Sun City
Close to the ground.
GPS: S 25 21.570 E 027 06.433 elevation 1,071 m/3,514 ft
Sun City is self-proclaimed to be “Africa’s Kingdom of Pleasure” for all ages. It is a gaudy mega resort, reminiscent of Las Vegas, built in the southern tip of Pilanesburg National Park with a casino, water park, game reserve, shopping mall, a number of hotels and enough activities to keep you busy for a week. The resort is primarily populated with foreign tourists soaking up the sun by the pool or in the water park. The city resort prides itself in its environmental protection and sustainable tourism.
To get inside the city it costs R70/person, but you get R30 back in Sun City Cash that you can spend anywhere within the resort. The entire city is accessible by foot, but there are free shuttle buses that run every 15-20 minutes between the entertainment center and locations throughout the rest of the city.
Game Trackers
Game Trackers gives you a chance to view the Big 5 in open vehicles, or if you're up for a more active adventure you can go on a hike into the game park accompanied by a guide (4hr, R455).
Waterworld
Waterworld has a host of water activities including parasailing, tubing, jet skis, speedboats, and bumper boats.
Cultural Village
Cultural Village has guided tours and daily tribal dance shows.
Adventure Slide Zipline
Adventure Slide Zipline is a 2 km long zip line that claims to be the longest, fastest and highest in the county. Once you are strapped into a harness, you can fly over the trees Superman-style.
Palace of the Lost City
Palace of the Lost City guided tour takes you through the over-the-top, extravagant multimillion dollar domed hotel with mosaic marble floor and a series of large outdoor pools and fountains surrounded by palm trees imported from the U.S.
Segway Tours
Segway Tours start with a quick lesson on how to ride your Segway, followed by any number of tours through the golf course, along the lake or down by the crocodile pit.
Kwena Gardens Crocodile Sanctuary
Kwena Gardens Crocodile Sanctuary has over 7,000 crocodiles and claims to have the two biggest captive Nile crocodiles in the world. Daily croc feedings are at 4:30pm. For those interested in elephants there are elephant-back safaris through the game park as well as the Elephant Wallow where you can pet and feed the giant creatures.
Horseback Riding
Horseback Riding tours depart from the stables at 9am, 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. They last one hour.
Movie Zone Cinema
Movie Zone Cinema has a selection of afternoon and evening movies.
Golfing
Golfing is available on the award-winning Gary Player golf course or the Lost City golf course.
Sun City doesn't have any budget accommodation. If you are traveling on a budget and interested in spending some time in Sun City take a look at some of the lodging options at Pilanesberg National Park.
Kwena Gardens
Kwena Gardens is a crocodile sanctuary that is separate from but associated with Sun City with 14 luxury, thatched-roof chalets with TV and AC.
Cabanas
Cabanas is the least expensive, Sun City owned lodging option with 380 rooms spread out over a number of buildings. Cabanas has three dining options and is popular with families because of its close proximity to family friendly activities and Kamp Kwena - a special child entertainment center that will look after children while parents are out and about. All rooms have AC, a flat screen TV, and mini-fridge.
Sun City Hotel
Sun City Hotel houses the casino, which is surrounded by foliage and waterfalls and is only slightly smaller than the Cabanas with 340 rooms - some with views overlooking the Gary Player golf course. The hotel has enough bars and restaurants (four) to keep you busy for a few days.
The Cascades
The Cascades has been recently renovated and is the smallest of the Sun City owned hotels with only 243 rooms. The hotel is situated beside a lake featuring cascading waterfalls and a swimming pool complete with an imported sandy beach.
Palace of the Lost City
Palace of the Lost City is a large domed hotel with mosaic marble floor, large outdoor pools and fountains surrounded by palm trees imported from the United States. The multi million dollar building built in 1990 may remind you of gaudy Las Vegas hotels with camera-toting tourists that are there either to spend the night or on one of the organized tours. The hotel has a number of restaurants, pools and bars. The Villa del Palazzo (mains R160-250) is the best restaurant in the city.
You shouldn't go hungry in Sun City - each hotel has between two and four restaurant options. The Entertainment Center building has a handful of restaurants and standard fast food options. For the finest dining check out the Villa del Palazzo.
All of the hotels and the casino have a number of bars. If you're still looking for more you can enjoy a few drinks at the Village People Shebeen while relaxing and listening to African jazz. There is a Shebeen DJ on the weekends.