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    Pilanesberg National Park & Sun City

    South Africa

    Pilanesberg National Park & Sun City

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    The Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Johannesburg and is the closest Big Five safari to the metropolis. Right next door is the Sun City hotel and entertainment complex.

    by Felix Gillen

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    7. Pilanesberg National Park & Sun City
    The Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Johannesburg and is the closest Big Five safari to the metropolis. Right next door is the Sun City hotel and entertainment complex. The area is considered malaria-free.
    The park fills the interior of a collapsed volcano, around 1.2 billion years old, with ring-shaped hills surrounding a central lake. Its excellent network of asphalt and gravel roads makes it ideal for self-drivers, with observation hides available at the waterholes. You can stay in camps and lodges within the park, or at the hotels of Sun City, which offers a contrasting program with its water park, casino, and golf courses. Many visitors come from Johannesburg for a weekend getaway. Check if health precautions are necessary for your trip using the link to the Foreign Office on the country page.

    More places in Pilanesberg National Park & Sun City

    Sun City

    Sun City

    Sun City is a large hotel and leisure complex, about 2.5 hours' drive northwest of Johannesburg, directly by Pilanesberg National Park. Its casino, golf, Valley of Waves water park, and The Palace of the Lost City luxury hotel make it a popular weekend escape for the city.

    Sights in Pilanesberg National Park & Sun City

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Pilanesberg-Nationalpark

    The National Park lies within an ancient, collapsed volcano, its ring-shaped hills encircling the area. It is home to the Big Five, plus giraffes, zebras, and many antelopes. Explore the park independently by car or on guided game drives.
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    Nearby

    Sun City

    Sun City

    Sun City is a large hotel and leisure complex, about 2.5 hours' drive northwest of Johannesburg, directly by Pilanesberg National Park. Its casino, golf, Valley of Waves water park, and The Palace of the Lost City luxury hotel make it a popular weekend escape for the city.
    Cradle of Humankind

    Cradle of Humankind

    The Cradle of Humankind northwest of Johannesburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most significant sites worldwide for early hominins. In the Sterkfontein Caves, among other discoveries, “Mrs. Ples” and “Little Foot” were found; the Maropeng Visitor Centre vividly explains human evolution.
    Marakele National Park

    Marakele National Park

    The Marakele National Park is situated on the western edge of the Waterberg, a good three-hour drive north of Johannesburg. Between forested gorges and high mountain ridges live the Big Five and one of the world's largest breeding colonies of Cape Vultures.
    Pretoria

    Pretoria

    Pretoria, part of the metropolitan municipality of Tshwane, is the seat of government of South Africa. The Union Buildings, the Voortrekker Monument, and Freedom Park tell two very different chapters of the country's history. In October, thousands of Jacaranda trees dye the streets purple.
    Gauteng

    Gauteng

    Gauteng, South Africa's smallest but most populous province, features Johannesburg and Pretoria, just 50 kilometres apart, forming the country's economic heart. For visitors, the focus is on the history of Apartheid and resistance, a vibrant art and culinary scene, plus the fossil sites of the Cradle of Humankind.

    Sources & method

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