Pilanesberg National Park holidays

The Pilanesberg National Park covers 55, 000 hectares and is the fourth largest in southern Africa. This malaria-free park is perched on the eroded vestiges of an alkaline volcanic crater – one of only three such craters in the world. Pilanesberg National Park’s varied and rugged landscape includes well-watered valleys and attractive dwelling sites, which have made it a preferred site for human settlement for thousands of years. The Pilanesberg exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly known as ‘bushveld’. Because of this unique environment, a huge range of mammals and birdlife exist. Since Operation Genesis in 1979, one of the largest wildlife translocation programmes ever undertaken, the park has been home to a healthy populations of lions, leopards, black and white rhinos, elephants and buffaloes – Africa’s Big Five. Also spotted are a wide variety of rare and common animals, such as nocturnal brown hyenas, cheetahs, majestic sable, as well as giraffes, zebras, hippos and crocodiles. Dams such as the Mankwe Dam are excellent for birdwatching, and hides are provided for this purpose. Rare wild dogs can also been seen within the park.