The best time to go on safari and see Wildlife in Pilanesberg National Park

Surrounded by lowlands and framed by three concentric rings of hills in a malaria-free zone, one of South Africa’s most visited game reserves is Pilanesberg National Park, located in the North West Province.

Pilanesberg National Park is in a transitional natural zone between the Lowveld and the Kalahari, drawing in tourists in search of a Big Five safari experience near to Johannesburg and a variety of lodging alternatives.

Pilanesberg is a popular destination for tourists who are short on time but yet want to see the Big Five on a South African safari. This  is a fantastic safari location because it has so many affordable lodging alternatives.

When is the best time to visit the Pilanesberg?

The Pilanesberg is at its most beautiful between the months of July and October (during late winter, spring or early summer). This is because animals need more time to eat in the winter when food is scarce.

From about the end of February onward, you can witness the fascinating mating season. Yet, it becomes quite a challenge to see through the thick underbrush after the month of January. The days are clear and mild throughout the winter during Pilanesberg Safaris.

In contrast, evenings are typically quite chilly. Certain parts of the park require burning during the winter season. Controlled fires like these are essential for effective veld management.

Nonetheless, if you want to see some lions, the winter months are your best bet. In this season, they pay less attention to passing cars and tourists than they would in others.

What wildlife can I see at the Pilanesberg?

Pilanesberg National Park is a popular safari destination for both local South Africans looking to spend some time in the wilderness and international tourists with limited time in South Africa who nevertheless want to experience a safari.

Pilanesberg National Park’s mountainous environment and well-watered valleys provide a broad range of habitats for game species, and the park’s unusual shape and size are thanks to a volcano crater that formed 1300 million years ago.

Pilanesberg is located between the arid environment of the Kalahari and the subtropical climate of the Lowveld, and its landscape is of peculiar volcanic origin to boot. More species of animals congregate in this transition zone than in any other Southern African park or game reserve of comparable size.

Pilanesberg National Park is one of the few parks where safari-goers are likely to see animals that don’t typically coexist in the wild.

Pilanesberg is home to nocturnal brown hyenas, aardvarks, and springboks, which are typically found in dry areas, in addition to the Big Five (rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard), which visitors stand great odds of witnessing on their game drives due to the park’s comparatively small size.

Visitors can see animals like impala and waterbuck, which are more at home in the rainy Lowveld, alongside those more often associated with the arid Kalahari.

In addition to the endangered black rhino and African wild dog, the Pilanesberg National Park is home to giraffe, hippo, zebra, crocodile, wildebeest, tsessebe, roan, sable antelope, cheetah, and over 360 species of bird.

Also read: Top holiday resorts in South Africa