VISIT THESE HIDES
Pilanesberg has several hides (with bathrooms), where you can work on your photography skills. The numbers of the hides correspond with the numbers on the map.
Ratlhogo hide Next to the water and only about 2,5 km from Bakgatla – a perfect stop for your first cup of coffee. The hide faces west so early morning is best for photography when the sun is behind you.
Malatse hide The Malatse Dam is fairly close to Bakgatla (8 km) and Manyane (10 km). The hide is right on the water, with great views on all sides. Photography is good in the morning and in the afternoon. Someone once captured a lioness catching a waterbuck here! Even if no other animals come to drink, the resident pod of hippos will entertain you.
Mankwe Dam hide This hide is on the western side of the dam. It’s the busiest one – in terms of animal sightings and human crowds. The dam is big so a lion will no doubt choose to drink further away. Also, the hide is quite far from the water when the dam level is low. There are some dead trees nearby where kingfishers, white-breasted cormorant and reed
cormorant like to perch. If you’re lucky, a fish-eagle will sit nearby. You can take photos in the morning and afternoon, but the bigger portion of the dam lies to the east so the afternoon will be more productive.
& Makorwane & Batlhako hides The hides at the Makorwane and Batlhako dams are both close to the water, but the landscape is more open around Batlhako so you have a better chance of seeing animals. Batlhako is also nicely situated for photography in the morning and afternoon. Both dams have lots of birdlife like African darter, hamerkop and southern red bishop, and you might see resident hippos and some waterbuck.
Ruighoek hide The hide at the Ruighoek Dam is not next to a main route so you’ll have to drive there specifically. You won’t have to share it with lots of other tourists and it’s next to a big waterhole with great views on all sides. The only downside is that it’s built a bit too high for photography – you won’t get that eye-level shot of a lion drinking water.