Game reserves close to Jo'burg

QUESTION: I will be entertaining visitors from England and would like to take them to a game reserve within three hours drive of Johannesburg. The Kruger Park is too far, but I would not like to take them to a large reserve with plenty of game as opposed to a game farm. What do you suggest? - Leon Du Plessis

ANSWERS: You can either head into North-West or Limpopo Province. In North-West, the Pilanesberg National Park offers a great tourist experience, seeing it has excellent game visibility and good facilities. And, of course, your guests will be fascinated to learn that the park is perched on the edge of a volcanic crater, one of only three such craters in the world. You can choose to stay at one of the luxury lodges, Kwa Maritane, Bakubung or Tshukudu, or the more affordable Golden Leopard Resorts. The other park in North-West is Madikwe, which is gaining great popularity as a get-away destination. Stay at Madikwe River Lodge or one of the five other charming lodges in the park. In Limpopo, choose from a host of reserves in the Waterberg region. All of these are within striking distance of Johannesburg and offer various levels of game viewing and luxury. The most well-known of these are Welgevonden, Mabalingwe, Mabula, Lapalala and the Waterberg Wilderness Reserve. Your choice will depend on what type of viewing you prefer and your budget.