Pilanesberg National Park is the first national park in South Africa, and it is home to some of the most diverse species on earth. The park has both private land and environmental land, which companies can rent out for various purposes like hunting, fishing, etc., so it’s not just an animal sanctuary! And one of the things you should know when visiting this famous tourist destination is Pilanesberg National Park Entrance Fee.
If you’re going there with kids, they’ll love all the outdoor activities available at their campsite – from swimming to playing paintball –making this place perfect for a family getaway. There’s a lot of other activities available like swimming and paintball, which makes it ideal for a family getaway!
We hope you enjoyed our review of the Pilanesberg National Park Entrance Fee. If you want to read more such interesting blog reviews, let’s check it out!
Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg National Park can be found in North West Province, South Africa. It is set in the Magalies Mountains range and the southern Drakensberg. The national park has an area of about 2800km2 and was proclaimed on the 31st October 1967. The scenic beauty of the national park includes massive granite outcrops visible from all around, rivers, waterfalls, valleys, and indigenous forests.
Pilanesberg is a national park in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located 40km from Rustenburg and 547 km northwest of Johannesburg. The crater or volcanic cone was created by major eruptions millions of years ago. The crater consists of yellowish porous rock, which supports the rainforest and savannah vegetation.
The national park is home to a unique archaeological past as it has been the tradition of the Bafokeng tribe to have their graves on top of a hillock. The graves can be found in Marabo hill, which is close to Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Many artifacts found on the hills of Marabo have been dated as far as the Iron Age, about 1000 years ago.
The Pilanesberg National Park has vast wildlife diversity due to its proximity to both mountain chains. This diverse array of species includes various mammals such as black rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards, and buffalos. There are also numerous bird species present at the reserve.
The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is home to the Big Five rare animals that are found in Africa. They include lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos. The population of these animals has increased over the years as a result of good management practices employed by national park officials. Some of these measures include breeding, predator control, and translocation.
The first Pilanesberg National Park was a small reserve visited by many tourists from all around the world, especially those on their way to Sun City. The park has seen a great deal of development in recent times with new roads set up and accommodation being built.
The Pilanesberg National Park has a good road network that is well maintained. The roads are important because they ensure that tourists have access to the various hotels, sightseeing spots, and waterholes where the animals graze. The park has six tented camps, which offer luxurious accommodation perfectly suited for big game viewing.
The Pilanesberg National Park is located about 200km northwest of Johannesburg and can be accessed through the N4 highway. There are no entry fees charged to visitors who want to tour National Park. The park remains open throughout the year, with game viewing activities available all year round.
There are several picnic sites within Pilanesberg with a different number of facilities available. These include braais, washing basins, and sinks as well as bathrooms and running water taps. Toilets can be found at Gasper Gate (which is closest to Sun City) and Pilanesberg Gate, the park’s main gates. Pilanesberg is a 4×4 and open safari vehicle-only area, and there are no hikers trails in the entire area of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The park is closed during winter (April – September).
The Pilanesberg National park entrance fee is not pricey, so you can take your family visiting here without any worry. You need to be over 18 to enter the park with an international driver’s license. You cannot drive through the park without a guide because it is an offense.
The air in Pilanesberg National Park is clean and pure, with animals like the Big Five roaming freely. Game viewing is done on open game drive vehicles which are accompanied by experienced guides who know where to find even the shyest animal.
The Bafokeng people of Pilanesberg have influenced its economy over the years through tourism. As a result of this, they now own a number of hotels and resorts within the park. In addition, they own a golf course that is open to all visitors who want to play around while touring National Park.
The park is open from 06:00 to 18:00. All visitors are advised to bring warm clothing, sun hat, and binoculars with them. A camera for taking photographs of the wildlife would also be quite useful. Food, water, and snacks should be packed into the car since no food or beverage is available inside the park.
Pilanesberg is home to a number of different animal species, which makes it the perfect location for safari. Animals such as lions, rhinos, hippos, and many more can be easily spotted by tourists. You could also take a bush walk with an expert guide to spot birds and other types of smaller wildlife. With around 569 bird species, this is the perfect place for any bird watcher.
Pilanesberg National Park consists of two different parts: the Archaeological Site and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The archaeological site contains rock paintings, stone circles, and artifacts that are over 70 000 years old. These can be found in various caves scattered throughout the park. There is also an ancient crocodile farm that used to supply the now extinct Stweng Krokodil.
