An African adventure awaits at the popular Bakubung Bush Lodge located at the entrance to the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park near Johannesburg.
The luxurious lodge is the largest in the park and offers a range of exciting activities to keep the whole family entertained. From Big 5 game drives in open-sided 4x4 safari vehicles to the ever-popular snake demos and boma dinners, there’s something for everyone.
This South Africa safari tour to Bakubung Bush Lodge includes transfers from Johannesburg, and back. Whether traveling for business or leisure, this lodge is an unforgettable safari destination.
Day one of your Pilanesberg Safari starts with an early morning collection from your accommodation in Johannesburg or central Pretoria. From there you are driven to Pilanesberg National Park in an air-conditioned transfer vehicle.
This scenic drive to Pilanesberg takes between 2 and 3 hours. Reaching Pilanesberg we spend a few hours exploring the game reserve in our enclosed transfer vehicle. Then we check into Bakubung Bush Lodge at around midday. We have a light lunch and relax before it’s time to set off on a late afternoon game drive in the reserve. Game drives at Bakubung are conducted in safari vehicles with expert game rangers. Your experienced guide will take you in search of the Big 5 of Africa (lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and leopard) and the array of other animals and birds found in Pilanesberg National Park. We return to the lodge as the sun is setting and enjoy a starlit dinner around the fire pit on warm evenings.
We have an early start on day two of our Big 5 Pilanesberg Safari. Start with a refreshing tea or coffee before going on a 3-hour sunrise game drive in the Pilanesberg National Park. As you explore the bush in the open safari vehicle your professional guide tells you more about the wildlife, plants, birds, and habitats found here.
We return to the luxurious lodge for a hearty breakfast; pack up and get ready to depart. At about 11h30 for 12h00, our driver collects you in the air-conditioned vehicle (minivan) and takes you on a final game drive in the Pilanesberg game reserve. We then make our way back to Johannesburg, arriving in the late afternoon, when you are dropped off at your post-safari accommodation.
Pilanesberg is South Africa's fourth-largest game park, covering about 55 000 hectares (135 908 acres). It is one of the best Big 5 game reserves near Johannesburg and one of the country's most easily accessible safari parks.
Pilanesberg National Park is located in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province, in a transitional vegetation zone. It is also where the arid Kalahari Desert and the wetter Lowveld biomes meet. As a result, this location is home to a diverse range of animal, plant, and bird species. Pilanesberg is home to nearly all of Southern Africa's wildlife species, including endangered and rare species such as African wild dogs and roan, sable, and tsessebe antelopes. Pilanesberg is home to all five Big 5 animals (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, and elusive leopard). Cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, jackals, wild cats, and various antelopes also roam the national park. In addition, the Pilanesberg National Park has over 360 bird species recorded.
The Pilanesberg National Park is a provincial park managed by the North West Parks Board. An interesting fact about the national park is that it was formed in a crater millions of years ago by a volcano eruption. The extinct volcano is a fascinating geological site with stunning scenery.
On this safari, we stay at Bakubung Bush Lodge, a family-friendly safari destination located in the southeast corner of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve; and a short 15-minute drive from Sun City Resort. The lodge overlooks a sweeping lawn that leads down to a large waterhole that usually has a resident pod of hippos in it.
There’s so much to do at Bakubung Bush Lodge between the early morning and afternoon game drives to keep the whole family busy. Lodge facilities include a large swimming pool, flood-lit tennis courts, kids’ playground, volleyball courts, internet lounge, gym and spa center, a large restaurant, and poolside bar. A highlight is the African-themed spit braais (barbeques) and bush braais that happen on certain nights of the week at the outdoor boma.
Accommodation ranges from standard/deluxe rooms to family rooms and exclusive private suites. Each en suite luxury room is elegantly decorated and fully equipped for comfort and convenience. The spacious rooms open up onto a private balcony with a panoramic view of the reserve. This safari includes accommodation in standard rooms at Bakubung Bush Lodge.
All meals served on this Pilanesberg Safari at Bakubung Bush Lodge have been carefully selected and prepared. This Pilanesberg Safari includes a hearty dinner at Bakubung Lodge's restaurant, overlooking a hippo hide.
Transfers on this 2-Day Pilanesberg Safari are conducted in an air-conditioned minibus (Quantum). The transfers to the lodge and back, are in a shared transfer vehicle with 2 to 12 people. You will be collected and dropped off at your accommodation in these enclosed tour vehicles at the start and end of your safari.
Collection from your accommodation in Johannesburg or central Pretoria between 05h30 and 07h00.
Drop off at your accommodation in Johannesburg or central Pretoria around 17h30
During your stay at the Bakubung Bush Lodge in Pilanesberg National Park, your game drives are conducted in either an open-sided 4x4 safari vehicle or an open 20-seater safari vehicle.
Bakubung Bush Lodge offers several optional activities (at extra cost) such as guided bush walks, wildlife tracking, visits to the Pilanesberg wildlife center, or Predator World, archery, quad biking, spa treatments, and more. If you would like to enjoy these optional activities we recommend adding an extra night or two to this two-day safari program to allow time. A minimum booking of two people is required for these optional activities. Optional activities often replace game drives listed on the program, due to time restraints.
This Pilanesberg Safari can be customized upon request. Contact us to have one of our friendly travel experts tailor-make this Pilanesberg Safari for you.
For travelers with onward flights departing on the evening of day two of this Pilanesberg Safari, please book flights that allow extra time for delays. We recommend booking domestic flights out of OR Tambo International Airport that depart by 19h30 and international flights departing by 21h00.
Please note that we offer convenient pre and post tour lodge accommodation for before and after this Pilanesberg Safari, which can be added to your tour booking upon request. The 4-star lodge accommodation is located 10-15 minutes from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Follow the link for information on rates.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
Children of all ages welcome at Bakubung Bush Lodge.
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