Description of the attraction
Pilanesberg National Park is located on the territory of a volcanic crater, it is the fourth largest in South Africa with a total area of about 55,000 hectares.
The history of the park is unique. This area, with its mesmerizing rocky landscapes, flowering and fragrant valleys, has always been the preferred settlement for people for thousands of years. Before the decision was made to designate this territory as a nature reserve in 1979, local farmers worked and lived here, which it was decided to relocate to other lands, and the tourist infrastructure was designed and built within 15 years (from 1979 and 1993). In fact, this project became the largest and most expensive land restoration project on the African mainland at the time.
While wildlife resources are rapidly dwindling in most developing countries in Africa, Pilanesberg National Park is one of the few areas where this process is reversed. The structure of the lands on which the Pilanesberg Park is located was formed by volcanic eruptions several million years ago. Along with its uniqueness: size, shape and volcanic origin, there are still other "highlights" - such as a wide variety of landscapes due to the weathering of an extinct crater. This has ensured the creation of some of the most impressive landscapes in South Africa.
Unlike any other large park, its uniqueness lies in its location in the transition zone between dry and humid climates. Therefore, there is a very wide variety of mammals, birds and vegetation. In the park you can see an anteater, a zebra, a lion, a leopard, a black and white rhinoceros, an elephant and a buffalo, a brown hyena, a swift cheetah, a majestic sable, as well as a giraffe, hippo, crocodile, wild dogs, etc. This is a "paradise" for bird lovers - there are more than 360 types of them.
A recent poll by the South African Tourism Board found Pilanesberg National Park as number one on the list of the most popular nature reserves in South Africa. This newfound popularity is made possible by its close proximity to Johannesburg, combined with safety (no malaria infection).
