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Pilanesberg Luxury Safari Tours
Pilanesberg Game Reserve offers a variety of luxury safari tours. The reserve is one of South Africa’s most encouraging conservation success stories. Set in a collapsed volcanic crater, the reserve has gone from a tract of unloved low-yield farmland to one of the region’s premier safari destinations. The 550km2 / 212mi2 malaria-free reserve was created in the late 1970s. It was restocked with lion, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, white and black rhino and various antelope in a program named Operation Genesis. Today, Pilanesberg has several luxury lodges that offer a full-on Big Five experience, though large predator sightings are unpredictable compared to Sabi Sands and Kruger.
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3-Day Big 5 Self-Drive Tour to Pilanesberg
$815 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-driveLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Safari.com
4.7/5 – 186 Reviews
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3-Day Lux Bakubung Bush Lodge Pilanesberg National Park
$250 to $315 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Gems of Africa Safari and Tours
4.9/5 – 100 Reviews
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3-Day Pilanesberg Safari
$682 to $743 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg Airport (End)
Africa Incoming
4.7/5 – 13 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Black Rhino Game Lodge Safari Package
$923 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-driveLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 1232 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Pilanesberg Luxury Safari
$822 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Safari With Us
5.0/5 – 219 Reviews
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3-Day Bakubung Bush Lodge Trip
$657 to $727 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
BST Tours
4.8/5 – 30 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Eco Friendly 5 Star Exclusive Pilanesberg Safari
$1,142 to $1,221 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Mmilo Tours
5.0/5 – 125 Reviews
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6-Day Sun City Adventure and Pilanesberg Safari
$1,514 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Sun City (Highlight), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Discover Africa Safaris
4.9/5 – 423 Reviews
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3-Day Pilanesberg - Honeymoom at Tambuti Lodge
$613 to $657 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Traipsing Africa's Safaris and Tours
5.0/5 – 100 Reviews
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3-Day Perfect Safari for Couples in Pilanesberg Park
$1,150 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Tourgy Tourz
4.9/5 – 30 Reviews
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4-Day Lux Ivory Tree Lodge in Pilanesberg National Park
$906 to $1,049 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Gems of Africa Safari and Tours
4.9/5 – 100 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Ivory Tree 5 Star All Inclusive Safari Package
$763 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 1232 Reviews
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3-Day Tambuti Private Lodge Tour in Pilanesberg Reserve
$911 to $943 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
BST Tours
4.8/5 – 30 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Luxury 5 Star Pilanesberg Safari
$1,084 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Mmilo Tours
5.0/5 – 125 Reviews
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3-Day Luxury Ivory Tree Game Lodge in Pilanesberg
$608 to $703 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Gems of Africa Safari and Tours
4.9/5 – 100 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Ivory Tree Lodge All Inclusive Safari Package
$923 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-driveLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 1232 Reviews
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4-Day Black Rhino Game Lodge, Pilanesberg National Park
$1,100 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
BST Tours
4.8/5 – 30 Reviews
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3-Day Luxury Shepherds Tree Game Lodge in Pilanesburg NP
$379 to $723 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Gems of Africa Safari and Tours
4.9/5 – 100 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Black Rhino All Inclusive Safari Package
$726 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 1232 Reviews
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3-Day Lush Private Lodge, Pilanesberg National Park
$1,087 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
BST Tours
4.8/5 – 30 Reviews
6 Questions About Pilanesberg Luxury Safari Tours
Answered by
Philip Briggs
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to South Africa.› More about Philip
6 Questions About Pilanesberg Luxury Safari Tours
What makes Pilanesberg convenient for a luxury safari?
“Pilanesberg is unique in several respects. It is the closest Big Five safari destination to Johannesburg and Pretoria, at only two hours’ drive north from either city. It is also one of the few major African reserves to be entirely free of malaria. Both these factors are big selling points for business travelers from Johannesburg seeking a quick malaria-free, luxury, weekend safari fix. These factors also make Pilanesberg an attractive destination for families wanting to incorporate a short safari break into a more general South African holiday. In terms of the Big Five, Pilanesberg is strong on elephant, rhino and buffalo, and offers a fair chance of spotting lion and leopards. The attraction for more seasoned safari-goers is the possibility of encountering brown hyena, aardwolf and genet on night drives. Another drawcard is the visibility of some gorgeous Kalahari birdlife, such as crimson-breasted shrike, violet-eared waxbill, shaft-tailed whydah and pied babbler. Other attractions include thrilling early morning balloon safaris and, rather incongruously, the proximity of the legendary Sun City. This glitzy entertainment complex provides a welcome distraction for easily bored children.”
1What is included in a Pilanesberg luxury safari?
