About the Pilanesburg Nature Reserve
Pilanesburg National Park situated 180km from Johannesburg ranks among the largest national parks in Southern Africa. The park covers an area of 50 000 hectares or 500 kilometers square. This unique area is encircled by four rings of hills, a geological fascinating alkaline complex (one of the largest of its kind in the world) which was produced by volcanic action some 1 200 million years ago.
Departing at 7:00 am from Johannesburg we head for the rested volcanic wildlife sanctuary, Pilanesburg Nature reserve. On our drive we pass through green mountain passes and river valleys only 30 kiliometers North West of Johannesburg. We enter the park at approximately 08:30 and begin our slow drive through the rested volcanic hills in search of wildlife.
We sSTop for lunch at 12:30 in the heart and center of the reserve enjoying the view over a wildlife watering hole situated across from our lunching area.
After lunch we head for a circular drive northeast of the park in search of more wildlie before we head back to Johannesburg.
The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is located in North West Province in South Africa, west of Pretoria. The park borders with the entertainment complex Sun City. The park was originally owned by three local tribes, and is now administered by the North West Parks and Tourism Board.
The area is fringed by three concentric ridges or rings of hills, of which the formation rises from the surrounding plains, this is the parks primary geological feature named the Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex. This vast circular geological feature is ancient even by geological standards as it is the crater of a long extinct volcano and the result of eruptions some 1,200 million years ago. It is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its type in the world, the rare rock types and formations make it a unique geological feature. A number of rare minerals occur in the park. Pilanesberg Game Reserve rates high amongst the world's outstanding geological phenomena
Scattered throughout the park are various sites that originate from the Iron age and Stone age and show the presence of man from those periods in these areas.
Flora and fauna
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Plants
The scenic terrain lies in the transition zone between Kalahari and Lowveld, and both types of vegetation are found here. As a result of the park being on a trasition zone there are overlaps in mammals, birds and vegetation. Today, Pilanesberg Game Reserve accommodates almost every mammal of southern Africa[1].
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Mammals
A waterbuck in morning mist in Pilanesberg Game Reserve
A Giraffe in Pilanesberg Game Reserve
The park has a rich array of southern African wildlife including the Big Five, the five most dangerous game animals in Africa. In the Pilanesberg Game Reserve today live most of the animal species of southern Africa these include lions, elephants, white and black rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles. The Painted Hunting Dog, Lycaon pictus had been extirpated from the park, but reintroduction efforts have been carried out recently,[2] with uncertain outcome. Over 360 bird species were counted. The Pilanesberg is not in a location which the Big Five animals would naturally inhabit, however they have been brought into the 550 square kilometres of African bushland.
As of December 2006 the total count of animals was approximately 6,000 including:
35 Lions
12 Cheetah
167 Elephant
90 Black Rhinoceros
300 White Rhino
8 Sable Antelope
150 Buffalo
Other cats can be found, such as Caracal and Leopard.
The only indigenous southern African mammals that are not there are - bontebok, blesbuck, spotted hyena, nyala and roan antelope
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Birdlife
The Bird life diversity is excellent with over 360 species having been recorded[1]. Though some are migrants, most others are permanent inhabitants. Their food sources vary with some eating carrion or live prey, others eat seeds, fruit or tiny water organisms.
There is a self-guided trail in the Walking Area at the Manyane Complex in the east, which offers environmental education whilst game viewing and bird watching on foot. Also at Manyane there is a walk-in aviary with over 80 species of indigenous birds.
| Tour Cost: | R 950.00 per person |
|---|---|
| Tour Duration: | Full Day |
| Entrance Fees | Included |