10 Cool Pilanesberg facts that will make you go 'bos'

55. Game viewing can be compared to fishing. 
You never know what fish you're going to catch but you can narrow the possibilities down a bit depending on what bait you put on the end of the hook. In this instance, rangers are the 'hook'. 

You'll see far more on a guided safari than in your own vehicle. Rangers have the advantage of knowing their park backwards. They know which animals stay in which areas and how long they hang around for. 

They're also have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all aspects of nature, including mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, plants, grasses, soils and trees.

6. When it comes to successful hunts, the lion's share goes to the African wild dog. 
They are Africa’s most effective predators, boasting an 80% success rate with hunts; far higher than the 30% rate of lions.

7. The average age of lions living in the Pilansberg is 12 years old. 
Ketimetsi, a male lion who lived in Kwa Maritane, made news headlines last month when he passed away at the astonishing age of 17.

8. The best hotspots for a variety of game viewing?
If you’re keen to see a plethora of wildlife including elephants, rhino, lion, crocodiles, birds, leguaans and terrapins, head to Mankwe hide, situated on the edge of the Mankwe Dam (the largest body of water in the Pilanesberg), and Makuwani hide. But prepare to be patient as good things come to those who wait. 

9. While at Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge and Bakubung Bush Lodge you may inadvertently encounter the Ficus wasp.
The Ficus wasp measures a mere 2mm long, so you'll likely be unaware that the chance meeting even took place. What makes this wasp so ingenious is the way it pollinates figs. The female wasp crawls in through a tiny hole in the bottom of the fig and lays eggs before dying. After hatching, the male fig wasp bites a hole through the flower wall and impregnates the hatching females. He then chops a tunnel for his pregnant pollen-dusted female to escape from the fig. 

You'll be surprised to learn that while the Ficus trees that grow in the Pilansberg are not as big as you'd expect them to be, some are over 300 years old.

10. The term 'Big 5' has nothing to do with size. 
The term Big 5 has nothing to do with size, or a giraffe would feature, as it is obviously bigger than a lion. It originally referred to the most sought after animals to hunt, based on the difficulty in hunting them: this made the Big 5 (most worth hunting) the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo. 

These five large African mammal species were known to be dangerous and it was considered a feat by trophy hunters to bring them home. 

Contrary to popular belief the black rhino is part of the Big 5 and not the white rhino. Although much smaller than the white rhino (a ton or so lighter), the black rhino is more dangerous because of its more curious nature, keen eyesight and feisty attitude.