Sun City is an entertainment center located in the North West Province of South Africa. Strategically placed within its currently developed 150 acres are two Gary Player designed, 18-hole golf courses, one of them with the now infamous 40-crocodile water hazard on the 13th hole. The resort is partially surrounded by Pilanesberg National Park, a 14,000 acre national preserve accessible by four wheel drive vehicles driven by trained guides and naturalists. It is near the city of Rustenburg, about 90 miles (140 kilometers) from Johannesburg, one of South Africa’s largest cities.
Sun City has gardens, tropical birds, swimming pools, waterfalls, and a sky train. It’s no understatement to say that malaria-free Sun City delivers the widest range of holiday activities in Africa: tee off on one of the two Gary Player-designed championship golf courses; grab a swim at the outrageous Valley of the Waves or look for the Big 5 in the excellent Pilanesberg National Park just next door.
Sun City is one of South Africa's most popular holiday destinations for the simple reason that it's as ideal for a fun-filled family vacation as it is for a decadent romantic getaway or an activities-driven adventure. If there’s a special place in South Africa that combines luxury, entertainment, and adventure all in one location, that place is the Sun City Complex.
Right in the heart of the South African savanna rises the majestic Sun City Complex, a true oasis amidst the wilderness. Encompassing an area of approximately 33 square kilometers, this magnificent human creation is surrounded by stunning landscapes, picturesque mountains, and a tropical climate that enhances the stay here even more.
History and Development
The South African hotel owner and businessman Sol Kerzner developed Sun City. The dreamchild of the controversial entrepreneur Sol Kerzner, the founder of Sun International Resorts, Sun City is without a doubt his crowning achievement, a destination so well conceived, and even more brilliantly executed, I found myself time and again marveling at its sheer magnificence. It was opened in 1979.
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At the time, gambling was illegal in South Africa, and Kerzner dreamed up an imaginary kingdom complete with a fanciful legend of a lost city and a lost tribe as the basis for his resort. He wanted to create a make-believe “lost city” as a tourist attraction.
As Bophuthatswana had been declared an independent state by South Africa's apartheid government (although unrecognised as such by any other country), it could provide entertainment such as gambling and topless revue shows, which were banned in South Africa. Those factors, as well as its relatively close location to the large metropolitan areas of Pretoria and Johannesburg, ensured that Sun City soon became a popular holiday and weekend destination.
The United Nations had imposed a cultural boycott on South Africa in condemnation of apartheid. To overcome this, Kerzner offered substantial financial incentives to performing artists to use Sun City as a venue. Many artists refused to play at Sun City during the apartheid years. The artists wanted to show that they did not agree with the government’s policy of keeping white and nonwhite people separated.
Several acts disregarded the boycott and performed at the venue, such as The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Cher, Ray Charles, Millie Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra (1981), Shirley Bassey (1981), Olivia Newton-John (1982), Dolly Parton (1982), Neil Sedaka (1982), Paul Anka, Status Quo, Rod Stewart (July 1983), Elton John (October 1983), and Boney M. British rock band Queen's series of performances at the venue in October 1984 in transgression of the boycott caused considerable controversy, prompting criticism in the British music press, a fine from the Musicians' Union and their inclusion on the United Nations' blacklisted artists.
In 1985, E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt made the venue the focus of his music-industry activist group Artists United Against Apartheid. Forty-nine top recording artists collaborated on a song called "Sun City", in which they pledged they would not perform at the resort because of their opposition to apartheid.
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Bophuthatswana was eventually re-incorporated into the new democratic South Africa in 1994 and the novelty of international performers, gambling and risqué entertainment has worn off somewhat.
In January 1986 the Skytrain people mover, built with Otis Hovair technology, took its first trip on a 1.71 km (1.06 mi) line that connects a remote parking lot to the Entertainment Centre.
Things to do in Sun City | South Africa
Key Attractions and Activities
Sun City is famous for its diverse entertainment options.