“The price quoted by an operator for an all-inclusive Pilanesberg luxury safari package usually includes all accommodation and meals. Guided game drives in open 4x4s, and the return flight or road transfer from Johannesburg are also typically included. Some lodges might include laundry and non-premium drinks, such as tea, coffee, soft drinks, local beer and house wine. You had best check on this in advance. Tips are not included and can add up on an all-inclusive package. Check with your operator about expectations for tips and bring enough cash with you to last the journey.”
2How long do I need in Pilanesberg?
“Two or three nights would be a great amount of time for a safari in Pilanesberg. It would allow good odds of encountering most, or all, of the Big Five: elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. However, if you are short on time, a two-day, one-night safari in Pilanesberg could be realistically considered. Pilanesberg is a compact reserve and is only a two-hour road trip from Johannesburg. This shorter time would require an early start and might feel a bit rushed though. Keen wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers and photographers could easily dedicate a week to Pilanesberg. For this length of time, consider extending the trip to include a few nights at nearby Madikwe Game Reserve. Madikwe is an exceptional malaria-free Big Five destination that lies a bit further from Johannesburg and caters specifically to the luxury safari market.”
3How does a typical day unfold on a luxury trip in Pilanesberg?
“The typical routine on safari is to wake shortly before sunrise, then to head out on a morning game drive at the earliest permitted hour. You would then likely return to the lodge at mid-morning for a brunch or late breakfast. An extended lunch break allows you time for a nap or a visit to the swimming pool, before setting off on an afternoon drive at around 3 PM. It is worth joining at least one night-drive to increase your chances of seeing leopard, brown hyena and other creatures that are active at night. Then it’s back to the lodge for dinner and an early night in preparation for another pre-dawn start. A typical day is designed to take advantage of the finest wildlife-viewing hours, the first hour or two after sunrise and the last hour or two before sunset. This is when lion, leopard and most other animals are at their most active. Unlike in Sabi Sands and other private reserves, it is forbidden to be out and about between sunset and sunrise unless you join an official night drive.”
4What type of accommodation can I expect?
“The upmarket options are quite variable. The Sun City complex has a number of luxurious and modern five-star hotels associated with it. There is also a handful of more modest bush lodges set within, or on the boundaries of, the wildlife reserve. Generally, these lodges are very comfortable and well-run. They possess an attractive bush style, in keeping with the wilderness setting. Pilanesberg lodges also tend to be larger and more impersonal than their counterparts in Sabi Sands or Madikwe. This is because a large share of the accommodation market comprises relatively budget-conscious weekenders from Johannesburg and Pretoria. ”
5How much will this safari cost?
“Most all-inclusive packages fall within the range of US$250 to US$400 per person per night sharing. Pilanesberg’s proximity to Johannesburg and a less prestigious reputation than a reserve such as Sabi Sands means that it is a relatively affordable destination for a luxury safari. The price of a Pilanesberg luxury safari departing from Johannesburg will depend on the type of accommodation you choose and whether you fly up or join a driving tour. It will also depend, to some extent, on season. It will work out cheaper, however, to book into a luxury lodge directly and to self-drive from Johannesburg. Rates tend to be lower on weekdays. At weekends Pilanesberg and Sun City become a popular retreat for the residents of Johannesburg and Pretoria. ”
6Pilanesberg Reviews
Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
A Big Five destination just a few hours’ drive from Johannesburg
Pilanesberg is instantly likeable, and with its savannah grasslands surrounded by an attractive ring of hills broken by wooded valleys, it’s hard to imagine that it started life as manmade reserve (it opened in the 1970s as an...
Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia.
Pilanesberg: Busy & Beautiful
Pilanesberg is so easily reached that my first experience of the park was the antithesis of everything I love about the African wild – paved roads, traffic jams, and tour guides with loud microphones. The fact that there were rhinos, both...
From the game, we found many animals, but for big 5 we found only 3 (Leopard, Elephant, Rhino). However, our driver, Lethabo, he is an experienced driver with lot of knowledge. He tried very hard to find the places where we might see Lion...
Amazing Days and Nights
Since we were staying in and flying out of Johannesburg, we chose the closer Pilanesberg over Kruger NP so we would have more time viewing animals and less time driving in the two days we had for the safari. It did not disappoint us at all....
Breathtaking, absolutely love it there, it's so peaceful and calm, so much to see.
I absolutely loved this place, great get away with my family, amazing wildlife, I'm not a early morning person but getting up for the the game drives was worth it........ we had the best time!!! Would def do it again
I have been around many game parks in my life - I was born and raised in Kenya. I know you have to be lucky to see certain animals. I did find the tarmac road through the park rather unusual, and although I understand the why, I found...