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Liz
US
Visited:
August 2015
Reviewed: Sep 29, 2015
Email Liz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing--surpassed expectations!
What can I say but wow! Jacque, our guide was determined to show us as many animals and he succeeded. He was so helpful and knowledgeable that he really made our safari all the better. The accomodations were so comfortable, the food delicious and the service impeccable!
Sumarie Slabber
ZA
Visited:
November 2015
Reviewed: Nov 21, 2015
Email Sumarie Slabber | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The hide is fantastic for birding!
Gary Longshaw
ZA
Visited:
October 2015
Reviewed: Nov 26, 2015
Email Gary Longshaw | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Nice, albeit fairly small, and quite commercialised. Some good wildlife spotting opportunities and an interesting history, along with first class amenities make it a nice tourist destination for a one or two day visit.
audreywatters
US
Visited:
October 2015
Reviewed: Dec 3, 2015
Email audreywatters | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Game Drive (Twice)
I stayed at the Sun City resort during this, my first trip to South Africa. I got up very early one morning for a game drive. (The jeep left from the hotel.) We spent the morning driving around, and I couldn't believe all the animals I saw -- some up close. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable. I enjoyed myself so much I went on another game drive the next day, that time selecting the late afternoon one. I saw fewer animals because of the heat. But it was still a wonderful experience and absolutely worth the money.
Tobie Schalkwyk
ZA
Visited:
November 2015
Reviewed: Jan 9, 2016
Email Tobie Schalkwyk | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The only reason for not giving 'Wildlife' a 5-star rating is that the lions are in a seperate 'camp' where they can be seen at additional cost. Other than that accommodation is neat and well established with all your self-catering needs catered for. It has a nice restaurant next to a pool. The roads provide something different every day and are always full of surprises. I'd spend a maximum of 3 or 4 days here.
Coco
FR
Visited:
November 2015
Reviewed: Jan 11, 2016
Email Coco | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Pilanesberg park is great you you leave in the area but don't have the time to go to the Kruger. It's smaller and closer to Joburg so it's more crowded but it's still a very nice place.
Rajiv
Exceeded my expectations with the variety of wildlife, including jaguar, lions, rhinos, & hippos
I went on two game drives--one in the evening and another early in the morning. If you have a choice I would recommend the morning drive as you are much more likely to see a pride or two. The guides were both humorous and knowledgeable (and well connected with others around the park who had spotted other wildlife) and the transportation comfortable, with a stop for bio-breaks, food, & souvenir shopping midway through the drive. As expected, we encountered many elephants, rhinos, hippos, gazelle, etc. But I was delighted to encounter the lions and to spot two jaguar. An unforgettable and strongly recommended day trip from the strange colony that is Sun City.
Fantastic way to see the wildlife in its natural habitat
Whilst staying in Johannesburg we decided to visit the game reserve. We wanted to see animals in their natural habitat rather than visit some of the parks around Johannesburg. Arriving at the park in the early morning we had missed the 5:30am game drive so we decided to drive our hire car around the many miles/kilometres of tracks and roads. With just a map as reference we managed to see Rhino, Giraffe, Zebra, Wild Dog, Warthogs, Impala, Springbok, Kudu, Elephant, Hippo, Leopard, Monkey and other smaller animals all the way down to the dung beetle we watched for 10 minutes trying to push its dung across the road. There is so much to see although we couldn't find any Lions, probably as they sleep during the day. We drove for 6 - 7 hours and thoroughly enjoyed the day, stopping at the various hides and places to buy food and drinks. If you are looking for a safari experience Pilanesburg Game Reserve is a great day out and much better than seeing these animals in a fake environment.
jeffa4444
GB
Visited:
March 2016
Reviewed: Mar 24, 2016
Email jeffa4444 | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Pilanesberg. A South African gem
Pilanesberg is a fantastic destination
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and easier to see the Big Five than Kruger National Park which is also a brilliant game reserve. If your thinking of going, do it you will not be disappointed.
Great safari for starters
Pilanesberg is a great game reserve option if you are in Johannesburg and a limited time for a safari (1-3 days), with rich variety of wildlife. In a 5-6h tour, we spotted giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, antelopes, zebras, boars, ostriches and jackals.
Although relatively small, Pilanesberg is in a transition area, so the landscape, vegetation and wildlife quickly changes from one part to another of the park.
I only visited the park, in a 1-day trip from Johannesburg, arriving early morning and leaving by late afternoon, it was a still an enjoyable experience, though a weekend would be certainly better. It is possible to visit the park with a private car and a guide, roads were excellent.
The tour with the park truck is probably a better option to view the wildlife - just be aware that there are limited rides (especially during the low season).