Ten things to do in the Pilanesberg

1. Take the sunrise balloon flight. Lifting off in the dark and drifting over the crater as the light comes up is the single most memorable thing you can do here. Weather dependent, so book it early in your stay to leave room for a second attempt. Balloon safaris
2. Sit at a hide and wait. The photographic hides overlooking the waterholes reward patience in a way that driving never does. Take coffee. Stay two hours.
3. Do a guided bush walk. Tracking on foot with an armed guide changes your sense of scale completely. You notice everything you drive past. Bush walks
4. Go out on a night drive. Different animals entirely — brown hyaena, genet, civet, owls, and occasionally leopard on the move. Only available to lodge guests.
5. Spend a morning at Mankwe Dam. The park's largest water body, at the centre of the old crater. Hippo, crocodile, waterbirds, and a steady procession of game coming down to drink.
6. Look for the rare antelope. Sable, roan and tsessebe are all here and all scarce elsewhere in South Africa. Tell your guide they are on your list.
7. Take the birding seriously for one day. Over 350 species. Bring binoculars, borrow a checklist, and see how far you get. Bird checklist
8. Drive to Sun City for the day. Valley of Waves, golf, the Palace. Under an hour away and a complete change of pace. More on Sun City
9. Stop at the Pilanesberg Centre. The old colonial-era building at the heart of the park, with a restaurant and a view worth the stop.
10. Do nothing at all for an afternoon. Most lodges overlook a waterhole. The game comes to you between drives, and the best sightings some guests get all trip happen from a deck chair.

Tell us which of these matter to you and we will match you to a lodge that does them well.