Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 470 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle worth booking?
Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle is a 11-hour experience in Johannesburg, South Africa, from $177 per person. It scores 87 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 470 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 87 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (470)
- Duration
- 11 hours
- From
- $177 per person
Come and experience the wonders of the Pilanesberg Nature reserve in full day open safari drive . Have the opportunity to view the big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard), up close and personal. We collect everyone from there hotels in or Pretoria Johannesburg around 530 to 6 am before we head out on safari. We have a short stop half way to Pilanesberg for some refreshments . Our open safari experience starts around 9 am and ends around 3 pm . We do have a 1 hour lunch stop at the Pilanesberg Center over looking a small watering hole . We exit the park around 3 pm and estimated time of arrival back in Johannesburg is approximately 1730 to 18h00. We can have you at the airport but remember to bring your luggage with you . Sightings in Pilanesberg are amazing . We only use small 10 seater vehicles and our guides are all extremely passionate qualified with extra in-house training . We happy when you happy and our mission. Is to give you the best pilanesberg experience
What you get
About this experience
Come and experience the wonders of the Pilanesberg Nature reserve in full day open safari drive . Have the opportunity to view the big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard), up close and personal. We collect everyone from there hotels in or Pretoria Johannesburg around 530 to 6 am before we head out on safari. We have a short stop half way to Pilanesberg for some refreshments . Our open safari experience starts around 9 am and ends around 3 pm . We do have a 1 hour lunch stop at the Pilanesberg Center over looking a small watering hole . We exit the park around 3 pm and estimated time of arrival back in Johannesburg is approximately 1730 to 18h00. We can have you at the airport but remember to bring your luggage with you . Sightings in Pilanesberg are amazing . We only use small 10 seater vehicles and our guides are all extremely passionate qualified with extra in-house training . We happy when you happy and our mission. Is to give you the best pilanesberg experience
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Onboard Uncapped WIFI
- Driver/guide
- Lunch
- Morning open vehicle safari drive (+- 3 Hours Long)
- Afternoon closed vehicle safari drive (+- 2 Hours Long)
Not included
- Drinks
- Gratuities
- Conservation Fee
What you'll see and do
Pilanesberg National Park
After collecting you form your hotel or residence in Johannesburg between 06:00 – 06:30, we travel to the Pilanesberg Nature reserve. On arrival your guide will take you on an exciting morning open 4×4 safari vehicle safari drive in search of the Animals that inhabit the National Park. Our guides are knowledgeable and will give you in depth information on the animal you are viewing and try their out-most to find the members of the Big 5. During the heat of the day you will enjoy lunch at one of the many rest camps in the National Park before departing on an afternoon closed vehicle safari drive. Our vehicles depart the National Park between 15:30 – 16:00 in order to arrive
420 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 1 minutes before departure.
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 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- MoAfrika Tours
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund
- If infants are on the tour, the tour will have to be done on a private vehicle at an added cost
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 470 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
470 verified traveler reviews for Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Pilanesberg National Park- a paradise waiting to be discovered!
This day tour to Pilanesberg National Park from Pretoria was a full day starting early and finishing late. It offers you a chance to dive deep into African wildlife - with a safe drive to the park and then a covered open vehicle with comfortable seats and great views of the surrounding area. You cannot surpass the knowledge and experience of Mo Africa's guides who really give their best to ensure their guests can learn and encounter a wide range of fauna and flora. I counted over sixteen different species!! We saw Lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras, a lonely leopard in a tree, as well as numerous varieties of wildebeest. I was in heaven! Lunch was a braai on a hilltop overlooking a dam where hippopotamus were soaking themselves. What more could you ask for on a day trip! If you are short on time or are simply keen to immerse yourself in wildlife from a vase in Pretoria or Johannesburg, this is the tour for you.
Response from the operator: Hi travellin... Thank you for such a wonderful and detailed review! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed your full-day Pilanesberg safari and experienced such an incredible variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and even a leopard in a tree! It’s fantastic to hear you enjoyed the hilltop braai overlooking the dam and hippos. We truly appreciate your kind words about our guides and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable African adventure! The MoAfrika Tours Team
via Tripadvisor
An awesome experience!
Peter, our guide was fantastic. When we saw animals he would tell us if they were male or female. He would also tell us what they were doing. Lots of good info. HE was a superior guide. After the tour he sent us photos he had taken on other tours so we could send them to others in our group An exceptional experience we will never forget.
