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Pilanesberg National Park

So what can you expect in Pilanesberg National Park?
Expect to see nothing, expect the worst safari ever!

Please don't expect to see absolutely amazing things like on Animal Planet or National Geographic; they sometimes take 2 years to put together a 51 minute documentary! I've done exactly 267 days in Pilanesberg with clients in about 5 years (Oct 2007), realistically with me you will see:

100% chance of: White Rhino, Giraffe, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Hippo,
99% chance of: Slender Mongoose & Warthog, Kudu
98% chance of: Elephant,  i've only missed 5 times ever!
90% chance of: Red Hartebeest, Tsesebe,  Baboon, Waterbuck, Vervet Monkey.
Then Lion, 199 days & 224 sightings = Most before before 8am, 14 after 5pm and 22 between 8am - 5pm. This stresses the importance of going early! 19 multiple sightings only. 1 Mating 15m from us, Nov 2005 @ 7am. I have a better than 70% average. Now if you go with an operator that only arrive 10am; what would your % chance be? If he is good you'll be looking at 21/267 days chance, about 8%, but this is not the whole story ..... it's no use seeing lions 40m away in the shade sleeping & obscured under some tree. You might as well go to the zoo....
Bird wise we rarely fail to miss Hornbills, Guinea Fowl, Natal Francolin, Grey Loerie,  Cattle Egrets, Cormorants, Ring Neck Turtle Dove, Masked Weaver, Plovers, Black Shouldered Kite, Cape Sparrow, Glossy Starling, Forked Tailed Drongo, Bulbul, Sacred Ibis, Gray Heron, Fiscal Shrike, Pied Crow, White Faced Duck, Egyptian Geese.

Then there is an even chance to see:  Black backed Jackal, Klipspringer, Crocodile, Springbok, Squirrel, Ostrich, Fish Eagle, Lilac Breasted Roller, Swainson's Francolin, some Kingfishers, Wagtails, Spoonbill, Crested Barbet.
Lesser Striped Swallow, European Bee Eater & Monotonous Lark, Marabou Stork,  in season. Hyrax in Winter, occasionally in summer.
Not so easy are:
30% chance of: Brown Hyena, Steppe Buzzard, African Spoonbill, Steenbok,
20% chance of:  Black Rhino,
10% chance of:  Secretary Bird,  Rock Monitor, Eland
7% chance of  Sable, only 12 left in the Park, Buffalo, Leopard, Cheetah.
5% chance of: Blue headed Agama, Chameleon, Cori Bustard,
2% chance of:  Spotted Eagle Owl, Wild Dog, pufadder, Bushbuck, Reedbuck, Oryx, Banded Mongoose, Mountain Reedbuck, Caracal,
1% chance of:  Black Mamba, Banded Mongoose, Duiker, Snake buzzard
0,3% chance of Richard Branson (30 Dec 2004) and Grey Rhebok - not listed and 5 recorded sightings in the last 5 years, also the Great Cane Rat once. Then 31 Aug 2006 for the 1st time Dwarf Mongoose. And 3 May 2007 2 honeybadgers, my 1st sighting in Pilanesberg. And 19 Sept 2007 my 1st Serval!!
 Then some Kingfishers, Red Chested Cuckoo (we always hear it), Black Eagle, Martial Eagle, Hamerkop, Hoopoe, European Bee Eaters & Swallows always in season. Saw a pair of African Hawk Eagles on 30 Oct 06 and again Sept 07.

And though they are there i've never seen:  Ant-eater, Meerkat.

Elephants 5 m from us seen from the Ratlogo hide; Pilanesberg 2 December 2003. This is why you should come to South Africa - an experience like this is totally mind blowing. This was a group of 42 Elephants, babies causing havoc like they all do...I can not describe the sounds we heard, the sights we saw, the awe you feel by just being there. And even though it is March 2007 now, i still remember that day fondly !

