National park · South Africa
Pilanesberg National Park
Enter Pilanesberg: pay R20 per vehicle + R65 per person (check 2025 rates), drive via N4/R24, visit May–Oct for best wildlife, avoid midday heat.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
554 km² (214 sq mi)214 sq mi (554 km²)
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
May–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- South Africa ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the Department of Home Affairs or a South African mission before booking; exemptions depend on nationality, and the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is optional for most visa-exempt visitors in 2026.
- South Africa ↗Travelling with children: accompanied foreign children no longer need a birth certificate, but unaccompanied minors, South African children and some passports that omit parents' names still do; check with Home Affairs and your airline before you fly.
- South Africa ↗Driving is on the left. If your licence is not in English or has no photo, get an International Driving Permit before you travel; rental companies also check it.
- South Africa ↗National park gates open and close at fixed times; you must be inside your camp before the gate closes, and speed limits in parks are enforced.
- North West Province ↗A car is close to essential: sights are spread across a province roughly the size of Belgium, and public transport between towns is limited to buses and minibus taxis.
- North West Province ↗Pilanesberg and the whole province are generally considered malaria-free; confirm with a travel clinic if you are also visiting Limpopo or Mpumalanga.
- North West Province ↗The N4 from Pretoria to Rustenburg is a toll road; keep cash or a card for the plaza.
At a glance
- Country
- South Africa
- Area
- 554 km² (214 sq mi)214 sq mi (554 km²)
- Area listed as 554 km²; some sources give slightly different figures depending on inclusion of water bodies (check).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Pilanesberg National Park, near Sun City in North West Province, offers self‑drive Big Five game viewing, a short family walking trail, and abundant birdlife on well‑maintained roads.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
554 km² (214 sq mi)214 sq mi (554 km²) · national park since 2000
Area listed as 554 km²; some sources give slightly different figures depending on inclusion of water bodies (check).
Why go
- Big Five game viewing on easy self‑drive roads.
- Bird‑watching with 300+ species, especially migrants Sep‑Nov.
- Self‑guided walking trail at Manyane for families.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHot, occasional thunderstorms
- FebHeat, rain possible
- MarWarm, fewer crowds
- AprWarm, start of dry season
- MayDry, comfortable temperatures
- JunCool, dry, good game viewing
- JulCool, dry, low malaria risk
- AugCool, dry, peak wildlife activity
- SepDry, bird migration peaks
- OctDry, comfortable, good visibility
- NovWarm, start of short rains
- DecHeat, occasional storms
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Migratory birdsSep–Nov | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Johannesburg
Take N4 east then R565 to Bakubung Gate or R24 to Manyane Gate.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Pretoria
Take N4 east, then R565 or R24 to the park gates.
2.5–3 h
Open the page →
From Sun City
Drive 15 km (9.3 mi) north on R565 to Bakubung Gate.Drive 9.3 mi (15 km) north on R565 to Bakubung Gate.
15 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Bakubung Gate | Main entrance, visitor centre, access to Kwa Maritane and game drives. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Manyane Gate | Eastern entrance, walking area, aviary and bird hides. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Central Savannah | Open plains for self‑drive game viewing. | Open to all vehicles. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
4 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are centre‑point of the park; gate locations are approximate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle entry | ZAR 20 (≈ US$2) | vehicle | Standard rate (check 2025 update) |
| Adult passenger | ZAR 65 (≈ US$4) | person | Standard rate (check 2025 update) |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- R 20≈ US$2
- R 65≈ US$4
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Pilanesberg National Park – Official site before you go.
Park rules
- Feeding wildlife
- Strictly prohibited; fines apply.
- Off‑road driving
- Not allowed outside designated roads.
- Night driving
- Allowed only on main roads; headlights must be on.
- Firearms
- Only permitted for licensed guides.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; bins at gates.
Where to stay
In the park
Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge
Full‑service lodge inside the park.
In the park
Bakubung Bush Lodge
Lodge near Bakubung Gate with pool.
In the park
Manyane Camp
Basic cabins close to walking area.
Near the park
Sun City
Resort hotels 15 km (9.3 mi) north, many options.Resort hotels 9.3 mi (15 km) north, many options.
Safety
Heat and dehydration medium
Wild animal encounters medium
Road conditions low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main roads are paved and suitable for standard cars.
- Walking trails are uneven; not wheelchair‑friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in park‑run lodges that support conservation fees.
- Use refillable water bottles; no single‑use plastics.
- Do not purchase illegal wildlife souvenirs.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Pilanesberg National Park?
Entry is R20 per vehicle plus R65 per adult passenger (rates may change from Dec 2025; check latest fees).
What are the best hikes in Pilanesberg National Park?
The Manyane self‑guided walking trail (easy, 1–2 h) and the bird‑hide loop near Manyane are the main short hikes; longer game drives cover the whole park.
When is the best time to visit Pilanesberg National Park?
May to October offers dry, comfortable weather and excellent wildlife viewing; avoid the hottest months Dec–Feb.
Can I drive my own car in the park?
Yes, the main roads are suitable for standard vehicles; stay on designated tracks.
Are there accommodation options inside the park?
Several lodges and camps operate inside, including Kwa Maritane, Bakubung and Manyane, plus nearby Sun City resorts.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Pilanesberg National Park
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