The Pilanesberg National Park
The Pilanesberg National Park in
South Africa borders on the entertainment complex of Sun City. The
park is 55.000 hectares in extent. It is almost perfectly circular
because it comprises the area of a 1200 million years old volcano
crater with a small lake in the centre. This very scenic terrain lies
in the transition zone between Kalahari and Lowveld, and both types
of vegetation are found here.
The Pilanesberg National Park
was opened in 1979. In the "Operation Genesis", the largest
game resettlement project in the history of South Africa, in the
early eighties more than 6,000 animals from other parks were settled
here. In 1993 lions from the Etosha National Park (Namibia) were
introduced to the park, despite grave concerns of the surrounding
communities. Since, the lions have been thriving and nicely multiplying
in the park. A similar action with cheetahs from Namibia unfortunately
failed.In the Pilanesberg National Park today live virtually all
the animal species of southern Africa, including, lions, elephants,
white and black rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, zebras, hyenas, giraffes,
hippos and crocodiles. Over 300 bird species were counted. The roads
in the park (some 200 kilometres) are not tarred, but very well
maintained and can be travelled with a normal vehicle.
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