What i have seen! I add after every trip....
Sightings out of roughly 267 days total - Sept 2007:
White Rhino, Wildebeest, Zebra, Impala, Giraffe always
Kudu 265 times, only missed once
Elephant 262 times, only ever missed them 5x
Lion 199 sighting days with 224 sightings - once 4x , 4 times 3x, and 14 times twice/day - x = different sightings...June 2007: last 36 days we had sightings 31/36 and in 15 cases we found them 1st - 3 obvious, 12 not
Brown hyena 92 times
Black Rhino 56 times
Leopard 22 Times - 3 times in 9,5 days over 3 weeks, Oct/Nov 2006, best Oct 2006, 60 cm for 1 min, posed! Leopards mating 60 metres from us 13 Feb 2007
Buffalo 21 Times
Sable 21 times
Cheetah 16 times
Bushbuck 8 times
Owls 9 times (not counting night drives)
Caracal 8 times - 12 minute sighting Nov 2006 - 15 metres, 1 multiple sighting 14 July 2007
Wild Dog 7 times - 9 min sighting Nov 2006 - 1 metre
Oryx 6 times
Mountain Reedbuck 5 times
Pufadder - 4 times
Reedbuck - 3 times
Black Mamba - 3 times
Grey Rhebok 1 time ..(.i think....!)
African Rock Python - 1 time May 2006
Dwarf Mongoose - 1 time - 30 July 2006
Honey badger(s) - 1 time - May 2007
Serval - 1 time - Sept 2007
Kills - about 20 after the kill, seen 1 giraffe kill @ 400m
Actual Kills - only 1 on 1 Aug 2006 with no clients! Lion taking out a buffalo calf 30 m from me 1 Aug 2006. It took about 210 trips/days for this sighting - a once in a lifetime experience for anyone.
Stalks - at least 30, even seen cheetah stalk 3 giraffe!!
Chases - 3, 1x cheetah killing a waterbuck, but missed the actual kill, 1 leopard that missed vervet monkeys, and lionesses seriously trying buffalo 31 July 2006. Also half hearted warthog chase April 2007. Most chases and all kills happens lightning fast

And if you are really lucky you will see something like Wild Dogs chasing Waterbuck into the water, and a territorial hippo then killing 1 waterbuck - http://stones.org.za/jonathan/pilanesberg.htm ..... a once in a lifetime sighting .......!

The buffalo/lion kill tops the waterbuck/hippo kill for me though; but maybe as i was there experiencing it. My best day ever in the Park was the day before though, 31 July 2006. It wasn't 'cause we saw the big 5 (we did; rare in Pilanesberg). It was the quality of sightings. We had the best rhino & klipspringer sightings. As my clients said at 11h00 already; "We are blown away" This was before the most serious ele charge i've ever had. A female by the name of Monica charged us for 100+m at full speed without letting up. For those of you that know Dithabaneng road, you will know it is extremely difficulty to reverse at 40km/h on a curvy road and through some culverts as well. Monica lost her baby in the 2005 fire and she was a bit grumpy that day -- she really is a lovely lady. Pity my one client was under her seat.... And to then to get charged later by Nakamele that is in musth at the moment (just a light charge & only my 7th ever in PB);  then to see the lionesses trying the buffalo unsuccessfully, and the buffalo fighting back was just amazing.

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Why go to Pilanesberg with me?

My Prices for day visits and 2 day safaris to Pilanesberg: Also Sun City.

Next Definite Dates 2008: Most dates not here are available.

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The rest is alphabetical - if you look here before you ask you will save time - mine and yours.... and if you ask something that is 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.

Airport at Pilanesberg

Animal studies in Pilanesberg

Backpacker accommodation near Sun City and Pilanesberg

Bakgatla Resort

Bakubung Bush Lodge

Balloon Safaris: In Pilanesberg National Park -  R2 950pp - 1 hour, minimum 8 pax!

Binoculars needed

Bird list
Brochure  request - you need a DNL reader 

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

Condition 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 2 years in Pilanesberg.

Pilanesberg National Park vs Kruger National Park.

Reading - other re Pilanesberg.

Safety in Pilanesberg

Schedule - tour schedule for Pilanesberg

Seen one of the day trips to Pilanesberg - 19 Sept 2007:

Seen on a 2 day safari to Pilanesberg - 9&10 August 2004:

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