Shepherds Tree Game Lodge Sun City Hotels & Pilanesberg

The Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge features an outdoor rim-flow swimming pool which is surrounded by a sun deck with lounge chairs.
 

The Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge in the Pilanesberg National Park features a health and beauty spa.  At this tranquil retreat guests may choose from a variety of different spa treatments for ultimate relaxation and enjoyment.

The world famous Sun City Resort is only a short drive away from the Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge in the Pilanesberg.  Transfers to and from the Sun City Resort, Casino & Entertainment Centre are available.

Sun City attractions:

• Sun City Casino & Entertainment Centre
• The Palace of the Lost City Hotel
• Cascades Hotel
• Sun City Hotel
• Cabanas Hotel
• Valley of Waves: water park
• Health & Beauty Spa
• Gary Player Golf Course
• Lost City Golf Course
• Bird Aviary
• Farmyard animals
• Kamp Kwena

Elephant Back Safari: An Age Old Concept - A New Adventure

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
• Maximum 10 people – children under 5 years can unfortunately not participate
• Pick up and drop off is the Welcome Centre at the Sun City Resort

Sunrise Elephant Back Safari

Pick Up: 06.00 AM summer 1 Sept – 30 April
Pick Up: 08.00 AM winter 1 May – 31 August

Mid Morning Elephant Back Safari

Pick Up: 08.00 AM summer 1 Sept – 30 April
Pick Up: 10.00 AM winter 1 May – 31 August

Sunset Elephant Back Safari

Pick Up: 15.30 summer 1 Sept – 30 April
Pick Up: 15.30 winter 1 May – 31 August

Hot Air Balloon Safaris in the Pilanesberg National Park

The Hot Air Balloon Safaris are offered every morning, depending on the weather and number of passengers.  Guest are collected from the Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge and are taken into the park to meet with the balloon crew.

The flight is approximately an hour in duration and on landing sparkling wine is served. A leisurely game drive is then taken through the park to a game lodge where breakfast is served, after which guest are returned to Shepherd's Tree.

• Duration: 1hr flight, +/- 4 hrs in total
• Booking is essential
• a minimum number of guests are required to conduct a flight

Flights are early in the morning and you will need to allow some 4 hours for the full activity which includes the following:

• Early morning collection from your hotel by safari vehicle
• Launch of the balloon from the centre of Pilanesberg National Park
• An hour drifting serenely over the Park
• A sparkling wine celebration on landing, a time-honoured tradition in ballooning
• A Full English breakfast at a Game Lodge
• A First Flight certificate signed by your Pilot
• Return transfer to your hotel / game lodge

Terms and Conditions: Hot Air Balloon Safaris:

• 1 hour flight: Minimum 8 passengers / Maximum 60 pax (1 hour flight)
• 30 minute flight: Minimum 20 / Maximum 120 pax (½ hour flight)
• Children under the age of 12 can unfortunately not participate
• Subject to availability of balloons
• Full prepayment is required before the flight takes place

Wildlife at the Pilanesberg National Park: malaria free and home to the 'Big Five'

The Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge in the Pilanesberg offers game drives all year round, either in the early morning or late afternoon.

Besides the 'Big Five', guests have the chance to encounter the nocturnal brown hyena, cheetah, hippo, crocodile and even sable. The Pilanesberg mountains offer guests sightings of a wide diversity of animal and plant life including 360 species of birds, the 'Big Five' and almost every type of animal found in Southern Africa.

The Pilanesberg National Park lies within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as "Bushveld". Unlike any other large national parks in South Africa, unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone.

Springbok, brown hyena, the red eyed bulbul, and camel thorn trees usually home in arid areas are found cohabiting with moist-area-limited impala, black eyed bulbul and Cape chestnut trees.  Wildlife includes lions, elephants, white and black rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles.

The bird life diversity in the Pilanesberg National Park is excellent. Whilst some birds are migrants, many are permanent inhabitants. Their food sources vary with some eating carrion or live prey, while others eat seeds, fruit or tiny water organisms.

Birding habitats in the Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa, include rocky ridges, hill slopes, grasslands, woodlands, dams with connecting streams, and a vlei adjoining one of the dams.

The hill slopes are home to Pied Babbler, Sabota Lark, Rufousnaped Lark, Little Bee-eater and Whitefronted Bee-eater.  In the grasslands and savannas Lilacbreasted Roller, Purple Roller, Ostrich, Secretarybird, Pale Chanting Goshawk and Longtailed Shrike can be found. Kori Bustard, Whitewinged Korhaan and Redcrested Korhaan are also common here.

The woodland thickets support Redbilled Hornbill, Southern Yellowbilled Hornbill, Grey Hornbill, Greenspotted Dove, Marico Flycatcher, Goldenbreasted Bunting, Violeteared Waxbill and Blue Waxbill.

Many west-east species pairs occur in the Pilanesberg National Park such as the Whitebacked Mousebird and Speckled Mousebird, Ashy Tit and Southern Black Tit, Pied Babbler and Arrowmarked Babbler, Redeyed Bulbul and Blackeyed Bulbul, Kalahari Robin and Whitebrowed Robin, and Shafttailed Whydah and Pintailed Whydah.