Private Tour
2-Days Pilanesberg best chance to view "Big 5" with private extended safari
Overview
Available languages
48 hours
Mobile ticket
A large amount of this trip is private and therefore more flexible. As part of our package, we provide an additional private extended game drive (5 hours+) with our vehicle going a little further into the reserve than the lodge’s vehicle, two drives in total. Because our driver/guide is very experienced it maximizes your game viewing and animals seen .
On the Mmilo private extended drive, we get out and walk at the waterholes and dams at the special viewing points. This enables you to experience the sounds, sights, and smells of the reserve more closely. Our private transfer to the lodge and back is done in our SUV. On the way to or from the safari, we can add visits to other attractions such as the Elephant Sanctuary and Sun City - additional charge will apply.
This is also the best and most cost-effective option for a short safari from Cape Town where there is no option for a safari that is authentic and worthwhile. Just fly into Lanseria airport. We pick you up from there.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by at least 1 adult
Infant seats are available for transfer vehicle on request if advised at time of booking
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Operates in all weather conditions but please bring warm jacket even in summer and hat and scarf in winter as wind generated by the OSV can be chill. Please wear comfortable walking shoes to assist climbing into the OSV and walking to waterholes and viewing spots.
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
Pilanesberg Game Reserve
Accommodations
Bakubung or Kwa Maritane Bush Lodges inside Pilanesberg Reserve. Depending upon availability you will stay at either.
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Pilanesberg National Park
You will be collected at the location address supplied by you by one of our fully qualified National Tour Guides. You shall pass over the Hartbeespoort Dam situated against the impressive backdrop of the cliffs of the world’s of the Magaliesberg. In the area too, are the Ukutula Lion Centre, the Elephant Sanctuary, Mountain Cableway, and the Chameleon Market, Africa’s biggest craft market, then past the world’s richest platinum mines and Sun City. After booking this tour you can discuss with us stopping at some of these attractions. On entering the Pilanesberg Reserve gate you might see your first animals as we drive to the lodge and also while you are having lunch on the lodges sunny dining terrace looking into the reserve. Thereafter our guide will assist with check in to your room and leave you to get ready for your first open vehicle safari drive with other lodge guests starting an hour or so before sunset.Spend the night at Bakubung Bush Lodge ( or Kwa Maritane).
After arriving at Pilanesberg on and entering the reserve on Day 1. you will be taken on a private 5 hour safari in one of our special game viewing SUV's by your very experienced guide. All our guides know Pilanesberg and its animals very well. You will stop for lunch at one of the terraced restaurants overlooking the reserve with animals often approaching close. After your game drive you will check in to Bakubung or Kwa Maritane lodge and have dinner. The next day at dawn join an open vehicle game drive in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve returning for breakfast on the dining terrace overlooking the Pilanesberg again.
Kwa Maritane is the sister lodge to Bakubung . Both are operated by Legacy Hotels to their impeccable standards and supplying exactltly the same level of service. Depending on availability for your dates you will stay at either Bakubung or Kwa Maritane.
Pilanesberg National Park
Enjoy an extended private game drive inside Pilanesberg Game Reserve. This drive should be up to 5 hours long. It will include sunset and dusk the time when the predators Lion, Leopard and Cheetahs are most active. It is impssible to predict a wild place but all of the iconic animals of Africa are here in Pilanesberg 1000's of themn roaming free
Open Vehicle Game Drive shared with other guests
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Pilanesberg National Park
At dawn enjoy a shared game drive with other guests for 3 hours in open sided safari vehicle. Then return to the lodge for a delicious multi-coursed buffet style breakfast on the dining terrace. Return to your room for a short relax or perhaps a quick dip in the large swimming pool. Your guide will collect you at around 10.30am to assist with check out and luggage and then return you to Joburg getting there by 1-2.00pm. We can speed this up if you have a flight to catch or if you want to see one of the attractions on the way ( Elephant Sanctuary, Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre, Sun City, Ukutula Lions, Pretoria City Centre and the Voortrekker Monument/Museum or other you care to mention) and get back later. ( Entrance and extra time fees will be chargeable by your guide).
Johannesburg
Our guide will return you to Johannesburg.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
National Park fees
Lunch
Dinner
Breakfast
Local taxes
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Gratuities
Lunch on Day 2
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
2-Days Pilanesberg best chance to view "Big 5" with private extended safari
Pickup included
Reviews
12 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Mmilo Tours makes your Safari a total experience
peter3008,,Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything worked perfectly with Mmilo Tours, booking and communication before Safari stay was easy, fast and professional. Our stay at Tshukudu Lodge was fantastic. Logden is located with a unique view of the area, in addition, the staff and the service at the site are in a special class. Last but not least, the Safari experience was the best, our guide Pierre was incredibly knowledgeable and told passionately about both the animals, birds and the area's flora and fauna. Many thanks to Pierre, who gave us an unforgettable experience. Mmilo Tours, we're going to safari again so we know who's gonna arrange it.
