Joubert and I spent last weekend (23 and 24 November) in the Pilanesberg National Park with my brother Niel.
Pilanesberg scenery
Our weekend started early, leaving Pretoria at 03:00 in the morning in order to be at Kwa Maritane Gate before it opened. Shortly after entering we encountered a bunch of adorable, but shy, jackal puppies holed up in a culvert underneath the road. Not a kilometre further, we had an exciting sighting of a young male lion attempting to hunt, unsuccessfully, a group oz zebras and a lone wildebeest. An excellent start to the day, and our good luck continued as we slowly traveled through the reserve, notching up another lion sighting, herds of elephants, white rhinos and giraffes, a good variety of antelope, and several bird species before arriving at Bakgatla Resort, where we’d be camping for the night.
After setting up camp, we stretched our legs walking through the camping area, inspecting the facilities (none of which we could fault) and intent on buying an ice cream for Joubert, but unfortunately the tiny shop’s supply had already been sold out.
Red-billed hornbill in Bakgatla
Camping in Bakgatla
Leaving camp earlier than planned for our afternoon drive, we first headed to the Pilanesberg Centre, a historical building that served as the Magistrate’s Court before the Park’s proclamation but today is a popular little restaurant and shop well frequented by visitors, in the hopes of finding Joubert that ice cream he was craving so. Meeting with success on that quest, we set off again looking for Pilanesberg’s wild inhabitants, and again were not disappointed.
At the Fish Eagle Picnic Site we got a close-up glimpse into dung beetle life before spending some time at the photographic hide at Lake Mankwe, enjoying the cool shade and great photo opportunities.
Sunday morning we had a couple of hours to explore some more before having to head home. We explored the western sections of the Park and were struck by how exceptionally dry it still is. With summer being the rainy season, we hope the Park will soon see some good rainfall in order to replenish the dams and streams.
All-in-all a very enjoyable boys camping weekend at Pilanesberg, which we hope to enjoy again as soon as possible.
DeWetsWild 
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Beautiful photos, I really like the “Grey go away” bird.
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Thanks a lot PJB – also for sharing this post with your twitter gang!
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Sure 🙂
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I enjoyed your photo essay and a glimpse of your adventures that weekend! Thanks.
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Nice of you to pop in for a visit at de Wets Wild, Patricia. Thank you!
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Your travels are magical-what wonderful worlds you explore!
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South Africa’s richly endowed with natural beauty Meg, and we’re blessed to call it home 😉
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A lovely and enjoyable selection of animals to see among those pictures.
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All the better when seen in real life Chris, but we appreciate you visiting de Wets Wild so often to see them through our eyes – THANK YOU!
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Love, like, love, like…. what else can I say except hoping the lizard will grow it’s tail back.
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Thank you very much Seeker, we really appreciate your kindness!
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You make me SOOOO jealous!! 😉
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Ah sorry AJ 😉
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Een dag is een dag swaer… as alles goed gaan dan kamp ons saam!! 😉
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Ons sien uit daarna!
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Fantastic photos, thanks for sharing.
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Thank you very much Joan! Great to have you pop around for another visit!
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With all the rain we have been getting here in Pta, it seems ludicrous that it is still dry there… I must make the effort to pay a visit to the Park, never having been there… didn’t think one would need to leave here so early for a gate opening, or do they open at 5 am.?? great share and love the photos…
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Thanks for the compliments (again) Bulldog! Pilanesberg’s gates open at 05:30 from November to February. We like to arrive with half-an-hour to spare so that we can organise the cameras, binoculars, maps, guide books, food, drinks, etc etc etc…
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Ok I thought I might have under estimated how long it takes to get there never having been up those roads… thanks for the heads up…
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Wonderful array of wild animals. Really enjoyed the tour! Happy to see the young photographer taking pictures 🙂
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And of course being a little boy the more gross the subject the bigger the interest Amy 😉
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Mis ek nou die roep van die grys loerie toe ek die foto sien(Kwe voel- is dit nie?)
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Dis reg Scrapydo! Hul roep is darem so onmiskenbaar deel van die bosveld, is dit nie?
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Thank you! How very interesting and what a personal way to be able to view these amazing creatures…although part of me is wondering about the “tiny lost warthog piglet”, if it made it home, if it was taken care of. I know nature is nature, but I still feel my heart tugged.
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The determined little orphan also had us thinking and speculating for quite a while afterwards Kanzensakura, about the reasons he’d be so alone and what chances he had of surviving.
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Good Morning: What I like about some of these shots is not just how you portray the wildlife, but also how well their natural camouflage blends into their surroundings, such as one of the birds, and one of the lion pictures. Vonn Scott Bair
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Thanks for the encouraging contribution Vonn Scott Bair! Indeed, many (most?) of the animals and birds, large and small, are exceptionally well camouflaged in their natural habitat.
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I do not know the English but in Afrikaans it is called mimetisme when insects pretend to be twigs, bark or leaves
Would it be mimicry??
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I think you are 100% spot-on, vvuureoc!
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