Safari

From Johannesburg: Full-Day Big Five Safari Experience with Lunch at Pilanesberg Nature Reserve

Spend an unhurried day in Pilanesberg National Park with at most 10 guests per vehicle, enjoying extended game viewing from an open safari truck.

Get picked up from your Johannesburg hotel or meet at Manyane Gate for a 9am departure, then board your game-viewing vehicle and roll into the reserve.

Spend five hours on safari with rangers in radio contact, so your vehicle responds to wildlife sightings while you cover different areas of the park.

Pause midday for a bush braai, with grilled meats, pap, chakalaka and sides, then continue your drive with chilled drinks on board.

Choose the variant that suits you, include Pilanesberg conservation and entry fees in your booking or opt for safari only if you have park access.

Full-day small-group open-vehicle game drive

Traditional bush braai lunch with beverages

Additional bottled water and refreshing drinks

Pickup and drop-off in Johannesburg

Radio network for enhanced game viewing

Park conservation and entrance fees [as per option selected]

Gratuities

TOTAL DURATION7 hours 50 minutes - 8 hours
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Van
Timeline
Map
Start point
Johannesburg
Get direction
3 hr 17 min by a/c van
187 km
1. Pilanesberg National Park
Tickets included
5 hr
1 activity
Guided tour, Vehicle tour & Lunch
Spend the day exploring one of South Africa’s accessible Big Five reserves, with around five hours of game-drive time. The reserve’s varied landscapes and waterholes create plenty of opportunities to observe wildlife in different settings.
Things to do
Open-Vehicle Big Five Safari
Included in price
Traditional Bush Braai Lunch
Included in price
3 hr 20 min by a/c van
216 km
End point
Johannesburg
Get direction
Your ending point would be same as your start point

You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

481 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Oct 2026
You really get a jam-packed day with this Pilanesberg trip from Pretoria—seriously, get ready for an early start and a late ride home. The drive over is easy and feels safe, and you hop into an open vehicle with a roof that lets you see everything around you. Our guide knew a ton about the animals and plants, and thanks to their tips, I ended up counting over sixteen different species—lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras, even a lone leopard chilling in a tree, not to mention all the types of wildebeest we saw. I was over the moon! Lunch was a proper braai on a hillside with views of a dam, and we watched hippos splashing around while we ate. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to spend a day if you want to make the most of your time in Pretoria or Johannesburg and really get into the wild side of South Africa.
Oct 2026
Loved the small group and the open-air safari truck—gave us great views of the landscape and animals. It was always a surprise when animals turned up, from elephants to rhinos. The guides knew where to look but of course, the animals are wild so you never know who you’ll see. Really cool outing even if you miss a few of the Big Five.
Sep 2026
The full day in Pilanesberg National Park was packed from sunrise until late afternoon, giving us plenty of time to get lost in the wildlife. We had a smooth and safe drive out of Pretoria, then switched to an open-air truck with good seats and wide views all around. I was amazed at how many animals we managed to spot—lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras, even a leopard chilling up in a tree, plus a bunch of other creatures. I lost count after sixteen types! Lunch was a proper braai up on a hill looking over a dam with hippos floating in the water below. The guides clearly knew their stuff, pointing out all sorts of plants and animals along the way. If you don’t have loads of time but want a real taste of the bush, I honestly think this is a top pick, whether you’re based in Pretoria or Joburg.
Sep 2026
If you’re starting out in Pretoria, this full-day trip over to Pilanesberg packs in a ton of wildlife watching. The ride to the park felt safe and the open-sided vehicle had cozy seats plus epic views in all directions. Our guide really put in a lot of effort to help us learn and spot plenty of animals—from lions and giraffes to elephants and a lone leopard hanging out in a tree, even spotted more than sixteen different kinds overall! Lunch was a proper braai up on a hill with hippos chilling in the dam below. This trip is a great pick if you want to see lots of animals in just one day, especially if you’re not in South Africa for long.
Sep 2026
This safari was a good fit for our group of friends who wanted a one-day adventure outside Joburg. The open vehicle meant amazing views and everyone had space to take photos. Our guide really knew his stuff and was happy to answer questions without rushing us through each animal sighting. Lunch out in the bush was something special—lots of local flavors and drinks. Only little downside: you don’t always see all the Big Five, but it’s still a wonderful way to spend a day if you love wildlife and want an easy, comfortable outing.

Track Pilanesberg’s Big Five on a full-day small-group open-vehicle safari with a traditional bush braai lunch.

Getting started

Your day begins with pickup from your hotel or lodge in Johannesburg. After a short transfer, you enter Pilanesberg via the designated gate and board your open safari vehicle in a small group of up to 10 passengers. Once everyone is seated and the radio communication network is checked, you set off on your scheduled full-day game drive.

What to expect

Pilanesberg Nature Reserve

Pilanesberg Nature Reserve is a Big Five wildlife area, visited here on a structured full-day tour. You spend approximately 5 hours of total driving time in an open vehicle, with a separate 1-hour stop for lunch inside the reserve.

Features

Wildlife viewing takes place from a full-day small-group open-vehicle game drive, giving you elevated views across the bush as you search for Big Five species and other animals along the reserve’s roads and waterholes.

Your guide stays in contact with other vehicles through a radio network for enhanced game viewing, helping the group respond quickly to notable wildlife sightings during the drive.

Around midday, you pause for a traditional bush braai lunch with beverages, featuring grilled meats, pap, chakalaka, coleslaw, and sides, served at a designated stop inside the reserve.

Additional bottled water and refreshing drinks are provided throughout the drive so you can stay hydrated while you are out in the African sun.

Pick-up and drop-off in Johannesburg are included, so your transport to and from Pilanesberg is handled for you as part of the experience.

Park conservation and entrance fees are covered according to the option selected, with the “Shared Small-Group Safari with Park Entry Tickets Included” variant including all park conservation and entrance fees in the tour price.

Additional information

Departure time: The safari departs promptly at 9am from Manyane Gate or Johannesburg.

Return time: You return to the departure area at approximately 3pm.

Group size: Each open safari vehicle accommodates a maximum of 10 passengers.

Safari duration: You spend about 5 hours driving in the reserve plus a 1-hour lunch stop.

Pickup and drop-off: Pickup and drop-off are provided from any Johannesburg hotel or nearby lodge or guesthouse.

Park entry tickets: Park conservation and entrance fees are included or excluded depending on the option selected.

Entry included option: If you select the "Shared Small-Group Safari with Park Entry Tickets Included", your park fees are covered.

Entry excluded option: If you select the "Shared Small-Group Safari without Park Entry Tickets", park entry tickets are not included.

Age information: No specific age requirements are mentioned for this safari.

Seasonality: The tour has no stated seasonal availability restrictions.

Weather notes: No specific weather-related conditions are mentioned for this experience.

Accessibility note: No information is provided about accessibility for this safari.

Travel insurance: Travel insurance is not included, and it is highly recommended that you arrange it separately.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.

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