- Valley of Waves: The Valley of Waves Water Park is a true tropical paradise. With a 6,500 square meter wave pool, white sand beaches, and thrilling water slides, it’s the perfect place to cool off and have fun with the whole family. An artificial beach, complete with a 6500 m² wave pool with a 2m wave every ninety seconds, will give you the impression that you are actually on holiday on the sunny coastline of South Africa, not in the remote North West. Is surfing permitted in the Valley of Waves?
- Adrenaline Activities: For those who love sports and adrenaline, Sun City boasts one of the world’s largest and fastest zip lines, stretching 2 kilometers in length, 280 meters high, and reaching an average speed of 120 kilometers per hour! Therefore, only children above 12 years old can venture on it.
- Treetop Adventure: children taller than 1.20 meters will enjoy the new treetop adventure circuit, with various challenges and elements for both small and big adventurers to have fun together (or separately).
- Waterworld: Waterworld, it’s an artificial lake that offers activities like jet skiing, parasailing (individual or tandem), wakeboarding, and family boat rides.
- The Lost City Maze: The Lost City Maze is one of the main attractions of the complex. It’s the largest maze in the Southern Hemisphere, a place constructed with artificial stones and woods that create the illusion of a lost archaeological site. One of the hidden gems of the Sun City Resort, the maze in the Lost City covers half an acre and is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. You enter The Maze via a 100-metre-long suspension bridge from Sun Central. To access it, you need to cross a 100-meter-long suspended bridge from Sun Central Entertainment. Children (accompanied by adults) and teenagers will love the adventure, imagining themselves in an Indiana Jones movie!
- Pilanesberg National Park: To complete the adventure, adjacent to the complex is the Pilanesberg National Park, where visitors have the unique opportunity to take part in exciting safaris and spot the rich African wildlife, including the famous “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinos). Both neighboring reserves contain the Big Five: the elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, leopard, and lion. Other predators one might find include cheetahs, wild dogs, and even brown hyenas. Zebra and giraffes are plentiful. It’s also possible to take balloon tours, mountain bike trails, or guided walks. An exhilarating safari is an experience that will be etched in the family’s memory forever. Two well-known reserves, Pilanesberg and Madikwe, are close to Sun City. Day trips are available directly from Sun City - a fabulous South African bush experience minutes away from this luxurious resort.
- Golf Courses: Golf enthusiasts will find two world-class golf courses at Sun City: the Gary Player Country Club, designed by the famous South African champion Gary Player, and the Lost City Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course surrounded by spectacular savannah views. The Gary Player Golf Course and the Lost City Golf Course, designed by South African golfing legend Gary Player, are both internationally acclaimed courses. A series of lakes separate the ninth hole from the final hole.
- Sun City Casino: And to wrap up the day for adults, the Sun City Casino is one of the largest in South Africa, offering a wide range of games and nighttime entertainment. The casino complex at Sun City is a world of glitz and glamour. Sun City Casino has recently been refurbished and boasts the latest technology, with round-the-clock thrills for first-time gamers and the more dedicated gamblers.
- Live Shows: Additionally, the resort features live shows, musical performances, and exciting sports events. Several artists have graced its stage, including Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Sting, just to name a few. Sun City brings an astounding variety of performers to South Africa that play to packed audiences in the vast Superbowl.
- Sun Central Entertainment: Sun City also houses a Sun Central (entertainment hub), with various options for shopping enthusiasts, from stores selling souvenirs to designer products. Even our Brazilian brand, Havaianas, can be found there.
Family-Friendly Activities
Children are treated as the “Lion King” and enjoy many specific attractions designed and created especially for them. No one will want to leave this endless fun!
The activities are playful, some teach environmental and cultural awareness, like the Bridge of Time, a theatrical bridge surrounded by elephant statues that make noises every hour with different sounds and smoke, or the Forest of Lights, at dusk, which transforms gardens and waterfalls into a scenic walk, full of lights and colors.
