Sol Kerzner’s vision of allowing people of all walks of life to holiday in a luxurious desert oasis culminated in the birth of Sun City, constructed on the edge of the Pilansberg Game Reserve in South Africa.

As well as providing an excellent destination where holiday makers can relax and enjoy the sun, there are many reasons to visit this ‘World within a City’.

1. Accommodation. The unique concept of providing accommodation from basic Cabanas, to the Soho Casino hotel, luxury Cascades Hotel and sumptuous Palace of the Lost City Hotel, means that guests can experience the facilities of the whole complex, no matter where they can afford to stay.

2. Valley of the Waves. Make your way across the Bridge of Time, guarded by a sentinal of elephants, to the water park that provides entertainment for all members of the family. The land locked lagoon edged with white sand generates 2 metre high waves to make you feel as if you are by the sea. A variety of death defying slides and flumes are placed strategically around the park as well as a lazy river where you can glide along on a tube soaking up the atmosphere of your surroundings. You might also like to zip wire across the lagoon, discover hidden caves beneath the waterfalls or traverse the swinging walkways.

This is also the area where you will discover an amphitheatre, the Royal Baths and a tropical forest to explore at your leisure. The forest is filled with many hidden gems such as the Sun Gong, beautiful waterfalls and the odd small antelope who stares as you pass by.

3. Sun Central. This is the place where you can eat, shop and explore a variety of entertainment options. Take a trip into the South African Hall of Fame and discover more about achievements gained by South Africa’s famous sporting personalities or try out the interactive exhibits of running, golfing or scoring goals.

Wander up the stairs and enter the walkway that will take you to the Maze. Conquer the pathway to the middle where you will be rewarded with the chance to down a well-earned liquid refreshment.

4. Golf Courses.

Sun City boasts two Gary Player designed golf courses – the Gary Player Golf Course and the Lost City Country Club Golf Course – both of which are challenging and enjoyable. The Gary Player Course, considered to be one of the best courses in the world, is the venue for many national events such as the Nedbank Golf Challenge where some of the world’s golfing legends turn up to participate. Its unique feature is the fact that it does not favour any one particular shot. The Lost City Course is completely different from the Gary Player Course in that it is constructed on an undulating and rocky terrain with spectacular views across the landscape and a series of water features. The13^th hole is shaped like the map of Africa and a pond of Nile Crocodiles adds to its intrigue.

5. Game Viewing. Due to its position of bordering the Pilansberg Game Reserve, there are plenty of opportunities to discover the wildlife of the area. Take a morning or afternoon scheduled game drive with rangers from the Mankwe Gametrackers and you might be lucky enough to catch sight of most of Africa’s big five as well as Kudu, Antelope, Hyena and Zebra and the beautiful Ibis birds but to name a few. Families can take guided bushwalks in the Letsasing Game Reserve where they will be able to get up close and personal to the smaller game creatures or perhaps visit the Crocodile Village and see the crocs being fed.

6. Sun Star. The sun star sculpture is an eight pointed star shape whose internal wiring was created from the Robben Island Fence where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. It is now regarded as a beacon of hope for all South Africans. The sun star was originally positioned on Signal Hill overlooking Cape Town but now resides in its permanent home of Sun City. The huge sphere lights up the night sky above the complex.

However, another reason to visit this iconic sculpture is to view the panoramic African landscape that surrounds area. This gives visitors a true glimpse of the ‘real’ Africa.

A visit to Sun City will certainly provide entertainment for all the family and should be a ‘must’ on anyone’s trip to South Africa.

Lion Gong

Bridge of Time