About Pilanesberg National Park
The creation of the Pilanesberg National Park is considered one of the most ambitious programmes of its kind to be undertaken anywhere in the world.
Operation Genesis in 1979 involved the game-fencing of the Park and the re-introduction of many long-vanished species, the Park now has in excess of 7,000 animals including 24 of the larger species. Africa’s Big 5 and Little 5 are found here as well as 25 other mammal species and over 300 species of birds. Crocodiles also occur in the Park.
Pilanesberg is situated in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province, adjacent to Sun City – just 2 hours away from Johannesburg and 1.5 hours from Pretoria.
An abundance of wild life proliferate in some 580km² of diverse and arresting bushveld terrain. Pilanesberg is malaria free.
Wildlife & Bird-life
Pilanesberg accommodates virtually every mammal occurring in Southern Africa.
It is also home to healthy populations of lion, leopard, black and white rhino, elephant and buffalo – Africa’s Big 5.
A wide variety of rare and common species exist like the nocturnal brown hyaena, the fleet-footed cheetah, the majestic sable, as well as giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodile, to mention but a few.
Bird watching is excellent with over 300 species recorded. Some are migrants, others permanent inhabitants; some eat carrion or live prey, others eat seeds, fruit or tiny water organisms.
The Landscape
The crater of a long extinct volcano is the setting of Pilanesberg – a fascinating alkaline complex produced by volcanic eruptions some 1300 million years ago. Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world. Its rare rock types and structure make it a unique geological feature and therefore it is rated very high amongst the world’s outstanding geological phenomena.
Over the past 34 years the Pilanesberg National Park has become internationally renowned for its progressive conservation efforts as well as for its natural beauty, diverse landscape and eco-system making it a special destination for visitors.
The Pilanesberg is, however, more than just a wildlife sanctuary to which tourists flock – it has also spurred economic development in the region that in turn has provided social upliftment in this once largely disadvantaged rural community.
