Pilanesberg safari drive: 3-hour Big 5 game reserve tour

Spot wildlife across the Big 5 reserve in an open vehicle with a guide steering the stops.

A 3-hour guided safari drive through Pilanesberg National Park's Big 5 game reserve, departing from Manyane Resort in an open 4x4 vehicle. You travel in the open-sided vehicle with a live English guide who navigates the park's fauna and flora, stopping where wildlife appears. The afternoon slot fits a free half-day in the region.

Step-by-step itinerary

Self-drive safari at Pilanesberg Park

• Drive to Manyane Resort
• Meet your guide
• Board open 4x4 safari vehicle
• Enjoy 3-hour guided safari drive

The experience

You drive yourself to Manyane Resort at Pilanesberg National Park, where you meet your guide and board an open 4x4 safari vehicle. The 3-hour drive covers the Big 5 game reserve, with the guide directing where to look and when to stop. An open vehicle means unobstructed sightlines in all directions and no glass between you and the landscape: a setup that changes how you see movement in the grass and hear the park's sounds.

The guide speaks English and knows where animals tend to move through the reserve at different times of day. Pilanesberg is a malaria-free Big 5 reserve, so the wildlife roster includes lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino alongside smaller species and birds. The afternoon timing means you can fit this into a day that already includes other stops in the North West region.

What’s included

• The afternoon 3-hour safari drive in an open 4x4 vehicle is included.
• a live English-speaking guide is included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:30

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 31

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by MoAfrika Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you have your own car or rental to reach Manyane Resort. Your guide then takes the wheel in an open 4x4 for the three-hour drive, so you watch rather than navigate the reserve yourself.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What animals might I see on a Pilanesberg safari drive?

Pilanesberg is a Big 5 reserve, so lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino are present. The park also holds smaller mammals and a range of bird species. What you encounter depends on the season, the time of day and where animals are moving through the reserve on that afternoon.

Do I need my own vehicle to get to the safari, or is transport included?

You drive yourself to Manyane Resort at Pilanesberg National Park, where the safari begins. Transportation to and from the national park is not included, so you'll need your own car or arrange a separate transfer to reach the resort.

Is the safari guide the same person for the whole 3 hours?

Yes, a live English-speaking guide leads the entire 3-hour drive in the open 4x4 vehicle, navigating the reserve and pointing out wildlife and landscape features throughout.