Response from the operator: Hi Culture.. Thank you for such wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear Peter made your Pilanesberg safari so memorable with his knowledge and passion for wildlife. His extra effort in sharing photos truly shows how much he cares about his guests. We’re delighted this was an exceptional experience you’ll never forget! The MoAfrika Tours Team
via Tripadvisor
🦁 Full-Day Pilanesberg Experience
This tour started with a very early morning pickup right from our location, which was extremely convenient. The drive to Pilanesberg is a long one — about three hours each way, with a stop along the way — but the transportation was comfortable and having door-to-door pickup and drop-off was a big plus. Our safari guide, Lizzie, was good, and the morning game drive was definitely the highlight of the day. We saw quite a variety of animals and had some great sightings. We didn’t see the big 5 but we did see; Hippos, lions, kudu, giraffes, elephants with their babies, wilder beasts, monkeys, impala, zebra, crocodile, fishing eagle and pumba. Lunch was served in the park at picnic tables rather than at a lodge. There was a choice of steak, chicken, salad, and bread, along with a selection of beverages. It was casual but enjoyable and gave us a nice break between drives. The afternoon game drive, however, was disappointing and felt like a waste of time. It was warm, and there was very little animal activity. If I did this tour again, I would definitely skip the afternoon drive and opt for either a morning game drive or a late afternoon/evening drive when the animals are more active. If you’ve been on safari before, especially in a more remote or traditional safari destination, Pilanesberg may feel fairly mellow by comparison (there is no off roading to get closer). But if you’ve never experienced a safari, I think this would be a great introduction and an easy way to get a taste of the experience. Overall, it was a pretty good day out. The convenient pickup and drop-off from our location was a real advantage, and the morning safari made the long journey worthwhile. 🐘🦏🦒
Response from the operator: Hi kristen... Thank you for sharing such detailed feedback. We’re pleased to hear that the convenient door-to-door transfers, comfortable transport, and especially the morning game drive made your day worthwhile. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed so many wildlife sightings with Lizzie. We also appreciate your honest feedback on the afternoon drive and will share it with our team The MoAfrika Tours Team
via Viator
Leopard spotted and many more thanks to Petrus
If you scroll only a little down then you will see that we have already reviewed this tour once, but since we were able to do this wonderful full-day-Safari twice, we just had to do it again! Together with our wonderful tour guide Petrus who has accompanied us for three previous Safaris as well was simply AMAZING! This experience was simply the best and I will never be able to forget it. Not only did Petrus take us to new areas of the park which we had never seen before, but he made sure that we saw animals we had never seen before, and to not keep you on your toes for too long, yes, we mean a Leopard! Thanks to Petrus insight and fast response as well as his patience we were able to see the rarest animal of the Big Five so close by! Thanks to his calm, while other guides were already rushing off we were able to watch the Leopard stalk up to its prey while seeing her in her full beauty! But while that was certainly the most impactful sighting which painted a smile on our faces for the whole day because it was so surreal, we saw so much more… From baby giraffes and giraffes right next to our vehicle over elephants, rhinos with their babies, warthogs with their babies, baboons with their babies and zebras with their babies, feeding on the milk. It was simply incredible, and Petrus had so much knowledge about each animals, even the tiniest birds. We furthermore spent a lovely and delicious lunch at the Fish Eagle where chef Isaai cooked us a splendid meal which we enjoyed while looking over the beautiful landscapes of Pilanesberg while we spent some time talking to Petrus and Tmen. Both of them were lovely to chat to and we had a great time! Thank you so much to Petrus as well as to MoAfrika Tours, it has been a pleasure and we will be back for more, hopefully sooner than later!! We will miss you, Petrus and Tmen! Anna & Sophie 🫶
Response from the operator: Hi annad... Thank you so much for returning to Pilanesberg with us and for this incredibly heartfelt review! We’re honoured that you chose to experience the safari with us again, and even more delighted that Petrus made your fourth safari so unforgettable. That leopard sighting sounds truly magical, and we love hearing about all the special baby animals and incredible wildlife you encountered. Your kind words about Petrus, Tmen, and Chef Isaai mean so much to our team. We’ll be sure to share them with everyone. It was an absolute pleasure having you with us, and we’re already looking forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure! Until then, safe travels! The MoAfrika Tours Team
via Tripadvisor
Great Experience
Amazing tour. Our tour guide really made this experience even more special. He knew to anticipate the movement of the lions, hippo and elephants. They have the experience to spot even animals in the far distance. Would recommend this tour to those really wanting to see the animals in their natural habitat.
Response from the operator: Hi Angelo... Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear you had an amazing Pilanesberg safari and that your guide’s experience and wildlife-spotting skills made it even more special. Anticipating animal movements and spotting wildlife in the distance are what make a safari truly exciting! We greatly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again. The MoAfrika Tours Team
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 11 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $177 to $3,850
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 165
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by MoAfrika Tours, who run 38 experiences we rank across 3 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 67.4 and 3 in the 90+ Club.
See everything MoAfrika Tours runsWhy this scores 87
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Johannesburg.
How much does Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle cost?
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Prices start at $177 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 Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle take?
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Plan for about 11 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 Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 87 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 470 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most highly reviewed in Johannesburg, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle?
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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 Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 11-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle?
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Around 165 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 11-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle 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 Soweto and Johannesburg Exclusive Full Day Guided Tour, Ultimate Johannesburg Soweto Experience with Apartheid Museum, Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria. 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.
What is included in Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle?
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Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off; Onboard Uncapped WIFI; Driver/guide; Lunch; and Morning open vehicle safari drive (+- 3 Hours Long). Not included: Drinks; Gratuities; and Conservation Fee. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 703 listed pickup locations in and around Johannesburg. Be ready about 1 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available; Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and If infants are on the tour, the tour will have to be done on a private vehicle at an added. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle?
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Across 470 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
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