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The Pilanesberg region has built a reputation as one of South Africa\u2019s top safari destinations, attracting visitors from around the world eager to see the big five and experience the bush. But while game viewing remains a major drawcard, a new layer of tourism is being added. It places local culture, history and community at the centre of the visitor experience.<\/p>\n
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Kgosi Nyala Pilane, leader of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela, said the time had come to broaden what tourism in the area could offer. \u201cSafaris will always be a part of what brings people here,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we are now adding to that. Visitors want to know the people. They want to understand where they are, not just what they see through a pair of binoculars.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Recently the community has opened two museums. One focuses on the history of the tribe and the role of traditional leadership, while the other explores Bakgatla customs, including food, cultural practices and daily life. Heritage tours now take visitors from nearby lodges and resorts to these museums. \u201cTourists are looking for more. The feedback has been encouraging,\u201d said Pilane. \u201cMany international visitors are surprised at how much there is to learn here. They come for the animals, but they leave remembering the stories and the people.\u201d<\/p>\n The heritage initiative is part of a wider plan to build an inclusive tourism economy, one that involves the community directly. \u201cOur short term goal is to get more of our people participating in tourism,\u201d said Pilane. \u201cThat means creating jobs as guides, storytellers, cooks, crafters and anything that connects what we know with what visitors want to experience.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the long run, Pilane said, the aim is to grow this side of tourism to stand alongside the safari industry, as an enhanced experiential layer. \u201cWe are building on top of what is already a strong attraction.\u00a0 What is on offer is something you cannot get in the bush. A human connection, a cultural understanding. That makes the whole experience richer for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Plans are also in motion to work with government to improve road infrastructure and increase safety measures to support tourism growth. \u201cWe want tourists to feel comfortable and confident coming into our villages,\u201d he said. \u201cThe community will also play a leading role in keeping these spaces welcoming and safe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pilane said the expansion of tourism was about more than economics. \u201cIt is also about pride. For too long our heritage has sat on the sidelines. Now it is front and centre. We are showing that our stories, our customs and our knowledge belong in the tourism experience.\u201d<\/p>\n As tourism continues to grow in the Pilanesberg region, the Bakgatla ba Kgafela want to ensure that visitors leave with more than photographs but also with an understanding of where they have been, said Pilane.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/swoosh0018.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Pilanesberg-1024x684.jpg\")
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