Sun City - Pilanesberg Safaris

Guests at Sun City can enjoy a day trip at the Pilanesberg National Park.

The Pilanesberg National Park is one of South Africa's largest national parks, covering an area of 55 000ha. The Pilanesberg area is in fact the crater of a long extinct and eroded volcano, thought to have been formed 1 200 million years ago. Spectacular landscapes are a feature of this area: four rings of hills encircle the reserve and a large central lake is a hotspot for game activity. With an incredible diversity of game you're almost certain to spot at least one member of the Big Five during a drive.

BALLOON SAFARIS IN THE PILANESBERG

Many guests enjoy the romance of traditional balloon safaris. The Pilansberg is one of the few reserves in South Africa with perfect conditions for balloon safaris. Balloon safaris last about four hours and include a game drive in and out of the park, champagne on landing, and a full English breakfast.

PILANESBERG IS SO ACCESSIBLE

Accessibility is a keyword at The Pilanesberg National Park. There are nearly 200 km of well-maintained roads for game drives, and professional guides operate within the reserve. Guests are not restricted to staying in a car, as there are numerous hides and picnic spots where you are free to stretch your legs. Dawn and dusk game drives are possible even for day visitors from Johannesburg or Sun City due to the convenient opening hours…with the added bonus of not having to take malaria tablets! The Pilanesburg is ideal for a quick getaway, as it's the closest national park to Johannesburg International Airport, and is only 15km from Sun City. It's also possible to fly into the nearby Sun City airport if time is short.

	MALARIA FREE SAFARIS IN THE PILANESBERG We are often asked to recommend safaris that are located in malaria free areas. Safaris in the Pilanesberg offer the perfect solution. This makes it one of the very few game parks that are suitable for small children. Malaria-free safaris need not compromise on game viewing: the Pilanesberg is literally chock-a-block with wildlife, including the famous Big Five.