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Johannesburg Nature & adventure

Our most recommended Johannesburg Nature & adventure

From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

1. From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

Visit Pilanesberg Game Reserve on a full-day safari from Johannesburg, where over 7000 animals roam freely. Have the chance to see big 5 game animals (elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffalos, and lions). Enjoy 2 extensive game drives in a jeep with a guide and a delicious lunch. Be picked up from your hotel in Johannesburg in the early morning and relax on the 2.5-hour drive to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Follow your guide on a drive to encounter animals like zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, jackals, antelopes, and over 300 species of birds. A total of 4.5 to 5 hours are spent on Game Drives. During the heat of the day, sit down for an hour-long delectable lunch at one of the many rest camps in the Game Reserve. After lunch, depart on an afternoon safari drive in an open vehicle. Ask your guide any questions you might have about the animals and the natural environment. Leave Pilanesberg in the late afternoon to get back to your hotel in Johannesburg before sunset.

Johannesburg: 2-Day 4-Star Pilanesberg Safari

2. Johannesburg: 2-Day 4-Star Pilanesberg Safari

This national park covers an area of 55,000 hectares. More than 7,000 animals live here in a free and unhindered environment, and Pilanesberg is home to all of the "Big 5" (elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffalo, and lions). Other animals that you may encounter are zebra, giraffe, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, jackals, wild cats, various antelope, and over 300 bird species. Pilanesberg offers over 200 kilometers of roads for guided or self-drive game viewing. Day 1: After being picked up in Johannesburg, you will depart to Pilanesberg. You will enter the park for a morning game drive in a closed, air-conditioned vehicle, before arriving to the lodge at around midday. You will then eat lunch, before enjoying an open 4x4 vehicle safari drive in the afternoon. You will then return for dinner. Day 2: Wake up early for hot beverages and then depart for a sunrise game drive in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Return for a hearty breakfast, then pack up before being collected for a game drive in the reserve in a minivan. Depart mid-afternoon for the return journey to Johannesburg.

From Johannesburg: Kruger National Park 3-Day Safari

3. From Johannesburg: Kruger National Park 3-Day Safari

Get back to nature in Kruger National Park and look for wild animals by open safari vehicle by day and at night. Day 1: Depart Johannesburg and drive by air-conditioned microbus through the Elands Valley to Nelspruit. Marvel at the citrus farms along the way. Then, enter Kruger National Park in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon on a game drive looking for elephants, giraffes, and antelopes in their natural environment. Rest at camp and relax in your en-suite chalet. Enjoy drinks before dinner in the private restaurant. Day 2: Wake at dawn to listen to the birds before going in search of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo). Enjoy a hearty breakfast, then continue to a waterhole to see hippos, crocodiles, and birds before returning to your camp for a nap or afternoon swim. Later, leave the lodge to look for wildlife until late in the afternoon. Stop at one of the restaurants inside the park to have some lunch, then continue tracking wildlife. In the evening, head back to the lodge to relax and start looking at the photos you've taken so far on the trip. Day 3: Depart on an early morning game drive looking for elusive species lurking in the bush. Get some time to shop before your homeward journey. Enjoy amazing views of the farmlands of Schoemans Kloof and stop for lunch in Highveld. Arrive back at the airport for your onward flight or continue to your hotel.

From Johannesburg: Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

4. From Johannesburg: Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

On this half-day tour, your tour guide will collect you from your accommodations in Johannesburg and take the Lion Park, a natural habitat located not far outside of Johannesburg.  Upon arrival at the Lion Park, you will enjoy 1-hour open vehicle safari drive where you will have the opportunity to view these wonderful animals up close and personal. You will then be driven back to your accommodations in Johannesburg.

