Pilanesberg Game Reserve Information

Introducing Pilanesberg Game Reserve

The malaria free, 'Big Five' Pilanesberg Game Reserve is located in North West Province of South Africa, west of Pretoria.  The game rich Pilanesberg Game Reserve shares a border with the famous entertainment complex Sun City Resort.The Pilanesberg Game Reserve was originally owned by three local tribes and is now administered by the North West Parks and Tourism Board of South Africa.  This region of the North West Province is fringed by three concentric hills, of which the formation rises from the surrounding plains. 

The landscape is referred to as the parks primary geological feature called the Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex.  This vast circular geological shape of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve is very old as it is the crater of a long extinct volcano and the result of eruptions which happened more than 1,200 million years ago. The Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its type worldwide. Its rare rock types and rock formations make it a unique geological feature.  Several rare minerals can be found in the Pilanesberg.  Located throughout the Pilanesberg Game Reserve are various places which originate from the Iron age and Stone age and display the presence of man from those periods in these areas.

The Pilanesberg Game Reserve covers an area of 572 km².  Visitors may drive themselves through the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and 4x4 vehicles are not required as the roads are well maintained. There are several camps and game lodges in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve including Kwa Maritane, Bakubung, Tshukudu, Ivory Tree and Sheperd's Tree Game Lodge.  Located near the centre of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve one can find an artificially constructed lake, the Mankwe Dam, and Thabayadiotso, which can be translated as 'the Proud Mountain'.

Plants of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, North West Province

The scenic lndscape of the magnificent Pilanesberg Game Reserve lies in the transition zone between Kalahari and Lowveld, both types of vegetation are found here. As a result of the  Pilanesberg being on a transition zone, overlaps in mammals, birds and vegetation are present here. Today, the game rich Pilanesberg Game Reserve in South Africa is home to almost every mammal of southern Africa.

Mammals of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa

The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is home to a wide variety of southern African wildlife including the 'Big Five' which are the five most dangerous game animals in Africa: lion,leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.  In the Pilanesberg Game Reserve today live most of the animal species of southern Africa which include also the black and white rhinoceros, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles. The Painted Hunting Dog, Lycaon pictus, has been reintroduced into the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.  Over 360 bird species have been recorded in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. 

Birdlife of South Africa's Pilanesberg Game Reserve

The Bird life diversity of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve is excellent with over 360 recorded bird species.  Though some birds here are migrants, most others are permanent inhabitants of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa . The birds food sources vary with some eating carrion or live prey, while others leat seeds, fruit or tiny water organisms.

Accommodation in the Pilanesberg National Park, North West Province (South Africa)

Travellers staying in the malaria free, 'Big Five' Pilanesberg National Park have a wide variety of different accommodation options to choose from ranging from three to five star game lodges:

• Bakubung Bush Lodge, four star game lodge
• Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge, four star game lodge
• Ivory Tree Game Lodge, five star game lodge
• Tshukudu Bush Lodge, five star game lodge
• Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge, five star game lodge
• Bakgatla, three star game lodge
• Manyane, three star game lodge
• Black Rhino Game Lodge