Safari In Pilanesburg

Safari in Pilanesburg

Week 36

Day 248

Johannesburg

26.2044° S, 28.0456° E

Following our week in Namibia, we had one night at the Brown Sugar Backpackers to regroup before taking off to Pilanesburg National Park for Safari.

Most people who head to South Africa, hit up Kruger National Park.  During our time in Big Bay though we met a professional Game photographer who recommended Pilanesburg.

A group of Rhino

A group of Rhino

In his experience he sees more at Pilanesburg because it has a much denser population of animals given the park is about 1/4 the size of Kruger.  He also warned us that many of Kruger’s roads were closed due to flooding earlier this year and therefore many animals hide in those less traffic areas.

Giraffe!  My favorite!

Giraffe! My favorite!

Talking with people at our backpackers when we returned, those who went to Kruger had an amazing time.

Given our experience at Pilanesburg and talking with Solomzi–the guide we met, however, we have no doubt when we come back to South Africa that we would return to Pilanesburg.

While a 4×4 would have been nice (1/2 the roads in the park aren’t paved) we managed to navigate the park with once again a sweet little Hyundai Getz.

Pulling into the park mid afternoon we were met by warthogs, Vervet Monkeys, and Impala.

The first thing we saw pulling into our campsite.  These guys + Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Impala, and Mongoose run amuck throughout the campsites scavenging on anything people forget to put away.

The first thing we saw pulling into our campsite. These guys + Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Impala, and Mongoose run amuck throughout the campsites scavenging on anything people forget to put away.

Vervet Monkeys have taken over the Game DriveTruck

Vervet Monkeys have taken over the Game Drive Truck

Picking a camp site among the 100’s of other tents, we quickly headed into the park for our first game drive!

We quickly saw more Impalas, 100’s of Wildebeest, Giraffes, and Zebras.

Impala.  So pretty at first, but after 3 days of Safari they might as well be house pets.

Impala. So pretty at first, but after 3 days of Safari they might as well be house pets.

As one backpacker we’ve met said, “Safari is like nothing else!  It’s the exact opposite of the zoo, because the animals roam free and you’re caged in the car!)

Unlike most driving, on safari time flies by and soon we noticed it was almost closing time.  Turning around, we navigated down the gravel roads as quickly as possible but there was no way we would make it out on time.

This turned out to work in our benefit as we stumbled upon a night game drive shining their flashlights on 2 giant Rhino.–SCORE!!!!

Our first Rhino Spotting!

Our first Rhino Spotting!

After receiving a scolding from the guide for still being in the park, we hit the main road and were soon at the gate.

We had to sit at the gate for about 30 min as they found a guide to let us out, but at the time it was well worth it as we thought we saw a rare sighting.  SPOILER:  Rhinos aren’t a very rare sighting as we probably saw about 20+ in the next 2 days!

Travelers Tip:  While I don’t recommend staying in the park past closing time because you are unlikely to see any animals (it’s too dark unless you have a flood light like the game drivers) and it’s slightly more likely you could hit one running across the road, it isn’t a huge deal if you are late.  Just don’t be more than 10 min late otherwise the guard with the key will go back to their lodge and you’ll have to wait 30+ min for the gate guard to call them and have them bring the keys.

I take the pictures...Tom takes pictures of me takig pictures

I take the pictures…Tom takes pictures of me taking pictures

We got back to the campsite to discover we had set up camp next to one of the best game drivers in the park and his crew.

Somonzi (the game driver) has spent his entire life in game parks and is very passioniate about his work.

He spent the entire evening explaining behaviors of the Big 5.

Sitting around listening to stories around the campfire

Sitting around listening to stories around the campfire

The most interesting of which are the behaviors of Elephants (his personal favorites).

Elephants are a very smart species and take huge pride in heritage.

When an elder elephant is ready to pass, it finds a remote area to lay.  Once it dies, those who witness the death send a call to all the elephants around to come pay their respects.

Most will stay for up to a day, eventually leaving the closest relatives who will stay up to a week.

