Pilanesberg National Park
| Pilanesberg National Park | |
|---|---|
Game animals at Mankwe Dam | |
Location in the North West province | |
| Location | Pilanesberg, Bojanala Municipality, North West Province, South Africa |
| Nearest city | Sun City, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 25°15′40″S 27°06′03″E / 25.26111°S 27.10083°E |
| Area | 572 square kilometres (221 sq mi) |
| Established | April 1, 1984 |
| Administrator | North West Parks and Tourism Board |
| Website | Pilanesberg National Park |
Pilanesberg National Park (South Africa) Pilanesberg National Park (North West (South African province)) | |
The Pilanesberg National Park is located north of Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa. The park owes its existence to a rehabilitation project which started in 1979, and the subsequent Operation Genesis, which introduced game animals of various species. It constitutes the fourth biggest game reserve in South Africa, and has become a popular wildlife destination due to its relative proximity to Gauteng. The park is administered by the North West Parks and Tourism Board, while concessionaires operate its rest camps, bush lodges and lodges. In the south it borders on the Sun City entertainment complex.
The park encompasses the root zone of an ancient (some 1.25 billion year old) extinct volcano, which is now defined by alternating ridges and valleys forming concentric rings. The geological formation rises abruptly in the form of hills 300–600 metres (980–1,970 ft) above the surrounding bushveld plains.
Scattered throughout the park are various sites that are assigned to the Iron and Stone Ages and illustrate the presence of man during those early periods.