3-Day BIG 5 self-drive tour to Pilanesberg

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Safari itinerary · Madikwe Pilanesberg

3-Day BIG 5 self-drive tour to Pilanesberg

Enjoy the most stylish and luxurious lodge with this self-drive safari package at Lush Private Lodge, set in the Black Rhino Game Reserve – a private concession within the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park.

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From R 18 130 per person

Duration3 days
Your stayLush Private Game Lodge
From, per personR 18 130
TransfersIncluded

The journey

About this itinerary.

Enjoy the most stylish and luxurious lodge with this self-drive safari package at Lush Private Lodge, set in the Black Rhino Game Reserve – a private concession within the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park.

Where you'll travel: Madikwe Pilanesberg

Overview

An ideal family retreat, Lush Private Game Lodge boasts 5 spacious luxury suites and 1 deluxe suite, ensuring guests' comfort and style. Exclusive traversing rights to 55,000 hectares, along with access to the park’s public section, assure guests an intimate and unique safari experience, including sightings of the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Spend 2 nights tucked into a wooded hillside, where you are enveloped by the bush and present in the moment.

Itinerary

Day 01

Johannesburg to Lush Private Lodge

Your journey begins with collecting your rental vehicle at Johannesburg airport, followed by a three-hour drive to Black Rhino Game Reserve, a private concession within the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park. Lush is a contemporary lodge, shaped around the environment. The minimalistic décor and natural finishes emphasize the view, drawing guests to outdoor living spaces.

Settle into your room, luxuriously equipped with an en-suite bathroom and endless views of the bush. Enjoy your own splash pool, providing reprieve in the day's heat, and relax on loungers, lulled by the sounds of the bush.

In the afternoon, head out with your guide for a game drive through the reserve in search of wildlife, including the Big Five. Expect an uninterrupted game-viewing experience in an untouched African wilderness. Return to the lodge in time to freshen up before enjoying a sumptuous dinner.

Accommodation: Lush Private Lodge

Johannesburg to Lush Private Lodge

Day 02

Activities and Relaxation

An early morning wake-up call starts the day, followed by a freshly brewed cup of tea or coffee and rusks before setting off on a morning game drive.

Exclusive traversing in Black Rhino Reserve and the Pilanesberg’s Wilderness Area provides an opportunity to explore an untouched environment. The park, encircled by the hills of a volcanic ring-dyke complex and containing both Kalahari and Lowveld biomes, is a wilderness Eden. As a guest of Lush, you are assured a private and unique safari experience, with the rare opportunity to see the black rhino.

Optional guided morning bush walks and hot air balloon activities can be requested, subject to availability and additional cost.

Later in the afternoon, embark on an afternoon game drive, which may continue beyond dusk. Return to the lodge to enjoy dinner and reminisce about the day’s sightings.

Accommodation: Lush Private Lodge

Activities and Relaxation

Day 03

Departure

After one final game drive and a warm, heartening breakfast, bid farewell to the African bush as you depart Lush Private Lodge. Continue with your onward journey back to Johannesburg airport, where you will return your rental vehicle and proceed with your travel arrangements.

Departure

The complete package

Everything included.

Stay

Lush Private Lodge

  • 2 Nights in 5-star in Pilansberg National Park
  • All meals. Teas/coffees and soft drinks; selected beers, wines and spirits
  • Luxury Suite accommodation with its own private game viewing decks which is the perfect spot to enjoy the tranquillity

Experiences

Lush Private Lodge

  • 2 Big-5 safari activities daily
  • Optional activities at an additional cost
  • All taxes / VAT
  • Park fees

Travel

Round-trip Car Hire

  • OR Tambo Airport (JNB)

The same as booking direct

Rates and dates.

Per person sharing for the complete package. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.

Valid until 31 Oct 2027

Show prices in

Green season

1 May 2026 – 31 Oct 2026

R 18 130

per person

International flights excluded

Shoulder

1 Nov 2026 – 31 Dec 2026

R 18 310

per person

International flights excluded

Low season

1 Jan 2027 – 30 Apr 2027

R 19 660

per person

International flights excluded

Green season

1 May 2027 – 31 Oct 2027

R 19 420

per person

International flights excluded

The rate is for the complete package, per person sharing. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your specialist.

Your specialist for this itinerary

Keith Kudzai Chideme

Keith Kudzai Chideme

Safari Specialist - Southern Africa

Knows 3-Day BIG 5 self-drive tour to Pilanesberg backwards. Your direct contact from first enquiry to the day you come home.

Sara Van CoillieAnja Meyer

With Sara and Anja across the team.

"Jolene was simply extraordinary. She put together what became an absolutely incredible African trip for us in the space of barely three weeks, and from the outset her responsiveness, knowledge and genuine enthusiasm were exceptional. Nothing was ever too much trouble, responses were almost immediate, and she very quickly understood exactly what we were looking for, our expectations and the way we like to travel. More than simply being an expert at what she does, Jolene genuinely cared about making the trip special for us, and that came through in every aspect of her planning. What particularly impressed us was the flexibility with which she brought everything together. We already had some of our own arrangements in place, including international flights and staying with friends in Cape Town, but Jolene seamlessly incorporated those into the overall itinerary and still organised all the surrounding logistics and transfers. The safari component she designed was outstanding, taking us through Kruger, Victoria Falls, Chobe and the Okavango Delta, before finishing in Cape Town and the Stellenbosch wine region. Every part flowed beautifully and the lodges, experiences and logistics were exceptional. Just as importantly, Jolene stayed in contact throughout the trip at all the key moments, which made travelling so much easier. She would check us in for our internal flights and send through the boarding passes, confirm transfers the day before each pick-up, and make sure everything was in place before we ever had to think about it. That attention to detail, and the fact that she was always one step ahead, removed so much of the usual travel stress and allowed us simply to enjoy the trip. It was genuinely the trip of a lifetime, put together in an extraordinarily short timeframe, and Jolene deserves enormous credit for making it all happen. We could not recommend her highly enough."
August 2026 · Verified on Trustpilot ↗

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From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.

Included. Complimentary travel insurance, with cancellation cover of up to $5,000 per person, on bookings paid by 25th September 2026. Details

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Included

Complimentary travel insurance. Cancellation cover of up to $5,000 per person, on bookings paid by 25th September 2026.

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