After spending our final day in Cape Town yesterday, we rose in the pre-dawn hours and took a taxi to Cape Town International Airport for our 6:00 AM flight, South African Airways 302, to Johannesburg. Before boarding, we enjoyed a quiet breakfast at the SAA Domestic Premium Class Lounge, where the hot buffet and fresh coffee provided a much-needed wake-up call.
Onboard, we were offered a choice between a full hot breakfast or fresh seasonal fruit. With an arrival time of 7:55 AM, we knew we wouldn’t make it to Pilanesberg National Park in time for the scheduled 9:30 AM open-vehicle safari. Instead, I had pre-booked a closed-vehicle safari with MoAfrika Tours, which included airport transfers.
Based on earlier emails, we expected a shared minivan, but we were pleasantly surprised to find a private car and driver waiting for us. Since we were the only ones booked for the closed safari that day, we both had window seats and unobstructed viewsβa perfect setup for photography. We left the airport and began the drive toward the wilderness.
We entered the park through the Manyane Gate, and the transition from the paved highway to the rugged park roads was immediate. The landscape opened up into vast plains and volcanic hills, and it wasn’t long before we spotted our first residents.
Early in the drive, we encountered a group of Hippopotamuses partially submerged in a watering hole. Seeing these massive animals so close, with just their eyes and ears peeking above the surface, made the safari feel incredibly real.
The park was teeming with life. We saw dazzles of Zebras grazing near the road and herds of Wildebeests moving slowly across the golden grass. Their prehistoric appearance against the vast African sky was a sight to behold.
Further into the bush, several Giraffes emerged from the acacia trees, their long necks reaching for the highest leaves. We also spotted groups of Kudus, recognizable by their striking spiraled horns and elegant white stripes.
We took a brief midday break at Manyane Resort for lunch. The resort is a peaceful oasis at the edge of the park, and after a hearty meal, we felt recharged and ready to head back into the wild for the afternoon.
Our afternoon route took toward the Mankwe Hide. The hide offered a spectacular, shaded vantage point over the Manyane Dam, where we observed a large male Waterbuck standing proudly near the water’s edge.
The birdlife in Pilanesberg was equally impressive. We caught sight of the brightly colored Southern Masked Weaver, a delicate Ring-necked Dove, and the heavy-set Kori Bustard, which is one of the largest flying birds in the world.
Of course, no safari is complete without seeing the graceful Impala. These nimble antelopes seemed to be around every corner, their reddish-brown coats blending perfectly with the landscape.
The highlight of the day was spotting three of the “Big Five”: Lions, African Elephants, and Rhinoceroses. Seeing a Rhinoceros up close is a humbling experience; their sheer power and prehistoric armor are breathtaking.
As the sun began to lower, we were treated to a sighting of several Lionesses resting. Their calm demeanor belied their status as the park’s apex predators. We also crossed paths with a couple of African Elephants, who were unfazed by our presence.
We exited the park through the Bakubung Gate around 6:00 PM and began the drive back to O.R. Tambo International Airport. Our African adventure wouldn’t have been complete without this day; it was the perfect, wild conclusion to our trip.
At the airport, we checked in for our red-eye flight, Ethiopian Airlines 848, departing at 11:35 PM. We spent our final hours in South Africa at the SAA International Premium Lounge, enjoying a full dinner and reflecting on the week’s incredible experiences.
Supper was served onboard shortly after takeoff as we flew north toward Ethiopia. Our return journey home would continue tomorrow with a transit in Addis Ababa before the final leg to Mumbai.
π MoAfrika Tours
π½οΈ SAA Domestic Premium Class Lounge
π½οΈ Manyane Resort
π½οΈ SAA International Premium Lounge