Overview:
Indulge in an opulent South African safari at the esteemed Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge, situated in a secluded private concession within Pilanesberg National Park.
Experience luxurious five-star lodge accommodations, exhilarating Big 5 game drives in an open-sided safari vehicle, and stunning vistas.
This safari excursion to Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge encompasses transfers to and from Johannesburg. This is an ideal malaria-free safari site for an authentic experience of the African bushveld.\
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Johannesburg to Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
The inaugural day of your Pilanesberg Safari commences with an early pickup in Johannesburg. The journey to Pilanesberg concludes upon our arrival at Pilanesberg National Park, where we will spend several hours exploring before checking in at Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge about noon. Following our refreshment, we partake in a small lunch and unwind prior to embarking on a late-afternoon game drive in the reserve. Game drives occur in an open-sided safari vehicle, guided by a professional ranger who will facilitate the pursuit of sightings of Africa’s Big Five (lion, rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, and leopard) as well as a diverse range of other fauna and avifauna present in Pilanesberg. We return to the lodge after sunset and partake in a gourmet supper in the restaurant.
Meals Provided: Lunch and Dinner
Activities Included: Afternoon Game Drive
Day 2: Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
On the second day of our Pilanesberg Safari, we departed early, following a rejuvenating tea or coffee, for a three-hour sunrise game drive in Pilanesberg National Park. We return to the resort for breakfast, after which you may spend the remainder of the day at the pool or in your suite. We partake in a leisurely meal and repose prior to our departure for the late-afternoon game drive. The day concludes with a delectable dinner at the restaurant or in the outside boma on balmy evenings.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Activities Included: Morning and Afternoon Safari Excursions
Day 3: Pilanesberg National Park to Johannesburg, South Africa
We commence day three early, savoring tea or coffee prior to embarking on a three-hour sunrise game drive in Pilanesberg National Park. We will have a substantial breakfast, pack our belongings, and prepare for a closed vehicle (minivan) to transport us on a game drive in the reserve between 11:30 and 12:00. We thereafter return to Johannesburg, arriving in the late afternoon, concluding our Big 5 Pilanesberg Safari.
Meals Provided: Breakfast
Activities Included: Morning Game Drive
Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa
Pilanesberg is the fourth-largest game park in South Africa, including over 55,000 hectares (135,908 acres). It is among the premier Big 5 game reserves in proximity to Johannesburg and one of the nation’s most readily accessible safari parks.
Pilanesberg National Park is situated in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province, within a transitional vegetation zone. This is the juncture where the arid Kalahari Desert converges with the more humid Lowveld biomes. This place hosts a vast array of animal, plant, and avian species. Pilanesberg has practically all wildlife species in Southern Africa, including endangered and rare species such as African wild dogs, roan antelopes, sable antelopes, and tsessebe antelopes. Pilanesberg hosts all five of the Big Five animals: elephant, rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, and the elusive leopard. The national park is inhabited by cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, jackals, wild cats, and other antelope species. Pilanesberg National Park has documented approximately 360 bird species.
Pilanesberg National Park is a provincial park administered by the North West Parks Board. An intriguing detail regarding the national park is that it was established within a crater formed millions of years ago by a volcanic eruption. The extinct volcano is an intriguing geological location featuring breathtaking landscapes.
Accommodation for Pilanesberg Safari
During this safari, we reside at Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge, an exquisite lodge situated within a Big 5 private concession in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. It is situated in a secluded location in the southwestern section of the reserve. Pilanesberg is situated in a malaria-free area and is a convenient two-hour drive from Johannesburg. It is adjacent to the renowned Sun City Resort and Black Rhino Private Game Reserve.
The prestigious luxury safari lodge provides guests with an unparalleled safari experience, featuring opulent accommodations, modern architectural design, and exceptional amenities, including a rim-flow swimming pool, gourmet restaurant, cigar lounge, expansive viewing deck with a poolside cocktail bar, and the renowned Amani spa. An exceptional experience is a real African braai (barbecue) at the lodge’s boma in a picturesque bushveld environment.
Guests participate in daily game drives in an open-sided safari vehicle accompanied by a professional ranger. Access to the private concession is limited to the safari lodges and their paying patrons, although game drives in the remainder of Pilanesberg Game Reserve are unrestricted. Magnificent sundowners at unique vantage spots are a feature of the evening game drives. Experiencing live cultural performance featuring participatory drumming constitutes an ideal conclusion to your day.
Safari Meals at Pilanesberg National Park
All meals provided during this Pilanesberg Safari at Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge have been meticulously curated and cooked. A sumptuous dinner at the Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge restaurant is provided.
Pilanesberg Safari Transportation
Transfers for this 2-Day Pilanesberg Safari are executed in an air-conditioned minibus (Quantum). The transportation to and from the lodge occur in a shared vehicle accommodating 2 to 10 individuals. You will be transported to and from your lodging in these enclosed tour cars at the beginning and conclusion of the day tour.
Pickup from your lodging in Johannesburg or central Pretoria between 05:30 and 07:00.
Drop-off at your lodging in Johannesburg or central Pretoria commencing at 17:30.
Your game drives at the Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge in Pilanesberg National Park are conducted in open-sided 4×4 safari vehicles.