Pilanesberg
National Park
March 2018
- Tips for Tour Operators doing Pilanesberg
Very basic, but something might
help you one day. If it does, you owe me a case of Tafel Lager!
I drive 2 VW Kombi's - some applies just on the Kombi's, some advice applies
to everyone.
1. Dust: Thanks to yahoos, yuppies & mates I have to change my air filters every 5000 Km's. Though I don't, just blow it out with a compressor you can probably get away with it in rainy season. It's very simple making less dust. Just take your foot off the pedal slightly when another vehicle approaches and there will be less torque.
2. Battery: It should be @ 12,4 - 12,8 Volts when engine is not running. 11,1 - 12,3 V means flat but chargeble. 9,9 - 11, 1V normally points to dead cell. Under 9V could be flat but chargeble, but sulfation could cause the charge not to last too long. To avoid sulfation a battery has to run 15 minutes non stop every 10 days. You will need to drive, not just stand and idle.
3. Alternator: They do go without warning. Sometimes the warning light doesn't come on at all, personal experience. You won't make it back to Gauteng even in daytime. If you try don't use your aircon, radio or even indicators & have a backup coming through already, and have a charger with your tools. From personal experience once a fully charged spare battery lasted exactly 150 km's. Store spare batteries for charging on a wooden plank if you have to & don't earth them. The best place to store a spare is in it's place - a vehicle that runs! A possible sign of a fault is if both little red lights doesn't come on as you switch on.
There is a butterfly effect if your alternator is not charging. Your fuel pump needs a minimum of 10,6V to run...so if you see that your fuel gage is on 3/4 all of a sudden i.s.o. full, and then all of a sudden on 1/2, you have about 20km max left before it will cut out.
4. Regulator plate on alternators: They tend to go, but should last at least 4 years. If wrongly replaced by a bad auto electrician like that F&&*^ in Soutter street west of the railway track (Zeiler St), they might generate an overcharge. The battery starts boiling and can explode. In the kombi's you can feel the heat from under your seat. A tempory solution is to run with your headlights on, but this might draw too much power, so make sure you have enough juice to start up. Alternatively/Complimentary switch off as much as possible - on a slope :)
The reason for the alternators going faster than normal is all the dust that gets into the alternator. The brushes combines with the dust and make a fine paste, so the brushes wear accelarates. Brushes are actually 2x long little carbon rods, and has to make contact with the alternator wheel to charge. The alternator is rarely faulty, it is the Regulator plates - Use Bosch only. The best rate in Pretoria is R100 just for the brushes, and you have to solder it yourself, or R500 for the unit at Diesel Electric in Church Street Preoria West opposite Kit Kat. Get a unit + brushes, and then solder the brushes onto the old one yourself - this way you have a spare. To take it out takes a minute; you lie under the Alternator and it is 2 screws only. Putting back took me 4 minutes. If you do take it in to someone, they will tell you they had to take the alternator out etc etc, and charge you R1200 - 1500...normally total bulshit.
5. Auto Electricians: There are really bad ones, but then when you get someone good, stick with them. My guy I used for 20 years emigrated & I really got shafted by 2 shysters, both with huge shops. I then used Caelex in Soutter Street Pretoria. They are probably the most expensive, however their work is quality. However, I've learned to do some of it myself. They are also the cheapest place to buy spare fuses & globes, which I always carry.
6. Tyres: I had 15 flats in 13 years, 2 outside the park. 1 from careless thatchers at Bakubung Lodge, 1 nail at Manyane, 1 broken balancing weight on Mankwe drive, and 10x sicklebush sidewalling my tyres. Sicklebush is a menace, and common in the Park. You will probably get nailed when you turn around. So after years and years I'm far more careful & always turn where I have 100% visibility. So don't even touch the grass! Your front tyres will run off on the outsides so rotate
7. Roads after rain: Keep your traction wheels on the hard surface when turning as it's very deceptive.
8. Alignment: Pretty useless if your vehicle is one the bumpy roads the whole time, but I do it anyway. Alignment is only done in the front, but for vehicles that get bumped a bit, like PB & Madikwe, it is important to check the rear. Sometime they can just loosen a nut and turn the wheel a bit to get it in line, but if they have to shim (easiest explained as putting "washers" in to compensate for wear), it should cost about R350/side extra. It takes about 15-20 minutes a side compared to the 5-10 min/side aligning (R125/side), but make sure both sides need to be shimmed. Most places will charge you for both sides even if they do only 1 side. So double check before you give the green light for shimming. Not shimming will normally result in tyres running off on the inside, and/or getting flat spots (uneven). You will not see this, and it is dangerous. I have seen it on other Kombis & other vehicles especially in the Park.
