sun city and pilanesberg game reserve
 

Hi Everyone
Can anyone give me their input on the Pilanesberg Game Reserve - what is it like, where should one stay [ big family group with lots of kids aged 5-16].
What is game sighting like in April and so forth?

Re Sun City - I'd appreciate your input on what Hotel is better for that same group - Cascades or Cabanas and why?
Also any tips on how to get better prices - the prices I have found on the web seem really high?

Thanks a lot
Elana

The P'berg is one of SA's gems, which seldom gets the attention that I believe that it deserves. I have had many trips there and have had some truly memorable sightings, which include cheetah, black rhino and wild dogs. I also saw my first brown hyena in the early hours of the evening there.

I stayed at bakubung, which is quite a large property, but none the less the rooms were large and for a large place, the staff were remarkably friendly and efficient.

Some time ago I stayed at Sun City and went tthrough to the P'berg for a day trip, I arrived at B'bung for breakfats after they had stopped serving, however they were more than willing to rustle something up for me.

Thye lodge is inexpensive, not sure of current pricing. Also if you are travelling with budget restraints would suggest the cabanas, but I honestly haven't been there for ages so do not feel that I should offer input on the Sun City complex hotels: Also my view is somewhat jaded as I really did not enjoy my time there.

Lastly, since the P'berg is a contained reserve the game viewing year round is the same, that is there is no migration.

thanks for the input mkhonzo- can you tell me a bit more about the day trips to pilansesberg? We are a very big group with lots of suitcases and children or should I say children and suitcases - on the one hand it would be a lot easier to stay in sun city [ where we have to be in any case] and do day trips to the park without having to unpack, repack, schlep all the suitcases and so forth but on the other hand - I understand that early morning and late afternoon game drives are the best - what do you think?

The park is literally adjacent to the Sun City complex, you can do drive from thye hotels at Sun City, they will pick you up and drop you off on a scheduled basis. So if that is your preference it is very easy to arrange. This actually might suite you better as your entire tribe may not wish to go the drives.

If you were to drive yourselves, the enterance to the park is about thirty minutes from SC complex. I am not sure about the gate closing times, but I drove through in a private car. There are rest stops and one or two places where you can pick up some grub, use wash rooms etc.
Does this help?

hi
I'm not sure I'm following:
1] are you saying that you can actually drive yourself through in your own car?
2] If so, I gather that you do this without a guide - is this correct?
3] I understood that you could do daily organised game drives from sun city - my previous understanding was that you are taken on another vehicle with a driver - do you know if this is correct?
4] if you drive yourself - are there specific times you can enter or could you enter say at 6a.m. like the game drives at the lodges do?
5]from your experience - would you say that doing the drives this way [ on own] would be as rewarding in as far as sighting the big 5 as doing them on the organised game drives from the lodges?
thanks for your help
Elana

1) Yes you can drive the park in your own car, naturally this would be unguided.
2) I am not sure of the gate times, suspect that it's opene between six am and six pm.
3) Organised safaris leave the S/city complex daily, departure times vary. These are escorted by a driver guide.
4) I am a seasoned wildlife enthusiast with a serious leaning towards birds, consequently a find it a lot more rewarding to drive myself. However as a froeigner to the environment I am convinced that you would have a much more rewarding experience by going with an organisation that knows the game, roads and a guide that can interpret what you are seeing etc.

Big five aside, there are many other creatures that you will find interesting, so please don't fall into the trap of becoming a big five junkie at the expense of other creatures.

thanks mkhonzo - I am actually an ex S. african myself - I left 28 years ago and last time I was back was 18 years ago!!!!
Thanks for all the input - it has helped tremendously
Keep well
Elana