Full day Pilanesberg safari with Big 5 game drive and lunch

Three hours tracking the Big 5 across an extinct volcanic crater

A full-day safari tour from Johannesburg to Pilanesberg National Park includes hotel pickup, a 3-hour guided game drive in an open 4X4 vehicle, lunch, and return transport. The park sits inside an extinct volcanic crater and holds over 7,000 animals, including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, plus zebra, giraffe, cheetah, hippo, crocodile and more than 300 bird species. An English-speaking field guide leads the drive and briefs you on wildlife behavior and the park's ecology.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Pilanesberg Safari adventure

• Pick up at hotel and introduction
• Drive to Pilanesberg National Park
• 3-hour guided game drive in open vehicle
• Return drive to Johannesburg hotel

The experience

Eleven hours door-to-door means you leave your Johannesburg hotel in the morning and return by evening, with the core experience, a 3-hour open-vehicle game drive, anchoring the middle of the day. The guide collects you at the Pilanesberg Visitors Centre in a 4X4 open safari vehicle, which puts you at eye level with the landscape and gives unobstructed sightlines in all directions. Bottled water is provided. You can bring additional refreshments if you want them during the drive.

The park's location inside an extinct volcanic crater shapes what you see: the rugged terrain and the way animals move through it. Lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo are all present, along with zebra, giraffe, cheetah, hyena, hippo, crocodile, jackal and wild dogs. The guide stays alert to animal movement and behavior, narrating what's happening and explaining the ecology as you drive. Over 300 bird species inhabit the park, so birdwatchers often spot species they've traveled far to find.

After the game drive, the guide returns you to Johannesburg and drops you at your hotel. Lunch is included during the day, and the vehicle is air-conditioned for the transfer portions of the tour.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport to Johannesburg.
• 4X4 open-vehicle game drive led by an English-speaking field guide.
• Pilanesberg National Park entry fee.
• lunch.
• bottled water during the drive.
• air-conditioned vehicle for transfers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendly

Operated by Thiya Tours and Safaris

Is this one for you?The 11-hour commitment leaves room for a full day of safari without overnight travel, but rules out combining it with other major activities in Johannesburg the same day. If you want to see the Big 5 and have only one day available, this tour fits the time constraint. If your schedule is tighter, a shorter half-day option would be worth checking.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What animals am I most likely to see on the Pilanesberg game drive?

Pilanesberg is home to the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) plus zebra, giraffe, cheetah, hyena, hippo, crocodile, jackal and wild dogs. Over 300 bird species also live in the park, so sightings vary by season and time of day, but the guide knows where animals typically move and will position the vehicle accordingly.

How much of the day is spent actually driving through the park?

The guided game drive itself lasts 3 hours. The full tour is 11 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, which includes the drive to and from Pilanesberg, the Visitors Centre check-in, lunch and the return journey to Johannesburg.

Is the open-vehicle game drive safe in bad weather?

The 4X4 open vehicle is the standard for game viewing in the park and allows unobstructed wildlife observation. The tour operates in most weather. The guide will advise on conditions and what to bring for sun and rain protection.

Can I bring my own food and drinks on the game drive?

Bottled water is provided during the drive. You're welcome to bring your own additional refreshments along if you prefer, and lunch is included as part of the tour.