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adventure travel africa

Pilanesberg National Park

Weather and climate in Pilanesberg National Park
March 2018 - We have had a pretty dry ast 3 years.

Pilanesberg has a different rainfall pattern to Gauteng. I lost a client that cancelled the night before as it was pouring in Johannesburg where she was staying at a hotel. She insisted it will rain in Pilanesberg, and she couldn't understand that it is planets apart. My assurances that it didn't rain in PB that day didn't pacify her, neither did the weather forecast that there was only a 5% chance of 1mm in PB for the next day...and as it turned out there was no rain at PB, but it was still raining in Jo'burg. Even if it did rain in PB, that is no reason not to go viewing. Cats i.e. don't like getting wet, so they can sit up or you might find them taking a stroll.

PB has a much drier climate, it can rain in patches in the Park, with other areas bone dry. It normally rains 10 - 15 minutes hard, and then it is over. The exception is from about mid Dec - Mid Feb, with the heaviest rain normally in the last week in January. That is also the week the Kruger normally gets soaked with floods in Mozambique resulting. Then beginning May we normally get a bit of mist hanging over the Park, but it does lift eventually.

lion on 40 km/h post near Manyane on 22 Jan 04 for literally 1 second. The skies opened up with 94 mm measured. We were the only car that witnessed this very rare behaviour; we only saw about 10 that whole day. Everyone missed out on 3 hours of lions stalking prey right next to the main road!

2 Day weather forecast

Info below courtesy of SA Weather Service
http://www.weathersa.co.za

 

Pic above was taken 22 Jan 04. After a serious drought Pilanesberg recorded 94 mm in 24 hours. We only saw about 10 other cars the whole day. Though visibility was about 10 m at times we had absolutely awesome sightings.

 
Climate data - thanks to SA Weather Service - www.weathersa.co.za

Pilanesberg 
Position: 25° 20' S     27° 10' E 
Height: 1043m
Period: 1984-1990
This climatological information is the normal values and, according to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) prescripts, based on monthly averages for the 30-year period 1961 – 1990
Month Temperature ( ° C) Precipitation
Highest Recorded Average Daily Maximum Average Daily Minimum Lowest Recorded Average Monthly (mm) Average Number of days with >= 1mm Highest 24 Hour Rainfall (mm)
January
39 
32 
19 
14 
78 
10 
65 
February
39 
31 
18 
10 
71 
8 
51 
March
39 
30 
16 
8 
58 
8 
50 
April
36 
27 
12 
3 
38 
6 
42 
May
31 
25 
7 
-1 
6 
1 
23 
June
28 
22 
3 
-5 
12 
2 
23 
July
27 
22 
2 
-4 
3 
1 
10 
August
32 
26 
6 
-1 
5 
1 
15 
September
35 
28 
11 
2 
25 
4 
37 
October
37 
30 
15 
6 
57 
7 
44 
November
40 
31 
16 
9 
61 
10 
42 
December
39 
31 
18 
10 
105 
12 
55 
Year
40
28
12
-5
519
69
65 
 


Pilanesberg Dawn to Dusk Safaris from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Pilanesberg and Sun City

Working with new pics are just too time consuming, so I only do it when I have free time! May 2019
Picture Gallery up to 2019
Picture Gallery 2010
Picture Gallery 2009
Picture Gallery 2008
Picture Gallery 2007
Picture Gallery 2006
Picture Gallery 2005
Picture Gallery 2004

It's alphabetical - so save us both time.... and if not on here I will put it up!

Accommodation in the Park only: Staying Friday or Saturday you have to pay for 2 nights min.

Accommodation in and around Sun City. Staying Friday or Saturday you have to pay for 2 nights min.

Accommodation Specials at Pilanesberg

Accommodation at Sun City Vacation Club

Airport at Pilanesberg

Animal studies in Pilanesberg

Bakgatla Resort

Bakubung Bush Lodge

Balloon Safaris: In Pilanesberg National Park -  R5 000pp - 1 hour, minimum 4 pax!

Binoculars needed

Bird list

Black Rhino Game Lodge

Buffalo in the Park

Camping - book direct at 014 555 1000, don't be surprised if you hold 15 minutes and then get cut off.

Cancellation Terms and Conditions

Commission offered to booking agents

Condition of the Veld

Dangers in Pilanesberg

Disclosures: About vehicles used for Pilanesberg and other

Directions - see map

Elephant Back safaris in Pilanesberg.

Entrance fee - see gate times

Etiquette in Game Parks like Pilanesberg for self drives

Friends of Pilanesberg Society - Volunteers helping to maintain the Park.

Gate Times for Pilanesberg National Park

Geology of Pilanesberg National Park

Highlights seen in Pilanesberg the last 2 years:
Don't expect something like this or the animals to stand next to the road waiting.  It's not a Zoo!

History of Pilanesberg National Park

Idiot Gallery - Stunts pulled in Pilanesberg National Park by the mentally challenged.  Other tour operators are welcome to contribute - I will give you recognition except if you don't want it!

Ivory Tree Game Lodge

Kids on Safari. In Pilanesberg or other parks

Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge

Manyane Resort

Map and directions to Pilanesberg

Other Parks near Pilanesberg

Other Tour Operators doing Pilanesberg

Packages to Lodges

Picture Gallery -  taken by us over the last 8 years in Pilanesberg.

Pilanesberg National Park vs Kruger National Park.

Reading - other re Pilanesberg.

Safety in Pilanesberg

Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge

Testimonials from clients we have taken to Pilanesberg

Things to do in and around Pilanesberg

Transfers only to Pilanesberg and Sun City - one way: charged per vehicle:

Tshukudu Bush Lodge

Veld Condition in the Park

Weather and Climate for Pilanesberg area

What can you hope to see in Pilanesberg?

When to go to Pilanesberg: best time etc


adventure travel africa
806 Unit 2, Mogwase, Pilanesberg, Office - Please mail only
PO Box 250 Sun City, 0316 - Updated March 2018
All Pilanesberg queries -  travelinafrica@gmail.com