Noroeste · South Africa

Pilanesberg

Safari inside the crater of an ancient volcano, about two and a half hours from Johannesburg, outside the malaria area, with the Big Five and bases in Sun City.

Joanesburgo, Pretória e o planalto

In the photo: Pilanesberg National Park

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Send your photos

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

O Parque Nacional de Pilanesberg ocupa cerca de 55 mil hectares na província do Noroeste, a cerca de 190 km de Joanesburgo. O parque fica dentro de uma estrutura circular de colinas, os restos de um vulcão extinto há mais de um bilhão de anos, com anéis de montanhas em volta de um vale central onde fica a represa de Mankwe.

A área era de fazendas até 1979, quando foi transformada em reserva. Numa operação de reintrodução que ficou conhecida como Operação Gênesis, milhares de animais foram trazidos de outras partes do país, entre eles elefantes, rinocerontes, búfalos, leões, girafas, zebras e antílopes. Hoje o parque abriga os Cinco Grandes e centenas de espécies de aves, numa zona de transição entre o deserto do Kalahari e a savana úmida do leste.

Fica fora da área de malária, o que facilita a viagem com crianças. Pode-se fazer o safári no próprio carro, pelas cerca de 200 km de estradas do parque, ou em veículo aberto com guia, inclusive à noite e em balão.

Colado ao parque fica Sun City, um grande complexo de hotéis, cassino, campos de golfe e parque aquático, que serve de base para a maioria dos visitantes. O atrativo, porém, é o parque: os animais, a paisagem da cratera e os esconderijos à beira das represas.

This destination brings together 1 city: Sun City.

Share: WhatsApp

Traveler, share your experiences through photos Up to 5 photos of each place you visited.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Pilanesberg is

Limites: South African Municipal Demarcation Board / OCHA ROSEA / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Pilanesberg

✈ Aeroporto Internacional O. R. Tambo (JNB), in Joanesburgo · 190 km to Sun City

✈ Aeroporto Internacional de Pilanesberg (NTY), in Sun City · 10 km to Sun City

Confirm before buying. International flights arrive in Johannesburg (JNB). From there, Pilanesberg is about 190 km, around a 2.5-hour drive via the N4 and R556. Pilanesberg International Airport, near Sun City, receives sporadic and charter flights: confirm in advance.

Noroeste · Pilanesberg

Sun City

Sun City is a complex of hotels, casino, golf courses and a water park on the southern edge of Pilanesberg National Park, about 190 km from Johannesburg. For visitors it functions as a base for safaris in the park's volcanic crater, a few minutes from the Bakubung gate. Inside Pilanesberg are the Mankwe dam, with hides for wildlife viewing, and the visitor centre, in a former colonial administration building.

The local experience

Things to do in Pilanesberg

Sun City · Noroeste · National park

Parque Nacional de Pilanesberg

A roughly 55,000-hectare park inside the crater of an extinct volcano, with the Big Five, about 200 km of roads and safari by self-drive or with a guide.

Sun City · Noroeste · Wildlife observation

Represa de Mankwe

Reservoir in the center of Pilanesberg, with wooden hides on the water’s edge to observe hippos, crocodiles, birds and animals that come to drink.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

The dry season, from May to September, usually makes observation easier, with low vegetation and animals near the water; mornings are cold. Summer, from November to March, is hot and green, with afternoon rain and young.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days with one night allow for two safaris, at dusk and early morning. With three days you can explore the park at a relaxed pace and do the night safari.

Which city to stay in

Sun City concentrates the complex's hotels, a few minutes from the Bakubung gate. Inside and on the edges of the park there are lodges and camps with chalets, such as Bakubung, Kwa Maritane, Manyane and Bakgatla, which allow early departures for the safari.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Pilanesberg

Where is Pilanesberg?

In the North West province, about 190 km from Johannesburg, roughly a 2.5-hour drive.

Does Pilanesberg have the Big Five?

Yes. The park hosts lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros, but no sighting is guaranteed.

Does Pilanesberg have malaria?

No. The park is outside the malaria area, which makes travel with children easier.

Is Sun City inside Pilanesberg?

No. Sun City is a hotel and leisure complex adjacent to the park, serving as a base for safaris.

Can you do a safari in Pilanesberg in your own car?

Yes, on the park roads, following the rules: do not exit the vehicle outside designated areas and leave before the gates close.

Explore other destinations Search by state and city