What do you want for your family and friends on a safari tour to Pilanesberg Game Reserve? Something budget-friendly and fun for kids or something more exclusive and private? Pilanesberg Game Reserve offers accommodation options to suit everyone; ranging from camping and self-catering chalets to private bush lodges and luxury safari lodges.
The Greater Pilanesberg Game Reserve now incorporates the Black Rhino Game Reserve which is a private concession with restricted access and luxury safari lodges. The exclusive reserve added just less than 2 000 hectares to create South Africa’s third largest national park which now spans some 57 000 hectares.
Plans are in the pipeline to incorporate Madikwe Game Reserve and a protected wildlife corridor which will increase the reserve by a further 300 000 hectares. Until the Heritage Park becomes a reality, visitors to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve have more than enough choice in accommodation.
Let’s look at where you can stay in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and we’ll leave the decision up to you.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY CAMPING & SELF-CATERING
Pilanesberg Tented Safari Camp
3 Star rating
The tented safari camp is situated close to the main camping resort in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and offers guests a more private experience.
- Sleeps 16 guests; 8 canvas safari tents with comfortable single twin beds
- Electricity but no air-conditioning; standing fan provided
- Shared bathroom facilities; shower only, separate toilet
- Restaurant onsite; braai facilities at each tented camp
- Kitchenette with basic provisions
- No smoking allowed in the tents
- Small swimming pool
- Malaria-free area
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Rate includes
- Two meals included; full English and continental breakfast and a braai (barbeque) dinner
- Game drives with a game ranger in open safari vehicle: early morning and late afternoon
- Return transfers to Johannesburg and Pretoria
- Airport shuttle to Pilanesberg Airport
Manyane Resort
3 Star rating
This resort is managed by Golden Leopard Resorts and offers an array of accommodation and recreational facilities to keep youngsters busy. Manyane Resort is located close to one of the main entrances to the reserve and is ideal for families and groups travelling on a tight budget.
Fast facts
Caravan and campsite
- Own tent and caravan required
- Electrified sites or non-electric
- Central ablution facilities
Permanent safari tents
- Sleeps two people
- Electric kettle, refrigerator, table and chairs provided
- No kitchenette; meals eaten at the restaurant
- Electrified; no air-conditioning, stand-up fan only
- Private en-suite bathroom
- Linen provided but not towels
- Private patio with braai facilities
- Can be booked on a Bed & Breakfast and Bed, Breakfast & Dinner option
Self-catering chalet: 4 sleeper
- Double bed with two single beds in the loft
- Kitchenette with basic provisions
- Electrified; no air-conditioning, fans provided
- Private patio with braai facility
- Small television with boutique channels
- Linen and bath towels provided, bring your own swimming towels
- Can be booked on a Bed/Breakfast/Dinner option
- Situated next to the main camping/caravan area
Self-catering chalets: 2 sleeper
- Sleeps 2 or 4 people
- Bar refrigerator, electric kettle
- Small television with boutique channels
- Private en-suite bathroom
- Linen and bath towels provided, bring your own swimming towels
- Private patio with a braai facility
- Situated close to the swimming pool and playground
- Can be booked on a Bed & Breakfast and Bed, Breakfast & Dinner option
Resort facilities
- Convenience shop for basic provisions
- Spa/beauty treatment centre
- Swimming pool
- Playground
- Mini-golf
- Game drives with a ranger in an open safari vehicle
- Early morning hiking trails with a professional game ranger
BOOK A PILANESBERG CAMPING SAFARI TOUR
Bakgatla Resort
3 star grading
This budget-friendly resort is run by Golden Leopard Resorts and part of a group of destinations at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve catering for families and groups. The resort offers the option of camping or self-catering chalets and executive safari tents.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps up to 1 200 guests in range of accommodation
- Children under 12-years sharing with an adult stay for free
5-sleeper chalets:
- Lounge, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, upstairs loft bedroom
- Private patio with braai facilities
- Air-conditioning in lounge; stand-up fans in bedrooms
Executive safari tents:
- Sleeps a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children under 12 years per tent (not 4 adults)
- Set on a wooden deck with a private patio and braai facilities
- Electrified
- Two three-quarter beds
- Sleeper couch in lounge
- Bar refrigerator
- Private bathroom
- Restaurant; serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Convenience store and curio shop
- Laundromat
- Conference centre
- Large swimming pool
- Children’s playground with trampoline and mini-golf
- Braai (barbeque) facilities
- Daily morning and afternoon game drives with a professional ranger in an open safari vehicle
- Bush walking trails
- Bush braais
- Sun City shuttle transfer for a world of fun
- Tour of Predator World and Kwena Crocodile Sanctuary near Sun City
BOOK A PILANESBERG CAMPING SAFARI TOUR
SELF-CATERING LODGE
Buffalo Thorn Lodge
Buffalo Thorn Lodge is an exclusive self-catering bush lodge in the Black Rhino Game Reserve and available for private group bookings. Guests staying at this private self-catering lodge can travel freely between the two reserves; however, the Black Rhino Game Reserve is restricted to guests staying in one of the reserve’s lodges.
