Pilanesberg Safari from Johannesburg: 5-Hour Big Five Game Drive

Spot the big five from an open 4x4 as your ranger tracks animals across Pilanesberg.

A full-day safari from Johannesburg to Pilanesberg National Park includes hotel pickup, a 5-hour open vehicle game drive with an experienced ranger, light lunch at a waterhole, and return transport to your hotel. The ranger stays in radio contact with other guides to track wildlife sightings across the park. This tour departs early morning and returns before sunset, making it workable for travelers on a short trip or business visit to South Africa.

Step-by-step itinerary

Safari and game drive in Pilanesberg

• Meet at Johannesburg hotel
• Drive to Pilanesberg National Park
• Meet field guide and game ranger
• Begin 5-hour open 4x4 safari drive
• Stop for light lunch at waterhole
• Continue safari drive towards park gate
• Depart Pilanesberg for Johannesburg

The experience

Pilanesberg sits a two-hour drive from Johannesburg, close enough for a single day. You're picked up from your hotel or residence between 6:00 and 6:30 am and driven in an air-conditioned minivan to the park. After a short break, you meet your field guide and climb into an open 4x4 safari vehicle at 9:30 am. The ranger drives slowly through the reserve for five hours, stopping to watch animals and explain what you're seeing. Because the guide stays in radio contact with other vehicles in the park, the group gets tipped off to big five sightings across a wider area than a single vehicle could cover alone.

Midway through the drive, you stop at a restaurant overlooking an active waterhole: a spot where animals come to drink, so you watch wildlife while you eat. Light lunch and one soft drink are included. After eating, the open vehicle safari continues as the ranger slowly drives back toward the gate, spotting more animals on the way. You depart Pilanesberg between 3:30 and 4:00 pm and arrive back in Johannesburg before sunset.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Johannesburg.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan to and from Pilanesberg.
• 5-hour open safari vehicle game drive with an experienced game ranger.
• light lunch and one soft drink at a waterhole restaurant.
• VAT and tourism levies.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to16h before

AgesAdult (13 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (11 to 12 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditions

Operated by Go Safari

Is this one for you?You travel with other guests in a shared open vehicle, so this tour suits travelers who are comfortable with group safari experiences and want the benefit of a ranger connected by radio to other guides across the park. The early start and full-day commitment work best for visitors with a single free day or those on a short trip to South Africa.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 12 years); Child (5 to 10 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals can I expect to see in Pilanesberg?

Pilanesberg is home to the big five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo) along with many other species. The park generally offers good animal sightings even on a short visit, especially during the game drive when the ranger knows where to look.

Do I share the safari vehicle with other guests?

Yes, you travel in a shared open 4x4 with other guests. The vehicle is driven by an experienced game ranger who is in radio contact with other guides in the park to track and locate wildlife.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup happens between 6:00 and 6:30 am. The 5-hour game drive begins at 9:30 am. You depart the park between 3:30 and 4:00 pm and arrive back in Johannesburg before sunset, making the full day about 11 hours from pickup to drop-off.

Is lunch included, and what if I have dietary restrictions?

Light lunch and one soft drink are included and served at a restaurant overlooking a waterhole in the middle of the drive. Speak with the operator before booking if you have specific dietary needs.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear casual, cool clothes in summer or a warm jacket in winter months. Bring sunscreen, a hat, binoculars if you have them, and a camera. The open vehicle means you're exposed to the sun and wind, so dress in layers you can adjust.