Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
Be taken on a tour in the 4th largest reserve in South Africa the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve and feel the excitement as you enter into the wilderness and witness our Wildlife face to face in their own habitat and know you have connected with Mother Nature in a very special way and never to be forgotten.
Witness the Monkey Sanctuary where rescued primates have been released back into their own habitat and given a new lease on life.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Pilanesberg National Park
Feel the excitement of knowing you are about to take a journey into uncharted areas where it is you and Africa’s most feared creatures by exploring their territory, by their rules. You will be collected from the Hotel at 05h00 and proceed to the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve that spans an area of 550 square kilometers, the home of the BIG FIVE. Here we will drive around in the safety of our vehicle and feel the tension mounting that at any moment just around a corner and spot a herd of elephant or the king himself the lion or if luck the ever elusive leopard. With hunger setting in we will stop off at the Zebra Crossing Restaurant in the park for lunch. Without a doubt you will feel the sensation of total tranquility of the African bush and know that that feeling will linger with you for eternity. After about 4 to 5 hours of game drive we will set of once again for the Monkey sanctuary.
Bush Babies Monkey Sanctuary
The Monkey sanctuary is a privately owned sanctuary covering approximately 7 ha situated alongside the Magaliesberg Mountain Range. All the monkeys are taken in by the reserve from public donations and are funded by the guiding fees charged. Primates such as our Squirrel, Spider and Capuchin monkeys are given a new lease on life at the Sanctuary. Previously raised as house pets or breed for the pet trade, the monkeys are introduced into the wild world laden with waterfalls, lush vegetation, natural mountain springs. This gives them the chance to get back in their natural habitat.
Options
Safari Pilanesberg Nature Reserve & Monkey Sanctuary
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Bottled water
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Pictures during the tour will be taken for you and placed onto Dropbox
Sit on the deck over looking the water hole at the Zebra Crossing Restaurant in the centre of the reserve.
Any Additional purchases
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
11 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Incredible Experience – Highly Recommended 🦒
A818QQlisas,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This experience was truly one of the highlights of our entire trip. From the very beginning, everything felt easy and well taken care of — the booking process was smooth, and we were greeted with coffee and pastries when he picked us up, which set such a warm tone for the day. My mother and I immediately felt comfortable with him. He was not only friendly and easy to talk to, but also incredibly attentive throughout the whole tour, always making sure we were safe, comfortable, and hydrated. What made this experience really stand out was his passion and knowledge. He shared so many fascinating insights about the safari, wildlife, and nature that made everything feel alive and meaningful in a way we wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. Another unforgettable part was his DSLR camera — he captured so many beautiful moments of us and the surroundings, which we will genuinely treasure forever. It wasn’t just a tour, it felt like a personal and thoughtfully curated experience. I would book with him again in a heartbeat and can highly recommend him to anyone considering it. 🐘
very knowledgeable and caring, one of the best!
briano338,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tim is, by far, one of the most knowledgeable and caring guides we've ever used. He went the extra mile several times (and a couple of members in our group had physical issues), and he even went so far as to order a walker for a member of the group. He is very connected, knows all the backroads and shortcuts, and is constantly trying to improve his offering. He's very interesting and humorous, while respecting your needs and wants with respect to the tour itself. Honestly, I don't think you could do better than Tim and his team; they truly care!
Must try! Roar🐅
Cruiser60097183865,Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our safari tour was absolutely unforgettable! From start to finish, everything was organized seamlessly, and the experience far exceeded expectations. Tim is incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and attentive—sharing fascinating insights about the wildlife, the land, and local culture.
lions & elephants
Dreamer40344973957,Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00amazing experience with michael. we will definitely be back and had an absolute blast. thank you so much to him and the guides!