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- Leeto-Kgolo Village tour: But families will really enjoy the Leeto-Kgolo Village tour, which takes place on bikes, to visit a village, learn a local recipe, and see how a Pilanesberg tribe lives.
- Segaetsho Cultural Village: Another excursion is the Segaetsho Cultural Village, this time to watch performances of traditional music, learn how to make bead necklaces, and buy custom-made souvenirs and crafts. These programs are paid separately and extremely interesting for children to learn about the lives of other people.
- Breakout Games: After a day of water park or safari, they can still play at Breakout Games, with different escape games (something fun to do as a family), watch a movie in the cinema, take part in a virtual reality game, enjoy the electronic gaming area, and play family bowling. Everything is located at Sun Central and some activities require separate reservations and payment.
- Other activities: During the day, they can also opt for the trampoline park, play mini golf as a family, ride mini quad bikes, and the little ones will enjoy riding the train around the lake.
- Kamp Kwena: There’s even a “Kamp Kwena,” a kids’ club for children aged 3 to 12, where kids can play and engage in playful activities while parents relax at the Royal SPA, assured that their little ones are being well taken care of. Central to the hotels is a state-of-the-art child care facility, called Camp Kwena, which is the local Tswana tribe name for crocodile. But not to worry. The only animals the children will see at Camp Kwena are contained in a wonderful petting zoo that campers access daily with their counselors.
Accommodation Options
The Sun City complex offers 4 hotels with a variety of lodging options that cater to all tastes and budgets:
- Cabanas: the most affordable is Cabanas, youthful and colorful, located on the shore of Waterworld lake. A bargain even by American standards, the Cabanas, the fourth lodging property, offers the same idyllic African scenery, and full access to Sun City’s casinos and amenities, as that of its more luxurious sisters. Family-style room are clean, but modestly furnished in what approaches motel-style accommodations. However, the setting for families is ideal, with Camp Kwena no more than a few hundred feet away, and a panoramic view of the lake thrown in for good measure. A short walk away are tennis and squash courts, ten pin bowling, and volley ball, as well as a fully equipped health spa. A terrace lounge, as well as two restaurants, round out the amenities offered at the Cabanas. The Cabanas open onto lush gardens.
- Sun City Hotel: The 4-star Sun City Hotel was the first to be built. The rooms are classic and cozy. If your blood runs hot and you crave excitement, try the even more affordable Sun City Hotel, with its cavernous gambling casino and nonstop night life. The Sun City Hotel is connected to the Entertainment Center, with its first-run movie theater and video arcade, providing non-stop entertainment for every family member. Walk out of the back door of the Sun City Hotel and you are on the Bridge of Time, which blasts guests with a simulated volcano every thirty minutes. The scene draws scads of kids to its regular eruptions, with the bridge itself shaking convincingly.
- Cascades Hotel: Next in line in order of palatial amenities is the 242-room Cascades Hotel, the smallest in Sun City, featuring a theme of cascading water and lush tropical gardens, both inside and out. Bask in the tranquillity of Cascades. Surround yourself in an oasis of spilling waterfalls, sparkling pools and marvel at the exterior Aztec style of this place. Take to the tennis courts for game, set and match, then take a dip in the welcoming heated outdoor pool. Sit in the outdoor portion of the Peninsula restaurant and enjoy views of the gardens, lake and the Gary Player Golf Course. The family will be entertained by peacocks walking free, strutting their stuff among the tables, or watch flamingoes wading in the lake. The gardens, which draw guests from the other three hotels, are constantly being transformed based on people’s preferences and the natural ecology of South Africa. Rooms at the Cascades are tastefully appointed, much more in line with an upscale American hotel than is true in the opulent Palace.
