Pilanesberg 2 Day Luxury Safari. Pilanesberg 2-day Luxury Safari Highlights

Transcription

1 Pilanesberg 2 Day Luxury Safari Tour Itinerary Pilanesberg 2-day Luxury Safari Highlights Extensive guided game drives: Adventurous wild game viewing experience: Good chance to spot the BIG 5: Luxury lodge accommodation; Optional leisure time at Sun City Complex Reference: Website - Private Guided 2 Day Pilanesberg Luxury Safari

2 Price For 2 Day Pilanesberg Camping safari Solo Traveller: ZAR 8495 Per Person Sharing: ZAR 5495 Children under 12: ZAR 2600 Day 1: Johannesburg to Pilanesberg 07H00 am Pickup in Johannesburg, depart to Pilanesberg. 10H00 am Enter park for a 2-hour morning game drive, closed vehicle 13H00 Check in at Luxury lodge 16H00 High Tea around the pool

3 16H30 Open vehicle game drive 19H00 Dinner

4 Day 2: Pilanesberg to Johannesburg 06H00 Early morning game drive in open safari vehicle 09H00 Scrumptious breakfast 10:00 am Checkout am Departure- optional activities 3:00 pm Departure to Johannesburg 6:00 pm Drop off Tour Includes Transfer in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle Guided game drives in Pilanesberg National Park as per itinerary Luxury lodge accommodation in Pilanesberg Meals as per itinerary

5 Tour Excludes Personal expenses Optional extras Frequently asked questions What electrical adaptors do I need for South Africa? Electrical plugs are 220 V and are 3 pin (round-pin as opposed to square pin). Adaptors can be purchased at the airport or a local super market. Image of 3 pin round and two pin. These plugs will work in South Africa. Most lodges cater for international plugs. Should I tip my guide? If you feel that your guide or assistant have really gone the extra mile to make your safari a truly memorable experience, then please do feel free to show your gratitude with a tip! Our tipping guideline for both guides and assistants is approximately ZAR 50 per assistant/guide, per client, per day of safari. Sometimes guests find it easier to work as a group on this and collect two separate amounts in two envelopes. This avoids unnecessary complications for the guide and assistant when they try and decide what their share is! Please remember that tipping is at your own discretion and the above is just a guideline. Tipping is only if you feel your crew deserve it. What animals will I see in Pilanesberg? For a park of its size Pilanesberg has a fascinating diversity of large mammalian species. Much of Pilanesberg s diversity is owed to Operation Genesis of 1979, in which the reserve was fenced and many species were reintroduced to their natural habitat. Today Pilanesberg National Park has more than 50 species of large mammals and many smaller species. The game viewer s wish list is topped by the Big Five consisting of lion, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard, but Pilanesberg has much more to offer. The African wild dog is threatened by loss of habitat and hunting and Pilanesberg is a good place to see this social predator. The cheetah is a delicate creature that hunts at a speed of well over 100 km/h in the open plains. Other mammalian predators include the African wild cat, caracal, serval, jackal, bat-eared fox, brown hyena and the nocturnal aardwolf. Situated in the transition zone of the Kalahari and the Lowveld Pilanesberg offers a unique and varied habitat that is home to 15 species of antelope. The species range from the hardy Oryx to the shaggy-coated waterbuck. The sable antelope and the kudu with its spiral-shaped horns are popular sightings, while springbok, impala and wildebeest are important prey species.

6 Do I need a visa to enter South Africa? You can learn more about South African Visa requirement by following the links below. PLEASE NOTE: It is the responsibility of clients to ensure that passports, visas or other travel documents are valid for the duration of their stay in South Africa, and the company will entertain no complaints related to invalid travel documentation. If a client does not possess the necessary documentation to enter an area or country on the tour, the company reserves the right to request the client to disembark from the tour at the point of entry to such areas or countries. Should such a case ensue, the company will not be liable for providing further travel arrangements. Do I need travel insurance for my safari? The short answer is yes; you absolutely need travel insurance. It s compulsory for people travelling on our safaris and we place the onus on our clients to make sure that they are adequately insured. It is also important to realise that should you need to make a claim on your policy (for medical expenses for example), it is most likely that you will personally have to pay any bills up front, at the time the service is provided. You will then have to make a claim against your insurance company when you get home. With this fact in mind we recommend to all our clients that they have enough funds available to cover any unexpected costs. Usually the best way to do this is to carry a credit card with a sufficient credit limit. Can I drink tap water in South Africa? Drinking water in South Africa is safe to drink and cook with when taken from taps in urban areas. Not all tap water in rural areas is safe for consumption, so take precautions if necessary. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry maintains that South Africa's national standard of water quality compares well with World Health Organisation standards. The responsibility to provide clean water rests with locally-based water services authorities, which regularly monitor the quality of drinking water in South Africa. These authorities are also rated by the department per the Blue Drop Certification System, which continually assess, among other things, their water safety planning.