Loving, friendly and informative
mayakH233LG,Jul 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We found Tim through contacts and it was worth it to the fullest. He was full of life and motivation to show us everything and explain it to us. His charming and friendly manner has created a wonderful atmosphere. I would select him over and over again for a new booking. His humor was also delightful and his knowledge, impressive! You notice how much love and heart goes into what he does and that translates to his customers. There was no trouble with the money, he took pictures himself and insisted that all our wishes and needs were met. He's very emphatic to him and a big family man. He had none to shy away from and tell about himself and his life, which made him very approachable. He also cares about the safety of his customers, which is why he maintains his cars every 1 1/2 months. Highly recommended!
The special South Africa
ajarndodo,Mar 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tim and his family have made us experience a wonderful holiday and took excellent care of us. I'll see you again.
Life changing.
albertogX178TF,Dec 14, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I have visited many parts of the world and I must say this one for me was a life changing experience. I never felt the magic at Ukutula Conservations of witnessing live animals up close like this especially a city guy from New York. Tim Smith our tour guide had made it all possible for my colleague and I. His professionalism along with his great sense of humor made us feel like family. He pays attention to detail in all possible angles of his job and has extreme passion for the rich nature and history of his country in Africa. Not only did I feel super safe with him but also felt like I have known him a lifetime. Thank you Tim for all that you do for this earth and may you continue living happy with your infectious energy of making everyone smile.
Sunrise Safari
509anesab,Jul 12, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00They offer not only a nice warm cup of coffee and cookies but also jackets for winter and photographies as well as an amazing atmosphere. I really felt comfortable during my tour and enjoyed every little second of it.
Perfect Day Trip in Johannesburg
LaraMichelleBan,Jul 5, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Tour was sooo nice! The guide Tim was so funny, open minded and had a very positive appearance. He told us some facts about the animals and answered all our questions. It was a lot of fun and I would definitely do the Tour again.
The Trip of a Lifetime
Global59561476822,Dec 31, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00First of all, I am not a big social media guy with only one follower on FB (the wife). As such, I have never written a review on TripAdvisor and had to set up an account to post this (it took me 2 days to figure it out . . . don’t laugh!). I say this so you know how moved I was with my experience below and apologies if I break any typical protocol. My family and I (wife and three kids 21, 19 and 17) decided to book a trip to South Africa for the holidays. I am not used to long vacations (last time I was gone for more than 8 days was my honeymoon 23 years ago). But given our family dynamic with the kids running in different directions, it will be difficult to get away all together like this again in the next few years. However, the kids are well traveled, we have been lucky enough to visit China, Bali, the UK, and a few resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean. As a flight attendant, my amazing wife followed a referral from other airline crew and booked the entire trip with Wildside. She worked with Tim Smith to create an itinerary that included activities in Joburg and Cape Town. The minute we departed customs in Joburg, Tim made us feel comfortable. He cracked jokes better than a stand up comedian and showed incredible flexibility in our schedule if we were uncomfortable with anything along the way. He even got my 17 year old daughter to laugh . . . not an easy feat. We spent the first 7 days playing with monkeys, walking with lions, petting cheetah and lion cubs, gasping at elephants, watching stunning sunsets and seeing these amazing animals in their natural settings. Tim’s educational information was at a high level, passing on facts and figures that complemented each tour. Every place we went, Tim met staff with personal greetings that displayed deep relationships across the region. Finally, he took over 2000 pictures with HIS Nikon camera and then gave us (my son) the memory card to download them before we left. We were sad to leave Tim in Joburg but landed in Cape Town to be met by Robbie who was great as well. Robbie took us to Table Mountain, Cape Point, wine tasting and an overall city tour. We ate in great restaurants and enjoyed the beach on our day off. So if you are looking to book a trip for 3-8 people to South Africa, contact Tim. If you have a slightly larger group, then Tim’s son Mike can handle the overflow. We are at the airport now heading back to New York. I miss Tim . . . he will forever be part of our family. Thanks, Tom Howland [email protected]
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Operated by Wildside Tours and Safaris