Pilanesberg Safari Destination
The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is located in the North West Province of South Africa which borders Botswana to North and the provinces of the Northern Cape and the Free State to the south. In the east it is bounded by the Gauteng and Limpopo provinces. The North West Province was established in 1994 by the merger of two former regions then known as Bophuthatswana and Western Transvaal.
Map of the North West Province
Pilanesberg is the largest game reserve in the North West Province and is contained in the crater of an extinct volcano. The reserve covers an area of around 55 000 hectares (550 sq km) and is named after a local Tswana chief, Pilane. It was proclaimed as a national park in 1979 and what followed was one of the most daunting and ambitious game relocation projects ever under taken anywhere in the world. This wild life relocation programme was called the Genesis project and as a result of this mammoth effort the game reserve is now home to more than 10 000 animals. Today the Pilanesberg game reserve teems with wildlife and as a result has become a very popular safari destination. It is only about 200 km from Johannesburg and easily accessible by road and air. The closest airports are OR Tambo International (200km) and Lanseria (150km). It is also a malaria free area and has a well-developed infrastructure in terms of accommodation, facilities, roads and other amenities. The Pilanesberg game reserve is also home to the big 5 and many other species of game, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects. It also has an amazing combination of topographies, including syenite hills (koppies), bushveld, forested ravines, wooded regions, rolling grasslands as well as dams and water masses. Wildlife species include lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, antelope, hyena, cheetah, sable, giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile and many others. The teeming bird life, unique vegetation and awesome scenery make this a place to see and experience. Here where the impressive Thabayadiotso Mountain enhances the endless panorama, lies a paradise of wildlife and natural beauty. When you add a modern tourist infrastructure, you can understand why the Pilanesberg game reserve is such a popular tourist attraction. Book your Pilanesberg Safari or Day Tour
