The Pilanesberg National Park is located north of Rustenburg in North West Province.
The area is defined by alternating ridges and valleys forming concentric rings, a geological formation that rises abruptly from the surrounding plains.
The Pilanesberg is named after chief Pilane of the Kgafêla people.
The 'Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex' is the park's primary geological feature. This vast circular feature is geologically ancient, being the crater of a long-extinct volcano – the result of eruptions some 1,200 million years ago. It is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its type in the world, the rare rock types and formations make it a unique geological feature, and a number of rare minerals occur in the park.
The park has an area of 572 square kilometres (221 sq mi), and visitors can travel through in a standard road vehicle. Although most of the 188 kilometers of track is not surfaced, it is generally maintained in a good condition.
The park has a rich array of southern African wildlife including the Big Five, the five most dangerous game animals in Africa. Most of the large animal species of southern Africa live in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve today. As of December 2010 the total count of large mammals was approximately 10,000.
The diversity of birdlife is excellent with over 360 species having been recorded.
Pilanesberg entry fees are per person and per vehicle. (As of May 2021)
- Adults: R80
- Adults Foreign Nationals: R110
- Children (6-12 yrs): R30
- Pensioners (SA only): R40
- Vehicles: R40
Pilanesberg has five public gates, that can be accessed during the following times:
- Mar - Apr: 6h00-18h30
- May - Sep: 6h30-18h00
- Sep - Oct: 6h00-18h30
- Nov - Feb: 5h30-19h00
Please note that the game reserve includes dangerous wild animals, so visitors should only leave their vehicles in demarcated areas, always being on the lookout, for their own safety. This cache is located in a demarcated area. Visitors leave their vehicles at their own risk.