The enormous Kruger National Park is the undisputed gem of South Africa's safari circuit, but what happens if you don't have the time to make the five-hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria in a hire car, or can't afford to fly to the closest airport and join an organised tour?
For those who don't have a whole week to spend pursuing the Big Five, a visit to the lesser-known but no less impressive Pilanesberg Game Reserve is a brilliant alternative. At 54,000 hectares, it's the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa. And because it's only a two-hour drive from Johannesburg International Airport, you could easily plan a self-drive weekend safari at the Pilanesberg before you head back to the UK. In fact, that's the very best way to do it.
Situated in the ring of a long-extinct volcano, the Pilanesberg Game Reserve exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari desert and the wetter Lowveld vegetation, which the locals call "bushveld". This transition zone makes for a unique overlap of mammals, birds and vegetation - the park is home to virtually all the animal species of southern Africa including lions, elephants, white and black rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and over 300 species of bird.
The Reserve offers nearly 200 kilometres of excellent quality roads which you can explore unaccompanied for your own animal-spotting adventures from sunrise to sunset. You're likely to see a good deal of game in this way, but if you've got the cash, book one of the Reserve's guided night drives too. For the bargain price of R190 (about £17.60), they'll take you heart-stoppingly close to the animals in an open-sided vehicle - and yes, that includes the elephants! Most of the animals are more active at night and your guide will regale you with interesting facts about their habits and behaviour.
If you tire of all that nature, South Africa's answer to Las Vegas, the tacky Sun City complex, is a ten minute drive from the Reserve gates. Soak up the rays at the Valley of the Waves - a huge artificial beach complete with palm trees, cocktails and water slides; or take advantage of the favourable exchange rate by trying your luck on the blackjack tables.
A final tip for those planning on booking a break: you can avoid paying the over-inflated "tourist" prices offered by the luxurious Bakubang and Kwa Maritane resorts in the Reserve if you stay where the locals stay. Book directly through the park's website rather than through a tour operator and you can opt to stay at the much more reasonably priced Manyane or Bakgatla resorts.
