After seeing how beautifully the summer rains transformed the Marakele National Park, we made some hasty plans for a day visit to the Pilanesberg National Park the following weekend. The Pilanesberg Mountains are the concentric remains of an ancient volcano and was transformed from farmland to a wildlife haven in the 1980’s. You’re welcome to click on the first image in the gallery and scroll through the photo’s to join us on our drive through the Pilanesberg.
Early rays of sunshine colour the Pilanesberg
Deep pool in the Mankwe stream
A Tsessebe dwarfed by the landscape
Tsessebe close-up
Monotonous Lark
Crossing the Mankwe stream again
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Blue Wildebeest
Steppe, or Common, Buzzard on Mankwe Way
Walking underneath a Giant Kingfisher at Mankwe Hide
Beautiful scenery around Lake Mankwe in the Pilanesberg National Park (20 February 2022)
Female Red Bishop (photo by Joubert)
Beautiful scenery around Lake Mankwe
White-throated Swallow
Beautiful scenery around Lake Mankwe
African Pied Wagtail
An immature Green-backed Heron being very distrustful of a large Nile Crocodile
Malachite Kingfisher
Black-backed Jackals
Black-backed Jackal
Black-backed Jackal (photo by Joubert)
African Hawk Eagle
Blacksmith Lapwing
Common Waxbill
White-fronted Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
White-fronted Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
An immature Green-backed Heron in flight (photo by Joubert)
Makorwane Dam
Nile Monitor on a rocky bed
Black-winged Kite
African Leopard butterfly (photo by Joubert)
Brown Snake Eagle
Elegant Grasshopper (photo by Joubert)
Helmeted Guineafowl
Baby Leopard Tortoise
African Wattled Lapwing
Batlhako Dam
Impala Ram
Impala Ram
Impala Ram (photo by Joubert)
Rathlogo Pan
Elephant at Rathlogo Pan
Baby Hippo resting on mom’s back at Rathlogo
Young elephant
Young elephant with a spring in his step (photo by Joubert)
Elephant Family
Tiny, tiny elephant baby
Tiny, tiny elephant baby (photo by Joubert)
Blue Wildebeest
Big Elephant bull at Pilanesberg Centre (photo by Joubert)
Malachite Kingfisher
Giraffe (photo by Joubert)
Red-billed Oxpecker
Red-backed Shrike
Giraffe
View on the way to Noga Viewpoint
Vervet Monkey waiting for a lift at Bakubung Gate
DeWetsWild 
What a fantastic day visit that was and I so enjoyed sharing it through your photos.. You had some lovely sightings and your photos are special. Joubert took some gorgeous shots too – especially of the birds.
Thank you very much, Carol. Getting out for another day in the bush did us the world of good.
Daai ou baba olifantjie is so oulik!!
Hulle steel altyd n mens se hart!
Beslis so
I should just have a comment that says “Wow! As usual great photos of amazing animals and places” because I could use it every time I visit. 🙂 To find so much for a day trip is quite a blessing.
Thank you very much, Janet. This beautiful place being close enough to us for a day visit really is a blessing in itself!
Jy en Joubert het beide julself oortref!
Baie dankie, Una!
An embarrassment of riches! That Malachite Kingfisher is incredibly beautiful!
We’ll be featuring the Malachite Kingfisher in more detail next week, Lori.
Yeah! Will look forward to seeing that.☺️
Sjoe, die wereld in die Pilansberg is mooi geil (en so baie water)! Daardie ou klein olifantjie is pragtig. En wat ‘n mooi foto van die Impala deur Joubert (dit lyk letterlik of hy poseer vir ‘n foto 😉). Hier is soveel mooi foto’s … dankie vir die deel!
Baie dankie, Corna. Om weg te kom met mooi fotos by n plek so wonderlik soos die Pilanesberg is glad nie moeilik nie.
This place is VERY close to my heart!
I recall you shared a few posts about visits to Pilanesberg, Anne, I think the last one was just before “lockdown”?
You are right. We used to visit that area before it was officially open to the public and so it has always felt as though we belong there.
What a wonderful opportunity to have seen its birth as a sanctuary, Anne!
Such variety, by the way, great captures of you and Joubert. Thank you, 🙂
Always nice to have you along for the tour, H.J!
Joubert–great action photos of the birds! The tiny, tiny elephant baby…!!!! ❤
Watching that shy little one trying to hide behind his mother’s legs as they crossed the road was a special treat for us too, Lois!
Nice pictures of the impala, jackal, and shrike. A “monotonous” lark? That’s a funny common name.
The name will make perfect sense to you when you listen to their call, Siobhan: https://xeno-canto.org/662425
Oh, now I get it! 🙂
What an interesting place, and some great images by Joubert
Pilanesberg really is a very interesting place, Sue. Its recent and pre-historic history, its geology, its wildlife. And close enough to the city to make an easy day trip of a visit.
Sounds like it ticks all the boxes!