenty of thirsty wildlife in the afternoon heat.

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

HippoCommon

BuffaloOccasional

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

White RhinoCommon

Black RhinoOccasional

LionOccasional

LeopardOccasional

CheetahRare

HyenaOccasional

Wild DogNone

Wildlife Highlights

Pilanesberg is one of the most reliable places in Africa for white rhino sightings. You’re also almost certain to see elephant, giraffe, zebra, warthog and hippo. Most common among the 14 antelope species are impala, springbok, wildebeest, greater kudu and waterbuck. Also look out for tsessebe, Africa’s fastest antelope. Lion, leopard and cheetah sightings are quite regular but far from certain. Night drives offer the opportunity to spot nocturnal hunters such as serval, genet and the rare brown hyena.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in Pilanesberg is not strongly seasonal and tends to be good throughout the year. However, the best months are during the Dry season from May to September. During this period the drought thins the foliage creating a better view, and animals gather at permanent water sources to drink.