After the Johannesburg City Marathon: Two Nights in Pilanesberg

The Route: Johannesburg → Pilanesberg (2 nights) → O.R. Tambo International Airport Logistics: Book the lodge first, then ask which gate it uses. Do not drive on the day of the race. Marathon Month: March Duration: 2 nights

Johannesburg ──(road)──> Pilanesberg lodge (2 nights)
                                  │
Airport (JNB) <──(road)───────────┘

The race gun fires at 06:00. Do not follow it with a long drive the same afternoon. Rest, eat and sleep in Johannesburg, and leave the next morning with a driver or a rested companion.

March in Johannesburg and the North West: late summer, hot by day and wet in the afternoons. Roads can be slick after storms, and game viewing is easier from a vehicle than on foot.

Nights One and Two: The Lodge

Pilanesberg offers both self-drive and guided options, according to the North West parks association. Self-driving means long periods seated, which suits tired legs, but a guided drive removes the navigation. Which gate you use depends on your accommodation. Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge and Manyane Resort are two options in and around the park; check current availability, what each includes and how each handles transfers.

Ask the lodge about early drives and a late checkout on the last day.

Health

Take individual advice from a travel clinic before you go. Malaria risk depends on the area and the season, and Johannesburg and a safari park are assessed separately.

Getting Home

Leave the lodge early enough for a margin on the road back. Fly from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), and avoid booking the first flight out on the morning you leave.