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User Reviews of Pilanesberg Game Reserve (98 Reviews)

Pilanesberg Safaris South Africa
Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 51-60 of 98 Reviews

Average User Rating

4.3367 / 5 4.3 /5
4.4583 / 5 4.4105 / 5 4.0549 / 5 4.1622 / 5

Rating Breakdown

5 star 53 / 10 53
4 star 32 / 10 32
3 star 8 / 10 8
2 star 3 / 10 3
1 star 2 / 10 2
Write a User Review
Male avatar icon Molahlehi Khiba South Africa flag ZA       Visited: November 2023 Reviewed: Nov 1, 2023

Email Molahlehi Khiba  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

My experience

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

I love this place and I'll be back. The air was fresh and I saw all the big 5.

Male avatar icon Bongumusa South Africa flag ZA       Visited: August 2023 Reviewed: Oct 29, 2023

Email Bongumusa  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Nature at its finest.

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

The accommodation is very clean, and facilities are stunning. Everything about the place is great. Had a wonderful wildlife experience. I will surely come back again!!

Female avatar icon Vee South Africa flag ZA       Visited: August 2023 Reviewed: Oct 5, 2023

Email Vee  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Greatest experience of my life can do it again with my family and friends without a second thought.

5 / 5 5 /5

The experience was truly and amazing one going back

Female avatar icon Tracey Skagias Greece flag GR       Visited: May 2023 Reviewed: Jun 8, 2023

Email Tracey Skagias  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5

I have been around many game parks in my life - I was born and raised in Kenya. I know you have to be lucky to see certain animals. I did find the tarmac road through the park rather unusual, and although I understand the why, I found rhinos without horns a bit sad. The grass was very long so visibility was a bit difficult for things like warthogs, lions etc. It was very pleasant and my colleague had never been to Africa before so she found it wonderful.

Male avatar icon Harold Klein United States flag US       Visited: January 2023 Reviewed: Feb 6, 2023

Email Harold Klein  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5

Smaller park with easy access from Jo'burg airport hotels...a real satisfying suprise. Definately worth the day trip!!

Female avatar icon Georgina Mexico flag MX       Visited: January 2023 Reviewed: Jan 27, 2023

Email Georgina  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

Amazing all the animals and the nature !

Male avatar icon Ross Watts Australia flag AU       Visited: November 2022 Reviewed: Jan 1, 2023

Email Ross Watts  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

5 / 5 5 /5

We only had 6 hours in the park but managed to see 3 of the big 5, but lots of them and many more different animals as well; our driver and guide answered every question put to him.

Female avatar icon Paula United States flag US       Visited: July 2022 Reviewed: Aug 24, 2022

Email Paula  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

5 / 5 5 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

We didn't get to see cats, but everything else was amazing!

Avatar icon HHM Belgium flag BE       Visited: November 2012 Reviewed: Jun 17, 2017

Email HHM  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Great safari for starters

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 2 / 5 4 / 5 / 5

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).

Male avatar icon jeffa4444 United Kingdom flag 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

5 / 5 5 /5
5 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5
Pilanesberg is about a two hour drive from Johannesberg with Sun City on its southern edge. The area its contained within once was a volcano eroded over many centuries to form the present landscape. We stayed at the Ivory Tree Lodge just inside the park & there are many others with a similar high standard, very good food and excelent service. Game drives are arranged early in the morning before sunrise and then again late afternoon until after dark before your brought back for dinner. We stayed for three days and were lucky enough to see the Big Five (Leopard, Lion, Elephant, Buffalo & Rhino) and many other animals. We got to see a Lion kill of a young Giraffe and the Leopard as it stalked off towards prey just before sunset. We observed Elephants playing at a watering hole and many species of birds including Fish Eagles, Kori Bustards, Yellowbilled Hornbill, Red Bishop, Southern Masked Weaver, Pied Kingfisher & Spotted Eagle Owl.
Pilanesberg is a fantastic destination
Read more 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.