Practical questions
Pilanesberg National Park: frequently asked questions
The questions first-time Pilanesberg visitors ask, answered plainly with 2026 figures and a note wherever the board publishes nothing.
How much does it cost to enter Pilanesberg?
Since 1 December 2025 an international adult pays R748 (about $46) per day and a car R168 (about $10), so a foreign couple in a hire car pays R1,664 a day. South African adults pay R168 with ID, SADC adults R385, and South African children aged 5 to 12 R84. The board publishes no child rate for non-SADC visitors; agents quote R275 or R748. Many websites still show the old R110 and R80 rates, which ended on 30 November 2025.
Can I pay cash at the gate?
No. The gates went card only on 1 December 2025, in rand. The board does not say which cards work or whether tap and phone payments are accepted, so carry a chip-and-PIN card and a backup card. No Wild Card of any kind is accepted, because Pilanesberg is a provincial park run by the North West Parks and Tourism Board, not by SANParks.
Is Pilanesberg malaria-free?
Yes. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases risk map dated 2 December 2025 places all of North West Province outside every malaria risk zone. That makes Pilanesberg, with Madikwe, the malaria-free choice for families who would otherwise go to Kruger. Summer heat and sun are the health risks to plan for.
How far is Pilanesberg from Johannesburg?
Plan on 2.5 to 3 hours by road. Without traffic the route planner gives 2 h 25 from Sandton to Manyane gate and 2 h 46 from OR Tambo; Lanseria airport is closest at about 2 hours. Pilanesberg's own airport near Sun City has had no commercial flights since its terminal burned on 29 August 2023.
Can I self-drive in Pilanesberg?
Yes, that is how most visitors see it. Four tarred roads (Kubu, Kgabo, Tshwene and Tau) cross the crater, with gravel loops between them. A normal car manages the tar, but the board itself says some gravel roads are in poor condition, and potholes were reported on the tar in 2026, so a high-clearance car is better if you plan the loops. Self-driving after gate closing is not allowed.
What are the gate times?
They change with the month: 05:30 to 19:00 from November to February, 06:00 to 18:30 in March, April, September and October, and 06:30 to 18:00 from May to August. Entry usually stops an hour before closing. Latecomers may be fined; no amount is published.
When is the best time to visit?
May to October, when the bush thins and animals gather at the dams; the .org guide picks mid-July to mid-October. Winter mornings are cold, with July lows around 3 °C in Rustenburg. December to February is hot and green with afternoon storms and thicker bush, and Sun City's holiday crowds.
How many days do I need?
A long day trip from Johannesburg covers the main tar roads and a hide. Two or three nights let you be at the gate at opening, when animals are most active and the day-tripper queues have not yet built up. Remember that every extra day adds R748 per foreign adult in fees.
Are children allowed, and what do they pay?
Children are welcome on self-drive and on scheduled drives. South African children aged 5 to 12 pay R84 and SADC children R275; the non-SADC child rate is disputed. No source states that under-5s enter free, although the paid band starts at 5. Some private-reserve lodges take guests aged 16 and up only, and the hot-air balloon has a minimum age of 7.
How do I book a campsite?
Call Golden Leopard Resorts on +27 (0)14 555 1000. It runs the campsites at Bakgatla and Manyane, priced per site for up to six people: R322 a night midweek and R390 at weekends for a non-electrified site at Bakgatla (2026). Manyane lost its restaurant and reception in a fire in February 2024; its campsite was not damaged.
Can I combine Pilanesberg with Sun City?
Easily. Sun City borders the park on the south, and Kwa-Maritane gate is about 7 km from the resort. A Sun City day ticket costs from R395 per adult and R290 per child aged 3 to 12, including the Valley of Waves. Mankwe Gametrackers runs game drives that pick up at the Sun City Welcome Centre.
Can I combine Pilanesberg with Madikwe or Kruger?
Madikwe is the other malaria-free reserve in North West Province, and the two parks share wildlife: a Pilanesberg leopard was moved to Madikwe in August 2026. Kruger is a separate, longer trip, and the main reason families pick Pilanesberg over it is malaria. The comparison tool on this site now sets the two side by side.