Bakgatla Resort
Sixty loft chalets beside Pilanesberg's northern Bakgatla Gate
About this stay
Bakgatla Resort sits close enough to its namesake gate that the eight-minute walk covers not just Pilanesberg's northern entrance but also Ivory Tree Game Lodge next door, putting it firmly in the reserve-access cluster rather than the Sun City entertainment precinct further south. The pet-friendly policy is a genuine point of difference in this area, where most lodges and resort hotels don't accommodate animals at all. Facilities stay simple: an outdoor pool, restaurant and breakfast, plus a shared kitchen and air conditioning, without the spa or hot tub extras found at the pricier gate-side lodges. The 7-out-of-10 rating from 859 reviews reflects a straightforward, functional stay rather than a standout one, priced accordingly below Ivory Tree next door.
- Beside Bakgatla Gate, northern Pilanesberg
- 60 self-catering loft chalets sleeping up to six
- Five en-suite safari tents and a large campsite
- Olympic-size swimming pool and playground
- Restaurant, bar and games room
- A few kilometres from Ratlhogo hide
Our take
Bakgatla is a large fenced Golden Leopard Resorts camp at the foot of the Garamoga Hills, right beside the Bakgatla Gate on the northern side of Pilanesberg National Park. Its 60 self-catering chalets each sleep up to six, with a double bedroom and three single beds in a loft, which is why I would send families and groups of friends here rather than couples. Most chalets look onto the camp; only a few along the park fence face the hills, so ask for one of those. Sun City's entrance is about 40 minutes away, and Ratlhogo hide, overlooking open water, a few kilometres from the gate. The 7.0 score from 859 reviews in our data says simple, not polished: come for the location and the space, not the finish.
- Ask for a chalet along the park fence: most units face the camp, and only a few look out towards the hills and the reserve.
- Check whether your chalet's main bedroom is en suite: only some are, and in the others the whole group shares one bathroom with the loft.
- Ratlhogo hide is a few kilometres from Bakgatla Gate and overlooks open water, an easy first stop at dawn and a good place for sunset photographs.
- Fill the tank before you arrive: there is no fuel inside Pilanesberg, and the Sun City side of the park is about 40 minutes away.
- The five safari tents are not self-catering: bring your own braai or plan to eat at the restaurant beside the pool.
Why we love it
- Pet-friendly, rare this close to the gate
- Eight-minute walk to Bakgatla Gate
- Shared kitchen for self-catering
- Lower rate than the neighbouring lodge
Why guests love itEach Bakgatla chalet is laid out for a family: a double bedroom, three single beds in the loft, a sleeper couch, a full kitchen and a patio with a braai, so children have their own space and dinner happens outside. The camp adds an Olympic-size pool, a playground, a trampoline, outdoor chess and a games room for the hot middle of the day, when game viewing slows down. Pilanesberg is malaria-free, which removes the antimalarial question with young children, and the gate is a short walk from the camp for an early start. Expect a camp rather than a lodge: self-drive is the default, the shop is small, and the 7.0 score from 859 reviews in our data reflects a simple product.
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