The perfect trip to Pillanesberg with the best guide ever
143antoniocarlosd,,Feb 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00For our first trip to South Africa, I looked for an animal sighting tour that would accommodate the needs of our family party, including myself, my 85 y/o mother, and an 18 y/o nephew. Our Choice could not have been better. Mmilo Tours offered us exactly what we were looking for, a private 2-day tour to Pillanersberg in a comfortable SUV just for us and definitely the most knowledgeable guide in the country, Mr. Willem Heckroodt. Apart from knowing the geography of South Africa in detail, which meant a lot to us since I am a professor in physical geography and my mum Emerita in the same field, Willem is a great conversationalist and a professional who anticipates and caters to all your needs. He excels in every aspect you would expect from a tourist Guide and made us feel at ease at all times, turning the trip into a unique learning experience and a relaxing and pleasurable one. I am incredibly grateful for his efforts to make the whole experience easy for my octagenarian mother, such as producing a plastic step stool to help her access the vehicle. Hence, I thoroughly recommend the services of Mmilo Tours without a hint of hesitation; they have always been helpful and proactive since our first contact. Their highly professional attitude has added to our satisfaction with the South African experience and made us wish to come back soon.
Great Trip to Pilanesberg
JoburgJim,,Aug 4, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had such a great experience on our trip to Pilanesberg organized by Mmilo Tours. We saw all the Big Five including two great encounters with Leopards. Every aspect was perfectly planned and carried out by Mmilo. Francois Rix ensured everything was well-taken care of.
Highly Recommend! Ask for Anton.
P9128EEjonathanr,,Jul 9, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful trip and Anton, our guide, was excellent and welcoming. I recommend Mmilo Tours for its personal touch and flexibility. Anton went out of his way to ensure we had everything needed. He knew the park quite well and offered a personal touch to everything we did. Bakubung Lodge was also *wonderful.* Our biggest regret is not staying there longer! The food was really nice and the "proper braai" after our evening safari was a wonderful, authentic experience. We had a basic room, and it was roomy, spacious, and offered plenty of natural light. There was a full tub and shower, with plenty of hot water after a nice day in the park.
Best RSA Safari Tour!!!
jcwbesq,,Feb 18, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It would be impossible to explain how incredible this tour provider is, but I’ll try. We engaged Mmilo Tours for the 3-day Kruger NP private tour after extensive research of more than a dozen providers for a specific 3-5 day window. We engaged, booked specific flights within South Africa, and graciously, Mmilo added a morning drive before our flight out of Nelspruit on top of our previously arranged tour. Yes, it was reasonably priced…, but a significant amount for two couples. We paid everything before even entering RSA with knowledge of no refunds. Then nature happened. Rain. More rain. Flooding. More flooding. The Crocodile River reached historic flooding levels and Kruger NP was closed. People in the park required emergency food, water & extraction. However, we were located in Port Elizabeth the evening before taking two flights into Nelspruit. Given Stage 3 Load Shedding (blackouts), we were unable to receive communications via email, WhatsApp, etc. Mmilo, and Norman Lok, arranged to change our tour to Pilanesberg NP. They arranged with our airline to intercept us in Johannesburg international airport; they caught us in time to prevent us from flying into the flooding. Mmilo arranged everything to replace our Kruger experience in Pilanesberg NP. Everything. Yes, we had to rebook, and purchase new flights back to Cape Town for our international flight itinerary, though otherwise, Mmilo made all necessary new travel arrangements to our private lodging in the bush! Pilanesberg NP was incredible! Tshukudu Game Lodge was incredible, times 100! Bobo Malebye (our private guide) was spectacular!!! I could go on, and on, and on… BOTTOM LINE: you cannot book a better service than Mmilo. #period
Memorable Pilanesberg Safari
prayingman,,Mar 12, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! We were impressed by Willem’s (tour guide) timeliness and enthusiasm. He was passionate about the adventure. He has incredible knowledge about animals and nature in the region. He even gave us details about the history of the country throughout the drive to the lodge. We will definitely book another Safari in the future and request his services.
Pilanesberg Safari with Willem
MelW20202,,Mar 11, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went on a 2-day Safari with our guide Willem. From on time pick up to drop off, this was an unforgettable tour. We saw many different animals and Willem was extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the country and the animals. This tour is highly recommended.
Great experience and great guide
LaurenH4891,,Mar 10, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I ended up on this trip rather last minute, and Patrick was incredibly helpful in only a few days notice. He arranged everything from transport to accommodations to tours, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. My guide, Willy, was a lovely man who taught me about a lot about of the history of South Africa as well as about the wildlife here. You could tell he was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his country. It was a great experience that I highly recommend!
Amazing Experience with Mmilo Tours with An awesome guide
Arpana P,,Sep 9, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Patrick from Mmilo tours helped us book all our south Africa Trip including all the pick ups to and from the airport and an amazing amazing safari. He was very helpful in planning according to our needs and timings and was very responsive on the emails and even called me a few times to go over all the reservations.He organised every little detail of the trip and personalized the trip according to us.The guide- Willem was very very knowledgeable, very polite, great driver and a perfect company for us. He took us to all the important sites as we were short on time, described everything and answered all our questions. Willem is the best guide we have had on all our trips. Thank you Patrick and Wilem for making our vacation awesome. If you are travelling to South Africa - don't hesitate to book through them. Greatest customer service.
Wonderful Experience with Mmilo and Great Guide
reyrey85,,Jul 31, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was my fiance and I first trip to Joburg and I am thankful I picked Mmilo Tours for my safari experience. Patrick contacted us and gave us good advice on our itinerary and how best to maximize our time. Special mention for Willem our guide on this journey, he was on time, the car journey was comfortable and he was so happy to share his knowledge with us. We first went to Ukutula Reserve and went on to Pilanesberg Reserve. Both locations were perfect and really created a lovely memory for us. Highly recommend for anyone and when I am back, I will be looking for them again!
Related Experiences
Operated by Mmilo Tours