9. Rotation & balancing: Important is rotation every 10 000km's, just as important is regular balancing after every flat. Balance again when rotating. Look at the tyres when they are doing them. I just had a problem ( June 2014) after alignment, shimming, balancing and rotating at Supa Quick Menlyn. At 100km/h my steering wheel was vibrating as never before. They took the 2 fronts off again, and yes, they were worn a bit on the inside, but nothing serious. (that's why the shimming at the back). However, I didn't need 2 new tyres as that was what was suggested - They told me there was a flat spot on both. There was at least 20 000 km left on them. In fact it's now March 2018 and 1 is still alive, with at least 10 000 to go.. The problem was simply that all old weights had to be removed before balancing. The wheel engineer only removed the half moon weights, and not the flat ones on the inside. When the 2nd engineer did the job as it should have been done, it was perfect...so check that there is no old weights before the put the tyres back. And better, don't try multitask by going shopping while they work on your car! However, the F*&^ acted really malicious..as I pointed out to them how to do their job, their over tightened the 2 fronts with their hydrolic drills to "show" me. They were so tight that when I had a flat on the Madikwe gravel road, my wheel spanner snapped. It took 3,5 hours to get it off with another one...needlessly to say Supa Quick Menlyn will never ever see me again. They lied about flat spots, they also quoted and charged me for shims on both back sides, but only replaced on 1 side - crooks, so avoid them.
Pilanesberg Dawn to Dusk Safaris from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Pilanesberg and Sun CityWorking with new pics are just too time consuming, so I only do it when I have free time! May 2019
Picture Gallery up to 2019
Picture Gallery 2010
Picture Gallery 2009
Picture Gallery 2008
Picture Gallery 2007
Picture Gallery 2006
Picture Gallery 2005
Picture Gallery 2004
It's alphabetical - so save us both time.... and if not on here I will put it up!Accommodation in the Park only: Staying Friday or Saturday you have to pay for 2 nights min.
Accommodation in and around Sun City. Staying Friday or Saturday you have to pay for 2 nights min.
Accommodation Specials at Pilanesberg
Accommodation at Sun City Vacation Club
Airport at PilanesbergAnimal studies in Pilanesberg
Bakgatla Resort
Bakubung Bush Lodge
Balloon Safaris: In Pilanesberg National Park - R5 000pp - 1 hour, minimum 4 pax!
Binoculars needed
Bird list
Black Rhino Game Lodge
Buffalo in the Park
Camping - book direct at 014 555 1000, don't be surprised if you hold 15 minutes and then get cut off.
Cancellation Terms and Conditions
Commission offered to booking agentsCondition of the Veld
Dangers in Pilanesberg
Disclosures: About vehicles used for Pilanesberg and other
Directions - see map
Elephant Back safaris in Pilanesberg.
Entrance fee - see gate times
Etiquette in Game Parks like Pilanesberg for self drives
Friends of Pilanesberg Society - Volunteers helping to maintain the Park.
Gate Times for Pilanesberg National Park
Geology of Pilanesberg National Park
Highlights seen in Pilanesberg the last 2 years:
Don't expect something like this or the animals to stand next to the road waiting. It's not a Zoo!History of Pilanesberg National Park
Idiot Gallery - Stunts pulled in Pilanesberg National Park by the mentally challenged. Other tour operators are welcome to contribute - I will give you recognition except if you don't want it!
Ivory Tree Game Lodge
Kids on Safari. In Pilanesberg or other parks
Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge
Manyane Resort
Map and directions to Pilanesberg
Other Parks near Pilanesberg
Other Tour Operators doing Pilanesberg
Packages to Lodges
Picture Gallery - taken by us over the last 8 years in Pilanesberg.
Pilanesberg National Park vs Kruger National Park.
Reading - other re Pilanesberg.
Safety in Pilanesberg
Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge
Testimonials from clients we have taken to Pilanesberg
Things to do in and around Pilanesberg
Transfers only to Pilanesberg and Sun City - one way: charged per vehicle:
Tshukudu Bush Lodge
Veld Condition in the Park
Weather and Climate for Pilanesberg area
What can you hope to see in Pilanesberg?
When to go to Pilanesberg: best time etc
806 Unit 2, Mogwase, Pilanesberg, Office - Please mail only
PO Box 250 Sun City, 0316 - Updated March 2018
All Pilanesberg queries - travelinafrica@gmail.com