3 Day Budget Pilanesberg Lodge Safari

The  3-day Accommodated Pilanesberg Safari is a budget lodge safari in South Africa that visits Pilanesberg National Park starting and ending in Johannesburg. This South African safari includes:

• Morning and afternoon game drives in safari vehicles with guides
• Night game drive in an open safari vehicle in Pilanesberg
• Pilanesberg volcano visit
• Air-conditioned safari accommodation
• Walking safari in the wilderness area at the camp
• Excursion to African arts and crafts market

Optional extras on this accommodated safari include a scenic balloon ride, an excursion to Sun City and the Valley of Waves and elephant rides.

Day 1: Johannesburg to Pilanesberg National Park – South Africa

This accommodated safari trip departs from Johannesburg at about 07:00am, arriving at Pilanesberg National Park shortly after 09:00am.

We head off into Pilanesberg on our first safari game drive stopping in a scenic spot for a picnic lunch. We take a slow drive through the park, back to the safari camp. At the camp we spend a few hours relaxing or swimming and checking into our comfortable, air-conditioned accommodation. In the afternoon we take a 3-hour game viewing drive that ends just before the gates of Pilanesberg Park close.

In the evening we have some free time to relax, while the safari guide prepares a hearty meal. After dinner we sit around the campfire and take in the sounds of the African bushveld under starry skies. Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner.

Day 2: Pilanesberg National Park – South Africa

On day two we rise early and enjoy a welcome cup of coffee or tea and some biscuits before entering the park. Morning game drives often offer the best opportunities for game viewing, with sightings of lions roaming after the previous nights hunt.

After a few hours of game viewing, we break for a delicious cooked breakfast overlooking the ancient volcanic hills in the park. After breakfast we return to our safari camp for a well-deserved rest. This free time can be spent swimming, visiting the bird aviary or taking an excursion to Sun City and the Valley of Waves. The optional excursion to Sun City takes a few hours and is at an extra cost. Other optional activities include a scenic hot air balloon ride and elephant rides.

After a light lunch, we take another game drive in Pilanesberg returning to the safari camp after a few hours of game viewing. We then go on an exciting night drive in an open safari vehicle in the evening. We take an exciting night drive of about 3 hours after sunset, searching for nocturnal animals with powerful spotlights. A trained parks ranger guides the night game drives.

We return to the safari camp after our night game drive in time to be served a tasty dinner. The evening is spent around the campfire taking in the sounds of the African bush, recollecting the day’s wildlife sightings and relaxing under the bright night stars. Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 3: Pilanesberg National Park to Johannesburg – South Africa

On the last day of the Accommodated Pilanesberg Safari we wake up just before sunrise and have a quick tea or coffee and some biscuits, before heading out on our morning game drive in the Pilanesberg National Park. Otherwise there is the option of taking a self-guided safari walk in the wilderness area of the safari camp, for close encounters with the African bush and its wildlife on foot.

We stop for a big cooked breakfast at a scenic picnic site inside Pilanesberg Park, overlooking the wild African bushveld. We return to the safari camp to pack up and depart for Johannesburg by around 12:00pm. On our way back Johannesburg we make a stop at one of the biggest local art and craft markets in the area. We stop for about an hour to browse the African crafts shop and have lunch. After shopping and grabbing a quick bite to eat we continue the short drive to your final accommodation stop of choice. The 3-day Accommodated Pilanesberg Safari ends at your drop off point in the afternoon. Meal Plan: Breakfast.

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