Supposedly after baby elephants are born the mama elephants will return with the babies to the area their ancestors died to show them their heritage.

Solomzi also educated us on the mating process of the Big 5 as well.

Ready to mate....

Ready to mate….

According to Solomzi, Monkeys are the only animals who mate for sport.  Every other animal is very strategic about this process and it’s part of the pride or clan as a whole to make sure the group as a whole survives and to keep males from fighting over females.

We looked at the clock well after midnight in disbelief how quickly the night had flown by.

We quickly brushed teeth and hurried to bed to catch a couple hours of sleep before heading out for a sunrise drive.

Sunrise in Pilanesburg

Sunrise in Pilanesburg

Solomzi was leading a private game drive at 6am and while he wasn’t able to invite us into the truck he did offer to let us follow him in the morning which turned out to be awesome as we spotted a very rare cat, the Caracel.

Caracel!!  Check out those ears!

Caracel!! Check out those ears!

Game Drives depart both at Sunrise and Sunset (as this is supposed to be the best time to spot animals) and come in all shapes and forms from buses that hold up to 30+ people to private hot air balloon rides to game walks with a guide.

Stopped behind Solomzi as we wait for the Wildebeest to cross

Stopped behind Solomzi as we wait for the Wildebeest to cross

The way I would do a game drive in the future!

The way I would do a game drive in the future!

We never paid for a game drive ourselves (although eventually or in the future when our bank account is a little more full we would for sure opt for a hot air balloon + game walk tour as those look bomb!) but we are definitely happy with our experience!

We trust Solomzi, but we found the best time in the park was late morning to mid day.  If we hadn’t needed to get gas and food we would have just driven all day as we were never at a loss for sites and there are so many areas of the park to check out.

After turning away from Solomzi’s group we had a spectacular day seeing Elephants, Dung Beetles, Hippos,Lilac-breasted Roller, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, crocodile,and Kudo,+ More Rhinos, Giraffes, Zebras, Impalas, Springbok, and Wildebeest ending the day with a triumphant spotting of the King of beasts Mufasa!

The biggest Elephant and meanest bull in the park, Uno

The biggest Elephant and meanest bull in the park, Uno

Uno walking after our car...you should see the video of this!

Uno walking after our car…

Check the video out here: Uno Chasing our car! 

A dung beetle at work

A dung beetle at work

Hippos chilling

Hippos chilling

Coming up for air

Coming up for air

Lilac-breasted Roller

Lilac-breasted Roller

A female Kudo...they always have birds on them

A female Kudo…they always have birds on them

Zebras...even though you spot a lot of them, they are always majestic looking!

Zebras…even though you spot a lot of them, they are always majestic looking!

RHINO!

RHINO!

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Kudo with the Iconic South African Horns

Kudo with the Iconic South African Horns

Croc hunting prey

Croc hunting prey

See Mufasa?

See Mufasa?

Our pictures of Mufasa didn’t turn out that well so check this out: The Lion King

The traffic jam we got stuck in while the game drivers tried to spot Mufasa

The traffic jam we got stuck in while the game drivers tried to spot Mufasa

Once again we were late getting out of the park because of the huge traffic jam we got caught in trying to spot the Lion.

This time only 10 min late there was someone waiting to let us out.

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Solomzi would be embaressed that I’m writing this (because he was quite helpful and friendly) but most game drivers are quite rude to solo drivers as they want your money.

As we were waiting to spot the Lion we had one game driver start yelling at us that we had to leave.  He told us the park was closed (we still had over a half hour to get out).

We kindly responded that we would leave if he would drive his truck out of our way as he was blocking the entire road…I guess he didn’t care that much since he didn’t move.

Despite our epic Lion spotting, (the only one of the trip!) the highlight of the day was when we had 10 elephant walk by, followed shortly by our 2 close encounters with Elephant Bulls.  (Both times the Bulls were within 10 feet of the car!)

