Manyane Golden Leopard Resort (Pilanesberg)
Overview of Manyane Golden Leopard Resort
Manyane Golden Leopard Resort provides a tranquil and relaxing escape to the keen outdoor enthusiasts. Manyane offers various activities and facilities to visitors, ranging from mini golf, swimming pools, spacious chalets and clean camping sites.
Nestled at the gateway to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, Manyane is set in unspoiled natural surroundings. Manyane is also driving distance to Sun City, should visitors opt for a day of fun at the City of the Sun.
Pilanesberg Game Reserve, and Manyane by extension, are malaria free areas. Manyane visitors has the option of visiting the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. An abundance of wildlife proliferate the 580km bushveld terrain of the Pilanesberg National Park, including healthy populations of the "Big Five" -lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo- and other rate and common species, such as cheetah, hyena, giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodile.
Activities
Activities at Manyane includes:
- Day and night game drives
- Hiking trails; and
- Game drive and bush braai or breakfast
Close to Manyane, visitors can also find the following activities:
- Archery
- Quad biking
- Drumming circles
- Elephant back safari; and
- Clay pigeon shooting
Facilities
Manyane boasts
- a sparkling swimming pool
- kiddies swimming pool
- mini golf
- restaurant
- day visitors area with swimming pool
- braai facilities
- small superette, with essentials such as braai wood, ice, snacks and cold drinks
- curio shop
- electrified and non-electrified camping sites with centrally situated ablution facilities; and
- chalets
Review of Manyane Golden Leopard Resort (Camping)
Although camping at Manyane was not one of the best camping sites we have visited, it was a fun and relaxing experience non-the-less. After initial confusion wrt our booking, we managed to get the situation sorted out and pitched our tent in the caravan area. I would strongly suggest that you arrive early on the first day of your booking, as the booking confusion could lead to you not having a camp spot when you arrive!
The on-site superette is well stocked, and we spent many an afternoon eating ice-cream and enjoying the peace and quiet. Unfortunately the peace and quiet only lasts as long as you stay in the camping area... the swimming pool was quite crowded, which can become annoying for couples without children.
The ablution facilities are clean, and the braai areas are well maintained.
We were also a bit disappointed with the pricing structure at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. You have to purchase a multi-day pass, as they do not offer 1 day passes. Thus, I would recommend that should you go for a weekend, purchase your entrance pass on the first day of your visit. This way, you will have a lot of days go into the Reserve. Sadly, we only found this out on the last day, and thus were not willing to purchase a 3 day pass for 1 game drive.
The day visitors area is quite a messy situation. The mini golf are in a sorry state of disrepair, and the swimming pool is extremely over crowded. Luckily, the day visitors are not allowed into the main Manyane areas, so this does not bother weekend visitors. But rather stay away from the day visitors area if you are staying at Manyane for a weekend. It is not worth the effort.
Apart from the few disappointing points as mentioned above, the overall camping experience at Manyane was just fine. Not the absolute best, but a cheap and relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.