Projects of the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust

Financial Support for Projects

The Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust needs your support for additional funding for the projects listed below. Be part of these exiting events by contributing for the betterment of the Park for all its visitors, including you!

To make a donation towards the funding of one of the projects, click here to download or fill out a donation form on-line.

Anti-poaching Fund

An endangered Black Rhino was poached in the Pilanesberg National Park on a Wednesday morning in April 2010, the first rhino to be poached in this Park in its 31 year history. The 26 year old female, known as Suzi, was shot 4 times, one of the shots in the front leg "knee" joint probably to prevent her from running away or attacking, before both horns were removed by pangas.

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Housing Project

During 2007, the Trust completed three houses for families struck down by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the Ledig community.

The beneficiary families were identified as those that have been most affected by the disease, especially those households that are headed by grandparents and even older children. The new houses will not only bring physical relief, but also comfort and pride back into their devastated lives.

Read More about their lives....

Rhino Immobilisation

With the growing rhino population genetic integrity of the species is of utmost importance and to monitor this, Rhino’s need to be identified individually.

A numbering system is used and by cutting small V notches into their ears at certain places it gives that Rhino an individual number. This allows for the monitoring of movement and breeding of individual animals.

By paying to participate in a Rhino immobilization not only do you get to experience a once in a lifetime event but also contribute to conservation and the furthered protection of these amazing creatures. The operation is carried out with a Helicopter to aid in the location of a suitable animal, once darted the Helicopter also herds the selected animal closer to the road.

Guests are transferred in game viewing vehicles and have a grandstand view of this part of the procedure. Once the Rhino is sedated completely guests then have the opportunity to get off the vehicle and become hands on with the veterinary team.

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Sponsor an Owl Nesting Box

The Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust has initiated a project to place Owl Nesting Boxes in the Pilanesberg National Park. Boxes will be put up in the Lodges around the Park and at all the hides and picnic sites.

Individuals and Businesses can sponsor one or more boxes for the Hides and Picnic sites and thereby help to increase the amount of nesting sites available to Owls. You will participate in yearly maintenance work and when the box has been occupied and breeding starts the ringing of the chicks in the nest will be a highlight. Monthly updates of the donated boxes will be sent out to the specific sponsors highlighting any new developments with their Owls.

The sponsorship cost for an Owl Nesting Box is R5,000.00 and the average life span of the Box is 3 years. All proceeds from the sale of these boxes go directly to the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust.

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Lion/Brown Hyena/Wild Dog

The collection of genetic material and analyses for the determination of heterozygosity and relatedness amongst individuals within the Pilanesberg. This genetic material collection is important to avoid interbreeding. This involves opportunistic captures for other management purposes such as branding and collaring of certain individuals, or biopsy darts when anaesthesia is not necessary. The dart falls out of the animal after impact, removing a small plug of skin and meat tissue.

The Park is a major partner in conjunction with Brighton University/Earthwatch in multi-faceted data collection for the conservation of the brown hyena in Southern Africa.

Read about The Life of Bryan - click here

The 'Park View' Project

The most frequently asked question from visitors to the Pilanesberg is "where can I see the lions, elephant…".

The 'Park View' enables visitors to access game viewing information electronically by means of a touch screen. This system also allows visitors to easily enter their own game sightings after a drive.

'Park View' is also useful to visitors to access other information on the park including descriptions of various sites (picnic, viewpoints, dams…) and details on the various game that can be seen on the park.

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Buffalo Movement and Utilisation Areas within Pilanesberg

The purpose of this project is to investigate the movement of buffalo in Pilanesberg to see which areas are utilized for food, water and cover.

A GPS collar has been attached to a female buffalo, and the information is being used to map the buffalo herd movement patterns. After analyses it will be possible to improve buffalo sightings in the park to visitors and placement of feed licks to improve production.

This information can be made available via PARKVIEW at sites within the park, improving opportunities to view the buffalo of Pilanesberg.

Introduction of New Male Lions

The Pilanesberg lions have been isolated since their introduction some 15 years ago. Together with project 1, on genetic analyses, new blood lines will be sourced and introduced into Pilanesberg.

This may require the purchase of new lions, transport and post release monitoring to evaluate the success of the project.

Pilanesberg Park Expansion Project

The North West Parks and Tourism Board, in partnership with landowners, government and communities, have embarked on a vision to link the two largest conservation areas in the North West Province, namely Madikwe and Pilanesberg. Wildlife based tourism is used as a tool to further socio-economic development

Elephant Rescue Operation

In 2005, a devastating fire swept through the Pilanesberg National Park, injuring and killing approximately 50 elephants. The news spread far afield, resulting in an instant intervention form both public and corporate sectors to take immediate action. The rescue operation was largely made possible through the overwhelming support and kindness of these likeminded heroes from across the world.

Pilanesberg National Park News

Quarterly editions of the Pilanesberg News are published and 40 000 copies are distributed free of charge in and around the Park. The newspaper raises conservation awareness and educates readers on conservation management issues. The majority of articles are written by park staff on real life experiences to which the public easily relate.