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We got back to our campsite in time to do a little yoga, grill up some meats, and head to bed to wake up for one last day of game driving.

The first time I hit the splits deep enough to move into a back bend!

The first time I hit the splits deep enough to move into a back bend!

Followed by my best pigeon yet!

Followed by my best pigeon yet!

Our last day of game driving was slightly disappointing, but I think that’s only because we’d become desensitized to seeing Elephants, Rhinos, Zebras, and Giraffe–animals who we would stop and watch for minutes the first few days.  The poor impalas and wildebeest were getting no love from Courtmas by day 3.

Uno again upclose on Day 3.

Uno again up close on Day 3.

Our last day we did happen to spot 3 separate Jackal, more elephant, about 10 Rhino, including the one with the longest horn you’ve ever seen, and some baboons–which some find obnoxious but any type of Monkey never gets old to me!

Jackal

Jackal

Check out that horn!

Check out that horn!

Just hanging out by the dam

Just hanging out by the dam

Baboon Crossing!

Baboon Crossing!

Sunset with a herd of Wildebeest in the distance our last game drive.

Sunset with a herd of Wildebeest in the distance our last game drive.

Despite the amazing animals we saw, the best part of the trip may have been the Birthday Braai for Solomzi we had the last night in the park.

Tom and Solomzi braaiing up a storm!

Tom and Solomzi braaiing up a storm!

Not only was dinner amazing, but halfway through the feast it was decided that I couldn’t leave Africa without getting some cornrows.

Check out the do!

Check out the do!

Once again staying up way too late, we hit the road before sunrise to return our car on time.

Leaving early enough to get in a couple stops, we actually stopped in Hartbeespoort to get a couple pictures of their beautiful dam.

Cool waterfall from the old school bridge in Hartbeespoort

Cool waterfall from the old school bridge in Hartbeespoort

Life is chill at a backpackers.  (Taken in Namibia, but recently found on Tom's phone.)

Life is chill at a backpackers. (Taken in Namibia, but recently found on Tom’s phone.)

The next time we come back to South Africa we’ll definitely take a couple days to chill in this beautiful lake town after Safari!

We’re wrapping up our last day in South Africa at The Brown Sugar Backpackers once more to get our life in order before we head to South America.

What was your favorite Safari Animal?  Leave us a comment below!

Until next time…

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Comments 12

  1. Megan

    Ohhh Black Label, do I remember it fondly. Did you guys try the Savannah Dry cider? So surprisingly good.

  2. Lina

    Umm, this is incredible! So jealous! I had no idea you could do self drive safaris. How much did it end up costing you guys?

  3. Denise Callahan

    Hi Guys! We love reading about your adventures and seeing all the cool pictures! Thinking of you, enjoy the good Malbec in Argentina for us!

  4. Post
    Author
    admin

    We did Megan! Loved it…especially when the day had us drinking earlier than normal 😉 if you know what I mean!

    Did you see my post about Mzoli’s? I wish we had been able to get the experience you got! Crazy the diffferent time makes at that place! 🙂

  5. Post
    Author
    admin

    It was actually pretty cheap…Namibia was expensive! The rental car was R840 for 3 days, campsite was R910 and park pass for 3 days was R170. Right now the exchange rate is a little better than 10 to 1 so it was $64 a day without food and gas. We filled up twice at R400 and spent about R150 a day on food so it was just over $100 a day.

  6. Post
    Author
  7. Aunt Teresa

    OMG! What an experience. Definitely need to do this. Love all the animals–especially Uno –what a beast! Dung beetle-what a worker! I want a pet Impala! Impressive posting!
    Love you!
    Aunt T

  8. Post
    Author
    admin

    The dung beetles were actually a lot of fun to watch! They’ll stand on their arms and use their legs to push 🙂

  9. Post
    Author
  10. Mom

    The elephants! I always like them at zoos. I still think of PopPop taking me to the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum and seeing that gigantic elephant for the first time in the rotunda when I was probably around 6. I can’t imagine seeing them in their REAL home!

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