Fast facts
- Sleeps up to 10 guests in 5 free-standing chalets
- Air-conditioning in lounge; stand-up fans in bedrooms
- Room with a king-size bed (can request two single beds)
- Second room with two single beds (baby cot available on request)
- En-suite bathroom with a jacuzzi bath and shower
- Outdoor shower
- Comfortable lounge
- Private deck with braai facility
- Electric kettle with complimentary coffee and tea
- Bar refrigerator
- Linen provided, plus bath and swimming towels
- Electronic safe for valuables
- Hair dryer
- Daily morning and afternoon game drives
- Can be booked as a Bed & Breakfast option
- Housekeeping service
- Tour of Predator World at Sun City
- Transfers to Sun City Entertainment & Casino Resort
- Quad biking, archery and watersports at Sun City
- Drumming and gumboot dancing sessions after dinner
LUXURY BUSH LODGES
There are 5 bush lodges in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve catering for the more discerning guests. Your choice depends on whether you’d like to stay at a lodge geared for young families or at a lodge offering an exclusive, intimate safari experience.
Bakubung Bush Lodge
4 star rating
Bakubung means “place of the hippo” and boasts a large natural pond with a resident pod of hippos. The lodge is popular among local South African holidaymakers as units are sold on a self-catering timeshare basis.
There are plenty of sports facilities available to keep the young and youthful busy, aswell as a regular Sun City transfer shuttle and the option of joining a professional safari ranger on a guided game drive or a walking trail.
Fast facts
- Sleeps up to 150 guests
- Children of all ages welcome
- 75 standard rooms built in a horse-shoe shape with a spectacular view of the Hippo Pool; situated close to the main entertainment area
- Rooms available with two double beds or a king-size bed
- En-suite bathroom
- Quality restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; added option of eating at the pool terrace or ordering room service
- Large flat-screen television with satellite channels
- Spacious sitting area
- Private patio or balcony; with panoramic view of the bushveld
- Bar refrigerator; stocked with a selection of beverages
- Conference venue for up to 120 delegates
- Flood-lit tennis court, action cricket and volley ball facility
- Arcade and games room
- Children’s playground; including trampolines and miniature golf course
- Large swimming pool and baby pool
- Poolside bar
- Nôkô Kalahari Spa for beauty and wellness treatments
- Guided bush walks with a professional safari ranger
- Internet lounge; Wi-Fi available in the reception area
- 24-hour room service
- Babysitting facilities
- Junior Rangers programme (children 6-12 years)
- Sun City transfer shuttles daily; for a world of entertainment
- Morning and afternoon game drives with a professional ranger in an open safari vehicle
- Bush braai; on Wednesday and Saturday nights
BOOK A PILANESBERG SAFARI TOUR
Tshukudu Bush Lodge
4 star grading
Children under 12 years not permitted
Tshukudu Bush Lodge offers guests a more exclusive safari experience in a spectacular corner of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. It is built on the side of a hill and each chalet boasts a panoramic view of the bushveld valley.
Fast facts
- Sleeps 20 people
- 10 deluxe chalets, individually decorated with luxury features; stone fireplaces, leather sofas, crystal chandeliers and decadent sunken tubs
- Private patios with a plunge pool
- Daily morning and afternoon game drives with a professional ranger in an open safari vehicle
- Daily shuttle transfers to Sun City or the Pilanesberg Airport
- Daily bush walks with a professional ranger
- Restaurant for intimate dining or meals at the poolside terrace
- Restaurant or poolside bar
- Spa and wellness centre
- Free laundry service
- Free Wi-Fi
- Daily Sun City and airport transfer shuttles
Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge
4 star grading
Kwa Maritane means “place of the rock” and is located in a secluded corner of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The bush lodge lies nestled in a lush bushveld vegetation in the shadow of giant rocky outcrops that are home to an array of wildlife and birds.
The most exciting attraction at Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge is a man-made tunnel that stretches some 150 metres under a waterhole, taking guests to a quiet game and bird viewing hide. You don’t really need to go on a game drive when you have front-row tickets to the daily goings-on the in the surrounding bush.