7 Tap water undergoes treatment which ensures it is free of harmful micro-organisms and contaminants. In some areas, South African drinking water is rich in minerals and may involve a bit of getting used to. Avoid drinking water from streams and rivers, especially in areas where there is human habitation. These may carry water-borne diseases. Should you find yourself in the unlikely position of not having clean water on hand, contaminated water can be disinfected by boiling for 10 minutes, or adding a teaspoon of bleach per 25 litres or a teaspoon of chlorine granules per 200l. In both the latter cases, allow the water to stand for 2 hours. Another method is to expose water to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours in a transparent container with a small airspace, shaking after filling and every hour after that. Some tap and natural water may have a slight brown tinge from humic acid, which is harmless and does not affect drinking water quality in South Africa. The market for bottled water is growing in South Africa, and supermarket shelves hold numerous brands, some of them well-known international names. Your choice includes still and sparkling waters, and a range of fruit- flavoured variants Do I need malaria tablets in Pilanesberg? Pilanesberg is a Malaria Free reserve so there is no need for malaria treatment. Pilanesberg weather in general Pilanesberg is located within an area of summer rainfall which is characterized by afternoon thunderstorms. Winter (May to September) is the Dry season and has moderate daily temperatures and cool nights. Warm winter clothing is recommended for night and early morning game drives. The park is located within the Southern hemisphere and experiences summer and winter at opposites times to Europe and North America. Dry season - May to September - Winter There is virtually no rainfall during winter and thus, the humidity is very low. These drought-like conditions cause foliage to thin and animals are drawn to permanent water sources, making them easier to see. May - Temperatures gradually drop, marking the beginning of winter. Average temperatures vary from 7 C/45 F in the mornings to 23 C/73 F in the afternoons. June, July & August - Warm clothes are essential for the cold mornings (4 C/40 F on average). Skies will be sunny and clear with daytime temperatures averaging 22 C/72 F. September - Average temperatures are a mild and pleasant 28 C/82 F during the day with cooler mornings (11 C/52 F).

8 Wet season - October to April - Summer Regular rains break up the heat. They usually come in the form of afternoon storms, but sometimes it just drizzles for a longer period. Average daytime temperatures are around 30 C/86 F. Because of the low humidity, the heat is less of a burden when compared to the coastal regions. October & November - It gets warmer and the first rains clear the haze in the sky. It rains more as the season progresses. Temperatures range from a typical 14 C/57 F in the morning to 30 C/86 F in the afternoon. December, January & February - December and January are the wettest months, characterized by torrential downpours in the afternoon. Daytime temperatures are typically around 30 C/86 F. March & April - Rainfall will decrease and it slowly gets colder. This continues in April, which has lovely clear weather and few clouds. The nights get a bit colder at about 13 C/55 F. Daytime temperatures are pleasant around 26 C/79 F. When is the best time to visit Pilanesberg? Quick facts Best time to go: May to September (Dry season) High Season: October to April (The park is busier, especially during school holidays) Low Season: May to September (This is the best time for wildlife viewing) Best Weather: April to May and September to October (Mild weather and little rain) Worst Weather: May to August (Chilly mornings and nights) and December to February (Hot and afternoon rain) May to September - Dry Season - Winter Pilanesberg GR Wildlife Photos Best time for viewing wildlife. Little rainfall and clear skies. Cold nights and mornings. Hazy, dusty air October to April - Wet Season - Summer Landscape and scenery is delightful. There are new-born animals. Migratory birds are present. The Dry season is better for wildlife viewing. The afternoon temperatures are high. Useful packing list for your next African safari