ZAR
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
CHF
ZAR
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
CHF

What are you looking for?

ZAR
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
CHF
ZAR
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
CHF
Hello traveller!

It's in Cape Town now.

We're sorry. Our safari planners aren't available now. Our office hours are 08:00 - 19:00 (GMT+2).

Call us to speak to an experienced safari planner.


Alternatively, we recommend...

travel-form-icon

Complete our travel enquiry form to connect with a safari planner

ENQUIRE TODAY
Email us
(optional)

Madikwe and Pilanesberg

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

View Photos

Madikwe and Pilanesberg

Team Member Headshot

By Andre Van Kets

Co-founder, Discover Africa

Safari Enquiry

Situated in the blandly-named low-profile North West Province, these two relatively recently-created reserves have grown in popularity in recent years thanks to their family-friendly holiday location in a malaria free-zone and excellent Big Five viewing.

Pilanesberg and Madikwe are pretty similar in ecological terms, both being situated in the transitional zone to the moist eastern bushveld and the semi-arid Kalahari biome that extends into neighboring Botswana.

Lions in Madikwe Game Reserve
Lions in Madikwe Game Reserve

The usual safari favorites are supplemented by many dry-country species at the eastern limit of their range. However, the two reserves cater to very different clientele.

Pilanesberg, only two hours from Gauteng, stands adjacent to the glitzy Sun City casino and resort complex and is geared primarily towards self-drive day and overnight visitors.

By contrast, the more remote Madikwe is closed to day visitors and caters exclusively to the top end of the safari market, hosting a few dozen exclusive bush camps that offer plush accommodation and all-inclusive packages comparable to the private reserves bordering Kruger.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Now entrenched as South Africa’s premier malaria-free safari destination, the 750km2 (290 square mile) Madikwe Game Reserve abuts the Botswana border some four hours’ drive northwest of Gauteng.

Flanked by the perennial Great Marico River, the reserve was established in 1991 following a government study that concluded it could be utilized more profitably and offer greater benefits to local communities as a conservation area than as an unproductive farm.

Following an extensive reintroduction program, it now offers an excellent chance of sighting three of the Big Five – lion, elephant, and rhino on a Big Five safari – while buffalo and leopard are also present but more scarce. Common grazers include giraffe, zebra, greater kudu, springbok, Red hartebeest and tsessebe.

wildlife in madikwe on a south africa safari
wildlife in Madikwe on a South Africa Safari

It’s also possibly the most reliable reserve in South Africa for encounters with the endangered African wild dog. Night drive safaris frequently offer good sightings of the shy brown hyena and bizarre aardwolf.

A checklist of 350 bird species includes several northwestern specials, most conspicuously the Southern pied babbler (dubbed the ‘flying snowball’) and the exquisite Crimson-breasted shrike, Shaft-tailed whydah and Violet-eared waxbill, making Madikwe an ideal location for a birding safari.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve

Nestled scenically within a collapsed volcanic crater, the 550km2 (212 square mile) Pilanesberg Game Reserve supports game densities similar to the likes of Kruger and ranks as one of the best places anywhere in South Africa for close-up encounters with White rhinos and elephant on a safari.

Situated only two hours drive north of Gauteng, it forms a realistic goal for time-pressed travelers looking for a malaria-free overnight safari destination out of Johannesburg or Pretoria.

Large predator sightings are comparatively hit-and-miss, but the odds of encountering a lion or leopard (along with the strictly nocturnal brown hyena and aardwolf) improve greatly if you join a guided night drive safari into the reserve.

As with Madikwe, a checklist of 350 bird species includes several species that reflect its transitional location, making it a perfect destination for a birding safari.

Sun City Resort

Established in 1976, Sun City is sometimes dubbed Las Vegas-in-the-bush. While the massive casino at the complex’s heart just about justifies this tag, it also doubles as a fun, family-friendly destination boasting an imitation inland beach called the Valley of Waves, two superb golf courses designed by Gary Player, and day safaris into the adjacent Pilanesberg.

Travel Tips to Madikwe And Pilanesberg
  • Three scheduled flights weekly connect Johannesburg to Pilanesberg Airport, which also serves Sun City. It is arguably easier (and quicker) to drive. This takes about two hours from O.R Tambo Airport, Johannesburg, or Sandton, or 90 minutes from Pretoria via the scenic Hartebeespoort Dam. It’s also easy to arrange a road transfer to Sun City or Pilanesberg.
  • It’s more like four hours’ drive from Johannesburg to Madikwe, and since all lodges here offer all-inclusive packages and self-drive exploration is forbidden, the best option is to fly.
  • Accommodation at Madikwe is limited to upmarket lodges. Pilanesberg and Sun City offer everything from five-star resort hotels and upmarket game lodges to budget-friendly rest camps within the reserve.

How it Works

2

Contact us or fill out an enquiry form and one of our travel experts will help you tailor make your perfect safari

3

Enjoy an authentic African experience, with peace of mind

Travel with Confidence

With over 20 years of experience, our team will help you choose the perfect African safari for your adventure.
24/7 Support
Flexible
Authentic
Personalized

Why travel with us?

Recent reviews from travellers who planned and booked their Africa trips with Discover Africa Safaris
Adelle understood what we wanted and organized a fantastic trip down including...

12 Day Kruger & Victoria Fall Safari Review

Greg, United States
14 Dec 2023
Informative website, Megan was friendly and very helpful, great deal

Highlights of Kenya & Tanzania Safari Review

Raymond Esparza, United States
10 Aug 2023
Great knowledge, experience and insight combined to make a great safari

Botswana & Zimbabwe Review

Alan , United Kingdom
08 Aug 2022
Very accommodating and helpful

Sabi Sands & Vic Falls Review

MichMcge, United States
04 Aug 2022
My first safari. They made it happen in such a smooth manner.

Rwanda and Kenya Safari Review

Omar Hamadah, Kuwait
27 Sep 2018
Ready to plan our next trip!

A Big Five Safari in Africa Review

Hariharan Iyer, India
09 Oct 2014

Ready to plan your tailor-made safari?

Murielle Vegezzi, Destination Expert

Free safari planning advice from destination experts

HELP ME PLAN
Copyright © Discover Africa Safaris | Madikwe and Pilanesberg | Last Updated: 29 September 2023