Is gambling an economic activity? Does it generate income and increase gross domestic product? Economists say yes, so an article about the Pilanesberg Park-Casino pairing in Sun City, South Africa, finds its rightful place in the Economics section of a newspaper. But let’s give precedence to the wilderness. If you are looking for it in South Africa, in view of the return to post-Covid travel, perhaps in a place within easy reach of Johannesburg, you have at least a couple of choices: you can focus on the famous Kruger National Park, or head to the less known Pilanesberg . What is the difference? To explain it in Italian terms, the Pilanesberg is as big as the Abruzzo national park, while the Kruger is twice the size of Abruzzo.
But as for the richness and variety of animals (lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos …) and natural environments (wet and dry areas, open savannah and scrubland, etc.) the Pilanesberg has nothing to envy to its older brother, and in addition, it offers a significant attraction: it is malaria-free and does not require prophylaxis. We visited it at the time and we loved it.
Then there is another resort nearby, for those interested; adjacent to the park is the Sun City & Lost City complex, a kind of Disneyland with many attractions of all kinds, and at the center of the entire Casino. Someone will say: no thanks! But think again, if you pass by it is interesting and advisable to visit it, just as it is important (for example) to see Disneyland in California. When traveling it is a serious mistake to be a snob, it is always important to see how a people conceives of themselves and how they exercise their imagination.
Among the natural boasts of the Pilanesberg park there are more than 200 elephants, which are not domesticated at all, nor semi-domesticated, like other animals, so much so that (occasionally) there have also been accidents to people, but due to only to the imprudence of some visitors. The park offers guided tours that allow you to get very close to the animals, even on foot. In principle, the Pilanesberg can be visited in a day, but if you want, there are all the facilities you need to stay overnight. Then if you have more time to spend in South Africa (and it’s worth it) there is always the Kruger park, twice Abruzzo.
It should be noted that the Pilanesberg has developed a relationship with Piedmont: in recent years the readers of LaZampa.it and the Zoom biopark in Cumiana (Turin) have collaborated with the Pilanesberg park on the “Adopt a rhino” project.