Pilanesberg National Park offers visitors a two-day Biodiversity Festival, mainly aimed at school children. In order to get a permit to participate in the festival, you would need to contact NATEDE before the actual day of the event.
The Pilanesberg Game Reserve mainly consists of open plains and hill slopes with a few rocky outcrops. Apart from lions and other big predators, there is also a wide range of grazing herbivores to be seen. These include different antelope species, zebras, and warthogs.
Pilanesberg National Park Entrance Fee
Pilanesberg National Park is a protected area in northern South Africa. It’s one of the country’s most popular national parks and attractions. It covers a massive expanse of land, stretching over 415 square kilometers. The park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. In addition, the park houses two areas of pristine natural habitat: the Mountain Zebra National Park and the South African Lowveld Complex.
When visiting this beautiful national park, you will get to experience three different ecosystems all at once- the mountain zebra, lowveld, and bushveld habitats. You will have a great time exploring all three habitats and seeing some fantastic animals like zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, and other antelopes. The park is also home to a good population of predators, which was actually very exciting for me! However, the highlight of the trip was going on a safari at night in search of nocturnal species like leopard and hyena.
The Pilanesberg National Park entrance fee is very affordable at only R205 (approx. $15 USD) for adults and R65 (approx. $5 USD) for children. You can purchase tickets there or reserve your tickets in advance on their website: https://www.pilanesbergnationalparkgateshop.co.za
Moreover, the park offers a lot of activities from wildlife viewing drives, safaris both on foot and off-road, as well as cultural interactions with the local tribes. It is also possible to go white water rafting on the Letaba River, as well as canoeing and kayaking. In short, there’s a lot to see and do within the park limits!
If you love the great outdoors, then this park is worth your time and money! You can do many activities while visiting, including viewing wildlife, hiking trails (you can even climb up hills for a better view of the lands around you), game drives, and picnicking. This park is very family-friendly, and you will not regret your visit!
There are even guided tours available to make sure that you leave with a new skill and knowledge about nature and animals. If you love animals, want to take great pictures, or just be surrounded by natural beauty, then the Pilanesberg National Park Entrance Fee is an excellent value for your money.
If you’re visiting South Africa, we highly recommend checking out this beautiful national park. Please don’t forget to mention Travelstart for your Visa card transactions (they offer competitive exchange rates) and also for your hotels or car rental bookings. Because the Pilanesberg National park entrance fee is pretty cheap, this tourist destination become more and more famous.
Animals In Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg National Park is a vast sanctuary for some of the most amazing animals. It has been a place of significance for local and international tourists and researchers from all over the world. It is one of those places that you can visit at any time of the year and see an exotic assortment of wildlife, from birds that sleep in thorn bushes to lions that prefer open grasslands. The animals that you can find here are truly magnificent, with their coats, horns, beaks, eyes, and teeth all unique in their own way.
Leopard
There are a couple of different types of leopards that can be found within the Pilanesberg National Park. The more common type is the spotted leopard, which is easy to identify from its unique spots. Other types of leopards include the Margay and the Pardalis.
The habitat for these animals is shrinking as humans continue to inhabit more territory. This has resulted in collisions between people and animals. It has also caused an increase in poaching, which leads to less than 10% of these animals remaining in the wild.
Elephant
These elephants have been enjoying their new environment, which has been set up for them specifically. Visitors are able to get an up-close-and-personal experience when visiting this part of the park. After all, they are just one of the two times in your life when you will have the opportunity to see these amazing animals in person!
Buffalo
The animals that can be found in Pilanesberg National Park are quite diverse. One of the many animals that are present in this park is a buffalo. The buffalo can be found by going to the Southern end of this park. There is a large watering hole here which is a great place for these creatures to stay cool and drink water.
Giraffe
Another animal that can be found in Pilanesberg National Park is the giraffe. These creatures are taller than most other mammals and can often be seen looking upwards at trees or bushes, with their long necks stretched high into the air. These animals are difficult to see, but they reside in the Northern area of Pilanesberg National Park.
Zebra
The last animal that is commonly seen in the Pilanesburg National Park is a zebra. This creature can be found by going to the Eastern section of this park, where there is a large valley with a panoramic view. There is a large number of these animals that can be found here. If you want to look for any of the three mentioned animals, it is best to visit Pilanesberg National Park during the summer, as most of the migratory herds come to this area.
Activities In Pilanesberg National Park You Cannot Miss
Guided walk
The malaria-free Pilanesberg Game Reserve is home to hundreds of species, including more than 100 mammals, 400 birds, and 60 snakes. There’s no better way to learn more about the region than to take a guided walk around the Dundee picnic site. Each guided walk is hosted by a qualified ranger who will give you an insight into the local flora and fauna as well as some of the park’s history.
