Prior to its establishment in 1979, most of the land that makes up the Pilanesberg National Park was used for farming and devoid of most of the large mammal species. Since 1979, the area has undergone major reclamation and development and has now matured to a fully stocked nature reserve with most of South Africa's mammal species. see: Operation Genesis
The Pilanesberg National Park is managed and is home to not only the "Big Five", but has also become home and breeding ground to an impressive list of rare and endangered, mammal species.
As of August 2004 the total count of animals was approximately 10,000 including:
42 Lions (plus 32 month old cubs)
12 Cheetah
167 Elephant
90 Black Rhino
300 White Rhino
40 Sable
80 Buffalo -- some Buffalo are periodically removed to other North West nature reserves. TB free Buffalo are rare and extremely expensive; so predation by lions needs is a concern!
The only indigenous southern african mammals (large) that are not found in the Pilanesberg National Park are - bontebok, blesbuck, spotted hyaena, nyala and roan
 North West Province Travel Guide
North West Province Map
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