Located in the crater of a long-extinct volcano dating back some 1 300-million years, Pilanesberg’s undulating landscape provides for an interesting mix of bushveld, grassland, rocky outcrops and hills. Aside from the Big Five, visitors should also look out for cheetah and wild dogs.

There are roughly 200km of tourist roads within this park, along with picnic sites and several bird hides, making it a comfortable destination for self-drive visitors. At the centre of Pilanesberg is the Mankwe Dam, a focal point for birdlife with visitor facilities.

There are safari tents, chalets and campsites available at the Bakgatla and Manyane resorts attached to the reserve, as well several five-star lodges within the reserve. Visitors can also do day trips from nearby Sun City.

All the resorts in and around Pilanesberg offer guided game drives. Special experiences are the hot air balloon trips that take place at dawn at the Mankwe Dam and elephant back safaris.