From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg National Park Safari

5. From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg National Park Safari

Enjoy a convenient pickup from your Johannesburg accommodation or directly from O.R. Tambo International Airport and make your way to the North West Province. Travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle and learn interesting facts from your knowledgeable guide on your drive.  Once you arrive at the Pilanesberg National Park, keep a lookout for Africa's Big Five along with the abundance of wildlife that calls this park home. Spot giraffes, wildebeest, elephants, impala, and many other animals. Learn about the fauna and flora from your guide and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the African bush.  Your wildlife safari concludes after around four or five hours in the park, after which you'll travel back to Johannesburg and end your day back at your accommodation or O.R. Tambo International Airport. 

Pilanesberg Wildlife Safari from Johannesburg

6. Pilanesberg Wildlife Safari from Johannesburg

Discover the “Big Five” of South Africa on a full-day safari tour of Pilanesberg National Park. Embark on an open jeep vehicle safari and see the beauty of Pilanesberg Nature Reserve. Your ranger will show you what Pilanesberg has to offer. From Elephants walking in the road past your vehicle, to various antelopes and not to mention the Magnificent king of the beasts, the Lion. You can also choose an option to view the reserve and animals in a closed minibus vehicle. You will be picked up from your hotel in Johannesburg or Pretoria and transported safely to Pilanesberg. Drive past the scenic Hartebeestpoortdam and the Magaliesberg Mountains. Upon arrival at Pilanesberg you will switch vehicles to an open safari vehicle. Your guide of the open vehicle will drive you through the Nature Reserve and guide you on the animals that crosses your path. You will have lunch and then continue with your open safari adventure. Enjoy excellent game viewing opportunities in a malaria-free climate. When your safari is finished you will switch back to your closed vehicle and you will be transported back to your hotel safely.

Pilanesberg Full-Day Shared Safari with Sun City Visit

7. Pilanesberg Full-Day Shared Safari with Sun City Visit

Depart at 6:00 AM from Johannesburg for a full-day excursion to explore Pilanesberg National Park and Sun City Resort. Sit back and enjoy the two-hour journey to Pilanesberg, passing by the scenic Magaliesberg Mountains and the picturesque Hartbeespoort Dam. The Pilanesberg National Park lies in a caldera of an extinct 1200 million-year-old volcano and is dramatically beautiful with mountains, plains, wooded valleys, and dams. Over 7,000 animals roam freely across the spectacular volcanic landscape, including the Big Five, predators, and a large variety of antelope. Mankwe Dam, at the center of the reserve, is a large watering hole that draws animals and birds to it on a daily basis. See all this beauty and more on a 3-hour 4x4 morning game drive through the Park. Feel the wind in your hair and the thrill of getting closer to nature in an open-air safari vehicle. Keep your eyes peeled for stealthy predators such as wild dogs, Cape foxes, and spotted hyenas. Then, you will be transferred to Sun City Resort, an oasis of leisure and relaxation that shimmers in the sun, only 1 km away from the National Park. The world’s most unique resort is internationally renowned for its glamorous casinos, gourmet restaurants, extensive sports facilities, and star-studded spectaculars. After an orientation tour, enjoy some free time to have lunch or stroll through the beautiful gardens. As the sun starts to set you will embark on an afternoon game drive in your own vehicle through the park. After your game drive concludes, depart for your return trip to Johannesburg, where you will arrive at your hotel between 8:00 and 9:00 PM depending on the time you left the Park. 

Johannesburg: Day Trip to Cradle of Humankind and Game Drive

8. Johannesburg: Day Trip to Cradle of Humankind and Game Drive

Discover the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Safari, an established tourist destination. The park offers a wealth of exciting activities including a 4x4 game drive for 2.5 hours. With over 600 game, this is the perfect setting for admiring nature on your doorstep. More than thirty species of game, including three of the big five, can be viewed from open vehicles in the presence of an experienced registered local guide. These include Kruger Lion, White Rhino and Buffalo. Endangered species, such as wild dog have been reintroduced into the area. Cheetah, hippo, crocodile and more than 20 species of antelope will also be part of this experience. From a vulture hide, the visitor has the opportunity to view and photograph the rare Cape Vulture. After visiting the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Park, continue to the Cradle of Humankind Sterkfontein Caves (Subject to availability), here you can see the oldest hominid fossils from the cradle which are more than 3 million years old. Visit the exhibition center, which showcases geological concepts such as cave formations and fossils of early life form. It is highly interactive and enjoyable, and will engage visitors off all ages.