Fast facts
- 90 rooms, sleeping up to 180 guests
- 54 timeshare chalets for families and groups
- Children of all ages welcome
Standard and Executive studio rooms:
- King-size bed, two double beds or twin single beds (by your request)
- En-suite bathroom with shower
- Air-conditioning
- Bar refrigerator
- Flat-screen television with satellite channels
- Electric kettle with complimentary tea and coffee
- Electronic safe
- International plug unit
- Electric shaving plug point
- Hairdryer
- Sleeper couch or baby cot (available on request)
- Floor-to-ceiling windows leading out onto a private balcony
- Top-quality restaurant for intimate fine-dining or eat at the poolside terrace
- Thabayadiotso, a world-renowned signature spa and wellness centre
- Underground tunnel, game and bird viewing hide with webcam footage
- 2 large swimming pools with a water slide and baby pool
- 2 flood-lit tennis courts
- Bush putt-putt, outdoor chess and rock climbing
- Children’s playground with slides and trampoline
- Games room with table tennis, pool table and darts
- Junior Rangers programme
- Conference and function rooms for seminars, formal banquets, private parties, product launches and team-building
- Free wi-fi and business centre
- Two traditional African bomas; wooden enclosed area for outdoor dinner under the stars
- Guided bush walks; wildlife, bird and tree trails
- Daily morning and afternoon game drives with a professional ranger in an open safari vehicle
- Rooms for disabled guests with specially-adapted facilities
- Babysitting and childcare service
- Daily Sun City transfer shuttles (no extra cost)
Ivory Tree Lodge
5 star grading
Ivory Tree Game Lodge is a sophisticated luxury safari lodge located just east of the far north boundary of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve in a quiet corner of the reserve. To add to the enjoyment, the Sun City Entertainment & Casino Resort and The Palace of the Lost City is a short 24-kilometre drive from the lodge. You can book a Sun City transfer shuttle with Moafrika Tours for a change of scenery and a world of fun.
Fast facts
- 67 luxury suites ranging from executive to deluxe rooms
- Beautifully decorated in sophisticated, earthy tones with quality finishes and luxury features
- Children of all ages welcome
- All meals included in the price; beverages for your own account
Executive suites:
- King-size bed with high-quality linen
- En-suite bathroom with deluxe bath, indoor and outdoor shower
- Air-conditioning
- Spacious lounge
- Covered patio with private plunge pool
- Coffee-making machine and bar refrigerator
- Flat-screen television with boutique selection of DSTV channels
Deluxe suites:
- King-size bed with quality linen
- En-suite bathroom
- Air-conditioning
- Gas fireplace
- Spacious lounge
- Private patio
- Flat-screen television with boutique selection of DSTV channels
- Elegant restaurant for fine dining or enjoy an authentic African braai at the outdoor boma
- Swimming pool
- Day spa
- Conference and business centre
- Evening entertainment; outdoor boma braai, drum lessons, tribal dancing
- Free Wi-Fi
- Guided game drives with a professional ranger in an open safari vehicle
- Daily Sun City transfer shuttle
- Babysitting service
BOOK A PILANESBERG SAFARI WITH MOAFRIKA TOURS
aha Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge
5 star grading
Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge is part of the aha Premier hospitality group and designed with luxury in mind and offers guests the ultimate in an African wildlife safari. It is located in a private concession in a remote area in the south-west corner of the reserve where access is restricted to guests staying at the private lodge.
Fast facts
- Sleeps up to 102 guests
- 17 private executive suites
- 26 deluxe suites
- Children of all ages welcome but children under 6-years are not allowed on game drives
- King-size bed with quality linen
- En-suite bathroom with outdoor shower
- Air-conditioning
- Private patio
- Fine-dining restaurant and bar
- Spa and beauty treatment centre
- Swimming pool and baby pool
- Free Wi-Fi and business centre
- Conference centre
- Free laundry service
- Bed and breakfast rate
- Daily morning and afternoon game drives with a professional ranger in an open safari vehicle
- Babysitting and childcare
BOOK A PILANESBERG SAFARI WITH MOAFRIKA TOURS
Moafrika Tours offers a selection of safari tours for guests staying at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Enjoy a day tour of the reserve in the company of a professional safari guide in an open safari vehicle. Book a return transfer from any destination in Johannesburg and Pretoria to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and then join a safari guide for an incredible day in the reserve.
If you’re a first-time visitor to South Africa, don’t miss out on a day tour with Moafrika Tours to iconic destinations such as Johannesburg city centre, Soweto and Pretoria.
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Moafrika Tours also provide a Sun City transfer shuttle from any destination in Johannesburg and Pretoria that takes you to one of South Africa’s most popular tourist destination.
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