Pilanesberg National Park

Pilanesberg National Park
"The Volcano that gave birth to a game reserve"

The Pilanesberg National Park Alkaline Ring Complex was formed about 1 200 million years ago by volcanic eruptions. It is the most perfect example of an alkaline ring complex. This vast circular geological feature is ancient even by geological standards and there are only two other examples of alkaline volcanoes in the world. One in Russia and the other in Greenland but none are as well preserved as the one at Pilanesberg. The park contains a number of rare minerals but not in sufficient volume to make it economically viable.

Pilanesberg National Park is located on a transition zone between the dry Kalahari and the Bushveld (wetter lowveld vegetation) which brings with it unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation.

The Pilanesberg National Park is also the location of the largest translocation project ever undertaken in the world. Project Genesis began in the late 1970's and saw the translocation of 6000 animals into the park. Although the park was depleted of indigenous game populations due to the popularity of the area for farming, Leopard, Brown Hyena and Mountain Reedbuck were still found in the area. Pilanesberg National Park has the highest density of Brown Hyena.

Pilanesberg National Park has also seen it's share of history. Mzilikazi's rebel warriors passed through the area as they fled king Shaka and General Christiaan de Wet's forces used these same hills to hide from the British.