Johanessburg: 3-Day Pilanesberg Camping Adventure

9. Johanessburg: 3-Day Pilanesberg Camping Adventure

Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa’s fourth largest game park, is situated in a crater in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province. This crater is the product of a volcano that erupted many millions of years ago, and has evolved to become one of the most fascinating landscapes for you to visit. Pilanesberg offers over 200 kilometers of roads for guided or self-drive game viewing. Throughout your tour you will enjoy an extensive game drive, conducted by an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide who will answer all your questions about the fascinating wildlife and environment. Day 1: After being picked up in Johannesburg, you will depart for Pilanesberg. You will enter the park for a morning game drive in a closed, air-conditioned vehicle. At around midday you will be provided with some free time for lunch, followed by check-in at your camp. In the afternoon you will continue to explore in an open 4x4 vehicle safari drive. You will later have dinner, which will be prepared by your guide at Bakgatla or Manyane Camp. Day 2: You will start your day with an early morning game drive in an open-roof vehicle. You will then return to the lodge for breakfast. At midday you will have some time for relaxation and lunch, before enjoying another afternoon open-roof vehicle drive. You will later have dinner, which will be prepared by your guide at Bakgatla or Manyane Camp. Day 3: Wake up early for hot beverages and then depart for a 3-hour sunrise game drive in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Return for a hearty breakfast; pack up and be ready for collection between 10:30 – 11:30am for a closed vehicle (Minivan) game drive in the reserve . Depart mid-afternoon between 15:00 – 15:15 for the return journey to Johannesburg.

From Johannesburg: 2-Day Safari into Kruger National Park

10. From Johannesburg: 2-Day Safari into Kruger National Park

Look for the legendary wildlife of South Africa on a thrilling 2-day safari in Kruger National Park. Day 1: Benefit from pickup at O. R. Tambo International Airport or your hotel in Johannesburg, and then travel via a panoramic route to Kruger National Park. Head to your accommodation which is based in Hazyview outside the Kruger National Park to freshen up before your 2 hour evening game drive. Look for majestic lions, leopards, and other big cats out for the hunt. Return to camp to enjoy dinner around the camp fire. Day 2: Wake early for a morning game drive when the animals are at their most active. Search for big cats heading home from their nighttime hunts, and hyenas scavenging for remains. Return to camp for breakfast and a last chance to encounter animals in the wild before the drive back to Johannesburg.

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What people are saying about Johannesburg

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 171 reviews

We really enjoyed the Safari. We were picked up on time. Ben (Safari guide) was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed the tour. We saw rhino, elephants, giraffe, kudu, impala, zebra, hippopotamus, crocodile, puff adder. Ben was sorry we didn’t see lions, leopards but we felt we had seen plenty! It was a hot day so they were probably hiding / sleeping in the long grass. Lunch was very nice. Remember to take sunscreen and water. It was a long day as we were staying at the airport, but well worth it. We would highly recommend.

Picked up bright and early to drive across to the game park. It was a reasonably comfortable drive/vehicle and once we got to the reserve it was great. Got in the safari vehicle and quickly saw 2 out of the big 5 within 30 minutes. We then saw the other two later in the day only missing buffalo. Our tour operator was friendly and very knowledgeable

Tumi guided us through the park and went the extra mile to show us amazing animals. We were able to see cheetahs from really nearby, same goes for the elephants. Besides those aminals, we were able to see plenty more. Highly recommended tour.

My wife and I really enjoyed the drive to and from DaVinci Hotel to the Lion Park; and we had a fantastic & excellent experience seeing lions (and a variety of other animals) at very close range during the tour of the Lion Park.

It was a great experience. We saw so many animals and our driver was really happy to show us everything and tell us about all animals. Loved all day.