Ivory Tree Game Lodge
North West
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Pilanesberg National Park
Volcanic crater Big Five park
North West, South Africa
Big Five
About Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg is a Big Five reserve set inside the ring of an ancient volcano in the North West, about two and a half hours from Johannesburg and next door to Sun City. It is malaria-free, it allows self-drive on a good road network, and it has a full range of accommodation from the Manyane and Bakgatla camps to lodges on the rim, which makes it the most practical Big Five weekend from Gauteng. The Mankwe dam hide is the reliable stop. Elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard are all present, along with wild dog and a strong bird list.
Things to do: Hot air ballooning
Where you can stay: Rest camps · Chalets · Camping
Wildlife near Pilanesberg National Park
What people record most across North West. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across North West, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Pilanesberg National Park
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge
North West
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Inside park
When to visit Pilanesberg National Park
Most of the rain at Pilanesberg National Park falls from November to March, peaking in December at about 138 mm. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. October is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 5°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 116 | 29 | 19 |
| February | 86 | 29 | 18 |
| March | 73 | 28 | 17 |
| April | 54 | 25 | 13 |
| May | 15 | 23 | 9 |
| June | 8 | 21 | 6 |
| July | 4 | 21 | 5 |
| August | 4 | 24 | 8 |
| September | 11 | 28 | 13 |
| October | 43 | 30 | 16 |
| November | 78 | 29 | 17 |
| December | 138 | 29 | 18 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1247 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
2 stays we sell in Pilanesberg National Park. Tap a pin for the listing.
25.2457° S, 27.0946° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Pilanesberg National Park wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Pilanesberg National Park: your questions
Where is Pilanesberg National Park?
Pilanesberg National Park is in North West, South Africa.
Does Pilanesberg National Park have the Big Five?
Yes. Pilanesberg National Park is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Pilanesberg National Park?
In North West, commonly recorded species include animals such as Tsessebe, Serval, Blue Wildebeest, Sable Antelope and birds including Tree Pipit, Great Sparrow, Kalahari Scrub Robin, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at Pilanesberg National Park?
Most of the rain at Pilanesberg National Park falls from November to March, peaking in December at about 138 mm. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. October is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 5°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1247 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Pilanesberg National Park?
The best time to visit Pilanesberg National Park is Apr-Sep.
What is there to do at Pilanesberg National Park?
Popular activities at Pilanesberg National Park include hot air ballooning.
Where can you stay in Pilanesberg National Park?
Places to stay inside Pilanesberg National Park include Ivory Tree Game Lodge and Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge. Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Pilanesberg National Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Madikwe Game Reserve
North West, South Africa
Madikwe Game ReserveGame Reserve · 98 km
Malaria-free Big Five destination
Big Five
Kgaswane Mountain Reserve
Provincial Nature Reserve · 53 km · North West, South Africa
Magaliesberg mountains
Borakalalo Game Reserve
Game Reserve · 73 km · North West, South Africa
Dam-based game reserve
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Pilanesberg National Park.
Big Five parks and reservesNational parks in Southern and East AfricaNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in North WestAll protected areas
Official information
- Park website: www.sanparks.org (opens in a new tab)