Self-drive safaris
One of the best ways to explore Pilanesberg National Park is on self-drive safaris. This way, you can plan your own itinerary and spend as much or as little time in different areas of the park according to your preferences. We encourage visitors to consider the possibility of setting up their own mobile tented camp, which can be situated wherever it is quiet, and there is space for the vehicle to be parked.
Horse riding
You can enjoy an exciting horse ride on some of Pilanesberg’s trails. Horses are available at several points around the park, including Madikwe Game Reserve, Balule Nature Reserve, and Mankwe Village in Madikwe Game Reserve.
4×4 trails
A one-hour scenic drive through the park in an open four-wheel-drive vehicle to look for interesting animal sightings or birds. With your own vehicle, you can drive along the park’s trails. The roads are graded and open all year round. Depending on the length of time you have available, it may be possible to take in many of Pilanesberg’s sights in one day.
Guided night drives
The perfect way to see the nocturnal side of Pilanesberg is with a guided night drive. The park offers exciting game viewing opportunities in the early hours of the morning when visitors can expect to encounter animals that may not be visible during the day.
Game walks
You can enjoy an insightful game walk with one of our experienced rangers or trackers. Guided game walks are available daily, and there is a concession fee for each person.
Day trails
The park has three-day trails which offer visitors opportunities to learn more about the history of Pilanesberg. There’s also an option of overnighting on-site in your own mobile tented camp, so you can get up close and personal with the Big Five and other wildlife.
Birding
The Pilanesberg National Park is a haven for bird-watching enthusiasts. From October to March, there are many different water birds that can be seen on the rivers, while in summer, thousands of pink flamingos fly in from the Okavango Delta to breed around Mankwe Dam.
FAQs About Pilanesberg National Park Entrance Fee
What is the cost of a one-day pass to enter?
The cost of a one-day pass to enter the park is R120, and this includes visits with an animal ranger and guided tribal trails: This is our largest attraction area, so we offer guided walks there on a set program.
The entry fee also includes an aerial tour of the park, which we do in a car during winter months, but there’s only the option of driving around yourself outside that time. You can also visit our Reclining Buddha Cave here or if you’re feeling really brave, come on out to grab one of our famous Zulu Kudu hunts at sunset.
Is there any fee if you are under 18 years old?
Yes, the entry is R120 for adults and R60 for children from 5 – 15 years of age. Disabled persons pay the standard fees, but a companion gets in free under 5s enter free.
When do they open and close for free entry times?
The park is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. The general closure times over the winter months are 10:00 during October, November, and December; 11:30 during January, February, and March; 12:30 between April and September.
Are there any scenic walks in Pilanesberg National Park?
There are many walking trails available at Pilanesberg National Park. Some of the trails are short, while others are long treks that can take up to two days. Guided walks are available during the open season from October to April, daily at 08h15 and 14h30 at Madikwe Game Reserve or 08h00 at Balule Nature Reserve.
Are there any scenic drives in Pilanesberg National Park?
There are many scenic drives through the park. As a result, there is a good chance of encountering some of the Big Five. Some of the roads that run through Pilanesberg National Park are tarred, while others consist mainly of gravel and sand. The roads are graded regularly by the Department of Roads and Public Works.
Why should you take your family to Pilanesberg National Park?
The Pilanesberg National Park is a wonderful place to come and explore as a family. There are lots of activities that everyone in the family will enjoy. Every kind of landscape can be seen at Pilanesberg with large plains, abundant wildlife, and lots of rivers, streams, waterfalls, and dams. Sightings include big cats such as leopards, cheetahs, and lions, plus elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.
Closing Thought About Pilanesberg National Park Entrance Fee
Pilanesberg National Park South Africa is a large park that’s home to many animals like giraffes, zebras, and elephants. There are over 160 species of mammals, such as lions, jackals, and chacma baboons which you can see on the guided day or night game drives. When visiting this national park, one thing you should know is that it’s not just an animal sanctuary.
If you are looking to enjoy an outdoor adventure in South Africa, this should be one of your first stops! You can see amazing wildlife and beautiful landscapes all while enjoying the country’s natural resources. There are also plenty of picnic areas available to stop at, along with hiking trails if you want some exercise before finishing your journey back home. This national park will not disappoint! The Pilanesberg National Park Entrance Fee is a great value for the cost.
