Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 21 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari worth booking?
Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari is a 10-hour experience in Johannesburg, South Africa, from $2500 per person. It scores 67 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 21 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 67 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (21)
- Duration
- 10 hours
- From
- $2500 per person
Experience the Pilanesberg National Park through a private tour with a specialist Pilanesberg guide with 5 years experience. Escape from the hustle and bustle of Joburg with a day trip to experience the South African bus
What you get
- Carbonated beverages
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- All Fees and Taxes
- Brunch
About this experience
Experience the Pilanesberg National Park through a private tour with a specialist Pilanesberg guide with 5 years experience. Escape from the hustle and bustle of Joburg with a day trip to experience the South African bushveld with the chance to see the South African Big 5 as well as explore the interesting history and geology of the Pilanesberg all from the comfort of an airconditioned vehicle. Tour includes entrance fees, breakfast and lunch, snack packs and warm and cold beverages - alcoholic beverages excluded Minimum 2 adults required for a booking
What's included
Included
- Carbonated beverages
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Tea and coffee
- All Fees and Taxes
- Brunch
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages
What you'll see and do
Pilanesberg National Park
The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is located just over 200km from Johannesburg and can be reached in ~2hours, making it ideal for day trips out of Johannesburg albeit with early morning starts. A typical day tour will include pick or meeting at entrance gate followed by morning drive in the park along both scenic as well as productive routes inside the park. The game reserve is unique in many ways. The park lies within the Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex, a series of concentric hills that are the remnants of a long-extinct volcano. The park is home to the South African big five as well as both arid savanna species such as springbok and red hartebeest as well as buffalo, white rhino and waterbuck of the wetter savanna. Similarly, bird species found in both types of savanna can be found in the park, with over 300 species to be found in the park. Stops include breakfast and lunch before a late afternoon exit to return to Johannesburg. Park can be visited both in summer and winter!
480 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 9 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- South African Wanderer
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 21 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
21 verified traveler reviews for Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
What an amazing guide and amazing day!
Pranesh was an amazing guide. Our 2 hour from Johannesburg to the park flew by. Pranesh knows everything about South Africa and them some. He is so interesting and engaging. Our day through the park was nothing short of perfect. Saw so many great creatures. We highly highly recommend this tour. 5 +++ stars!
via Tripadvisor
Amazing safari with a greatly knowledgeable guide!
My family and I were fortunate to have Pranesh take us through Pilanesberg for about half a day (April 2025). It was a fantastic experience for my son (9 years old) in particular who quizzed Pranesh about everything from dung beetles to hyenas to elephants - and Pranesh managed to answer all of these questions as well! Keeping a 9 year old entertained and excited on a game drive is no small feat! We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and managed to see a wide variety of animals - the elephant mudbath was the highlight for me along with the close-ups of the baby zebra. All in all, a fantastic trip and we look forward to visiting Kruger in the future, ideally with Pranesh joining us once more. Pranesh has the most incredible brain filled with infinite information! It was like having our very own personalised Google with us the drive! We were in awe of him and his wonderful, knowledgeable skills. Honestly blown away by just how brilliant Pranesh is at what he does and cannot wait to come back and learn new things from him.
via Tripadvisor
Best game drive experience
My husband and I did a day trip to with host Pranesh the Pilansberg. We were picked up and dropped off timeously by Pranesh. He is a fun host and attentive to details. Although it was an early start, the drive from Johannesburg to Pilansberg flew by. Pranesh has indepth knowledge of the park, picnic spots, watering holes, tracking of animals, bird spotting and details of the various species. We had the opportunity of a rare sighting of a leopard and her cub. Pranesh was persistent, ensuring we see a herd of elephants before we left as they were quite evasive for the day. A treat was seeing a few weeks old calf. A day trip to Pilansberg is must with the South African Wander, Pranesh. One of our best game drive experiences.
Response from the operator: Thanks so much for your review Ria and it was a great day out, thoroughly enjoyed it myself!
via Tripadvisor
Pilanesberg Day Tour
Professional, reliable, knowledgeable, entertaining, accommodating, intuitive, discreet and just overall top level human with a pleasant personality. We had such a great and memorable day out in Pilanesberg with Pranesh. Highly recommended. Visited in September 2022
Response from the operator: Thanks so much for the great review!
via Tripadvisor
Do not miss this tour operators for Philipsburg reserve forest tour
Friendly and professional tour guide and driver he knows what is doing and need to do really we have great experience
Response from the operator: Thanks so much for the review and it was a pleasure having you along for the tour! Looking forward to the next time you visit and I will try to follow up on my possible roots in Bihar!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 5+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $2500 to $4000
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 7
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 67
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Johannesburg.
How much does Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari cost?
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Prices start at $2500 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Johannesburg usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari take?
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Plan for about 10 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Johannesburg is not rushed.
Is Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 67 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 21 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Johannesburg, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 5. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 10-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari?
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Around 7 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Johannesburg can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Johannesburg and add a light layer if any part of the 10-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Discover the Pilanesberg with a personalized full day safari start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Johannesburg within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Johannesburg?
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On Outty we rank every Johannesburg experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria, Soweto and Johannesburg Exclusive Full Day Guided Tour, Half Guided Day Tour of Soweto And Apartheid Museum. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Johannesburg?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Johannesburg?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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