The Pilanesberg region has built a reputation as one of the top destinations on South Africa's safari, hoping to see the Big Five and experience the bushes of visitors from all over the world. However, while watching the game is still a major draw card, there is a new layer of tourism added. Place local culture, history and community at the heart of the visitor's experience.
Kgosi Nyala Pilane, leader of Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, said it was time to expand what tourism in the region can offer. “Safaris will always be part of what brings people here,” he said. “But we're adding that now. Visitors want to know people. They want to understand not just what they're looking through the binoculars, but where they're there.”
Recently, the community has opened two museums. One focuses on tribal history and traditional leadership roles, while the other explores Bakugatra customs such as food, cultural practices, and everyday life. Heritage tours will take visitors to these museums from nearby lodges and resorts. “Tourists are looking for more. Feedback is encouraging,” Pilane said. “Many international visitors are surprised at how much they have to learn here. They come for the animals, but they leave remembering the stories and people.”
The heritage initiative is part of a broader plan to build an inclusive tourism economy and is directly involved in the community. “Our short-term goal is to get more people involved in tourism,” Pilane said. “It means creating jobs as a guide, storyteller, chef, crafter and what we know and what visitors want to experience.”
In the long term, he said the goal is to grow this side of tourism, along with the sofari industry, as a way to strengthen the experiential population. “We are building on top of what is already a strong appeal. What is offered is what you can't get in the bushes: human connection, cultural understanding.
It is also moving to work with the government to improve road infrastructure and strengthen safety measures to support tourism growth. “We want tourists to feel confident coming to our village,” he said. “The community will also play a leading role in keeping these spaces welcoming and safe.”
Pilane said the expansion of tourism is more than economics. “It's about pride too. For too long, our heritage has been on the sidelines. Now it's the forefront and center. It shows that our stories, habits and knowledge belong to the tourism experience.”
As tourism continues to grow in the Pilanesberg region, Bakugatra Baka Kugaferra hopes visitors will not only leave more than photos, but also understand where they are, Pilanes said.
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