- The Palace of the Lost City: And finally, a highlight for the majestic and iconic 5-star The Palace. It has been visited by numerous wealthy and famous individuals, showbiz stars, royalty, and politicians. Savour every moment of exclusivity at The Palace. This majestic creation combines a luxury stay with the adventure of Africa, from beautifully furnished rooms, to the wilderness of surrounding jungles and waterfalls. The Crystal Court offers a tantalising feast of breakfast delights, including fabulous stations for omelettes and pancakes. Guests can spend hours marveling at all the intricacies, such as the hand-painted dome by nine artists, the 10,000-piece Czech crystal chandelier, the tapestries exclusively created for the hotel, or even the hand-carved wooden doors of the rooms, including the hotel’s main entrance, which stands at 8 meters tall! The Palace has just celebrated its 30th anniversary, and its 326 rooms and suites have undergone a complete renovation, gaining renewed vitality. The Royal SPA and Salon are also new and offer a variety of treatments for adults (and even for children, as the SPA Kids Menu is available) to unwind. The gardens are lush, filled with waterfalls and native plant species. The hotel’s pool is Olympic-sized. Alternatively, for those who prefer, direct access to the water park is available. All rooms in the hotel cater to families and offer accessible options.
Dining Options
Sun City offers guests a smorgasbord of choice when it comes to restaurants. Everything from Italian dishes to Oriental delights, fine dining and budget-friendly meals are available at Sun City. Whatever grabs your culinary fancy, you’ll find a restaurant at Sun City dishing it up. You definitely don’t go hungry in Sun City.
The food court at Sun Central offers family-friendly options catering for South Africans on a tighter budget. This is a favourite spot for hotel residents. It’s open every day and serves tasty light meals and delicious cocktails to guests spending a lazy day lounging around the crystal-clear pool.
Enjoy a delicious meal while soaking up the sun on the pool deck. Refreshing cocktails and fancy bar meals make Harlequins a favourite restaurant in Sun City for the hipster crowd. For a light lunch or a leisurely evening at sundowners, the Luma Bar & Lounge at the Cascades Hotel is the perfect restaurant in Sun City if you need a calm respite from a busy day. Escape to a fantasy world and enjoy safari-themed cocktails in an exotic setting.
This popular establishment at the main Sun City entertainment complex offers a selection of the finest local craft beers aswell as the best of South Africa’s wines.
Getting to Sun City
Sun City Resort lies relatively close to Johannesburg and Pretoria. Guests will be welcomed at OR Tambo International in Johannesburg, where the journey will continue on the well-maintained roads of Gauteng and the North West. The resort is situated approximately 200km from Johannesburg, and takes about two and a half hours to reach. It is important to note, however, that this road is the main arterial link to the north, and can get extremely busy during school and public holidays.
International travelers can fly to O.R. Take a trip to a resort with it all, sun, safari, surf and stories of the Lost City.
Best Time to Visit
Sun City is a blue sky and sunshine destination for most of the year, and visitors don't have to consult their calendars because of the weather. Suppose you plan to visit a nearby safari destination. In that case, the winter months from May to August are the best time to view wildlife in South Africa, as the vegetation is quite dense during the rainy summers.
It is better to avoid the resort altogether over December, as it gets full during the peak season with summer school holidays in full swing. In the deepest of winter, June and July, the evenings can be cold but not freezing. If you plan to visit the Valley of the Waves, contact an African Sky consultant to confirm that it is open.
Additional Information
Here are some quick facts and answers to common questions about Sun City:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are there restaurants in the resort? | Yes, Sun City offers a wide range of dining options, from fast food to fine dining. |
| Are there any game reserves nearby that we can visit? | Yes, Pilanesberg National Park is adjacent to Sun City. |
| How many golf courses are at the resort? | There are two internationally acclaimed courses. |
| Is the resort wheelchair-friendly? | Yes, Sun City is designed to be accessible to guests with disabilities. |
| Will I have access to Wi-Fi? | Yes, Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort. |
| Can you visit the resort for a day? | Day visitors are allowed; however, there is a small fee for the day. |
Sun City offers a unique blend of luxury, entertainment, and natural beauty, making it a must-visit destination in South Africa. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or a family-friendly getaway, Sun City has something for everyone.
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