Located in the North West province, under 200km from the urban hubs of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Sun City complex is an entertainment mecca rivalling the world’s best – golf courses, casino, wildlife viewing, inland beach with waves and top-class resorts – set amid the African bushveld.
Inspired by a legendary lost African kingdom, the Palace of the Lost City was built around a long-dormant volcano. It dominates Sun City with its soaring towers and opulent features, and is the premier accommodation offering for guests willing to spend a little more for sheer luxury.
A little less splendid, the Sun City Hotel, Cascades Hotel and Cabanas resorts allow for a range of accommodation budgets at the Sun City venue.
Another gem in the Sun City crown is the Valley of the Waves, an inland beach complete with lifeguards, waves, beach and surfers, where the Roaring Lagoon generates a 1.2-metre wave every 90 seconds, to the delight of beachgoers. There are also rapids, slides and an underground river to explore here.
Apart from many fast-food outlets for busy gamblers and beach crowds, traditional restaurants lure diners with traditional South African fare, Asian fusion, steakhouses for meat lovers and an excellent Italian eatery.
For golfing enthusiasts there are two world-class, par-72 courses, both designed to take advantage of the picturesque backdrop of the Pilanesberg mountain range.
At nearly 7km, the Gary Player Country Club is one of the world’s longest courses and plays host to the world-famous annual Nedbank Golf Challenge. The Lost City course is equally challenging and features a 13th hole water hazard that’s home to 40 crocodiles.
Segway offers a choice of gliding tours designed to take visual advantage of the mountains and wildlife. Choose a golf tour, lake tour or more adventurous off-road glide.
Or you could embrace your inner adventurer and opt for a glide that’s way higher and way faster. Book a ride on Zip 2 000, the world's longest and fastest zipline at 280m high and 2km long.
Children will enjoy a holiday of their own at Sun City with a water park at the Valley of the Waves, replete with slides and rides to keep them occupied. Then there’s Kamp Kwena, an activity park with mini-cars, trampolines, adventure golf and other activities to entertain the little ones.
Allied to Sun City are other activities such as jet-skiing, parasailing, horse riding, hot air ballooning, game viewing, quadbiking, visiting the Motseng Cultural Village and clay-target shooting.
And if, after all that physical activity, you have energy left after dark, the gambling tables and slot machines are calling …
