Courtesy of Jolandie Botha

Courtesy of Jolandie Botha

Winter is upon us here in South Africa. While many see the winter months as a time to go into hibernation, it’s a spectacular time of year to visit Pilanesberg National Park. Here’s why:

The game viewing

It goes without saying that Pilanesberg’s biggest draw card is its abundance of African megafauna, including all of the Big 5. Winter is the best time of year to see the park’s big game. The drier winter conditions mean that the bush is less dense and overgrown. Scant rainfall means that animals also have to be more active in their pursuit of water, which draws them out into the open.

The clear skies

You certainly won’t see many clouds around during the winter months in Pilanesberg, which makes for beautiful light (great for photographers) in the early mornings and late afternoon, and wonderful starry skies at night. Though the early morning can be cold, the midday temperatures are much more tolerable than during the hot and humid summer months.

The specials

Winter is a great time to find a range of excellent accommodation specials in and around Pilanesberg, particularly for South African residents. You can keep up to date with specials on our website here, or you can also find a wide range of great winter specials for Pilanesberg and other parks in the area on Specials4Africa.

The space

Pilanesberg tends to be at its busiest during the summer holidays, roughly between November and February. The winter months in the park are comparatively quiet, particularly if you and your family can get away during the week rather than on weekends. If so, you may even be lucky enough to have sightings all to yourself. With the park less busy during winter, you’ll also have more chance of getting a booking at short notice.

So what are you waiting for?