Quick Facts: Sun City Hotels
- The Sun City luxury casino and resort is located in the North West Province of South Africa near the city of Rustenburg
- Sun City nestles adjacent to the malaria free, 'Big Five' Pilanesberg Game Reserve
- The Sun City Resort can be reached within a two hours' drive from Johannesburg
- Palace of the Lost City Hotel, 5 star
- Cascades Hotel, 5 star
- Sun City Hotel, 4 star
- Cabanas Hotel, 4 star
- Many restaurants, bars, cafes and lounges
- Wide variety of conference and event venues
- Sun City Casino and Entertainment Complex
- Harlequins Casino and Jungle Casino
- Computicket
- Movie Zone
- Sun City Theatre
- Sun City Superbowl
- Botanical Gardens
- Butterfly World
- Cascades Aviary
- Gametrackers: game drives, quad bikes, Elephant Back Safaris, Hot Air Balloon Safaris
- Gary Player Golf Course
- Lost City Golf Course
- Segway Safari
- Jogging Trails
- Kwena Gardens Crocodile Sanctuary
- Motseng Cultural Village
- Palace Hotel Tours
- Squash
- Swimming Pools at each Sun City hotel
- Tennis Courts
- The Pronutro Zip 2000
- South African National Birds of Prey Centre
- Sun City Horse Stables
- Sun City Valley of Waves
- Waterworld
- Waterworld Cruise
- Animal World
- Finder's Keepers
- Mini Cars
- Children's Games Arcade
- Trampolines
- Club Chirp
- Sun City Kamp Kwena
- Sun City Kamp Kwena Creche
- Mini Golf
- Stimela The Train
- Thula Baba Babysitting
Distance to Airport: 10 km
Distance to City: 2 km
Introducing Sun City Hotels
The Sun City luxury casino and resort nestles in the North West Province of South Africa adjacent to the malaria-free, 'Big Five' Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The exciting and internationally well known Sun City Resort is located about a two hours' drive north-west from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg.
The Sun City Resort features four hotels each of which offers comfortable hotel rooms and great facilities, the Cabanas Hotel, the Sun City Hotel, the Cascades Hotel and the Palace of the Lost City Hotel. In addition to the four hotels, the Sun City Casino & Resort in South Africa includes time-share facilities, The Sun City Vacation Club.
Sun City is home to two famous 18-hole golf courses, namely the Gary Player Country Club and the Lost City Golf Course, both of which were designed by South Africa's golf legend Gary Player. The Gary Player Country Club is home to the annual, international Nedbank Golf Challenge which attracts the best-golfing talents from all over the world competing for the title. The Lost City Golf Course is popular for the 38 crocodiles which are home in the water feature of the 13th hole.
The Sun City Resort in the Pilanesberg hosts concerts, conferences, exhibitions and events, including the Miss South Africa and Miss South Africa Teen Pageant. These pageants take place annually in Sun City’s Superbowl Arena and the Valley of Waves. Also held in the Valley of Waves at the Sun City Resort is the Springbreak summer festival which attracts students to enjoy the excitement and adventure of this resort.
Hotels at the Sun City Resort, Pilanesberg (North West Province)
The Sun City Resort is home to 4 magnificent hotels which range from extraordinary and unique four to five-star hotels:
- Palace of the Lost City Hotel, 5 star
- Cascades Hotel, 5 star
- Sun City Hotel, 4 star
- Cabanas Hotel, 4 star
Entertainment facilities at the Sun City Resort, Pilanesberg (North West Province)
The Sun City Resort is filled with many entertainment facilities for visitors of all ages:
- Harlequins Casino: smoking casino with slots, tables, Prive and exclusive International Room for high stakes tables players
- Jungle Casino
- Computicket
- Movie Zone
- Sun City Theatre: this theatre hosts spectacular shows
- Sun City Superbowl: the immensely versatile venue is situated in The Entertainment Centre and hosts superstar performances, sporting events, pageants, exhibitions and banquets
Outdoor activities at the Sun City Resort, Pilanesberg (North West Province)
The Sun City Resort in South Africa has many exciting outdoor activities on offer which include:
- Botanical Gardens: many bird and plant species can be viewed
- Butterfly World: magnificent butterfly species can be observed
- Cascades Aviary: home to over 300 recorded bird species found in the Sun City Resort
- Gametrackers: game drives, walking safaris, quad biking, Elephant Back Safari, Hot Air Balloon Safari
- Gary Player Golf Course: 18 hole golf course, home to the annual international Nedbank Golf Challenge
- Gary Player Country Club: Pro Shop, putting green, Golf Course, Gym, Spa, restaurant, bar
- Lost City Golf Course: 18 hole golf course
- Segway Safari
- Jogging Trails: 3 and 5 km around the Lost City Golf Course and the Gary Player Golf Course
- Kwena Gardens Crocodile Sanctuary: one of South Africa's largest crocodile farms; home to over 300 Nile crocodiles
- Motseng Cultural Village: highlights the history of 8 South African tribes; daily tours are conducted incorporating song, dance and meals
- Palace Hotel Tours
- Squash: two squash courts are located near the Gary Player Country Club
- Swimming Pools: Palace Hotel, Cascades Hotel, Sun City Hotel, Cascades Hotel
- Tennis Courts: 11 tennis courts 5 of which are floodlit
- Tennis Clubhouse: refreshments, Tennis Pro Shop, Tennis Coach
- The Pronutro Zip 2000; the world's longest, highest amd fastest Zipline is 2km long-reaching speeds of 120km per hour
- South African National Birds of Prey Centre: flying displays to experience the magic of birds of prey flying freely in their environment
- Sun City Horse Stables: the rides are conducted into a small section of the Pilanesberg Game Park
- Sun City Valley of Waves: one of the most exciting water theme parks
- Waterworld: fun water activities include water skiing, jet skis, parasailing, beach shop
- Waterworld Cruise
Children and Teenager activities at the Sun City Resort, Pilanesberg (North West Province)
The Sun City Resort offers great activities for children and teenagers such as:
- Animal World: an aviary and South African farmyard
- Finder's Keepers: find treasures in the Finder's Keepers scratch patch
- Mini Cars: enjoy the thrill of riding around a mini racecourse in a bumper car
- Children's Games Arcade
- Club Chirp
- Sun City Kamp Kwena: supervised activity programme
- Sun City Kamp Kwena Creche
- Mini Golf
- Stimela The Train: the station is at the Waterworld; ride on Sun City's very own train
- Thula Baba Babysitting: babysitting services can be arranged
Restaurants and bars at the Sun City Resort, Pilanesberg (North West Province)
The Sun City Resorts provides many different dining options in regards to restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges which invite refreshment and relaxation:
- Fast Food Village
- 4th Street
- Sun Deck Cafe
- Cafe Scalini
- Steers
- Palace Pool Deck, Restaurant and Bar
- Sun Cafe
- The Gary Player Restaurant
- The Lost City Crocodile Lounge
- Treasure Island Deck
- Cabanas Hotel Pool Bar
- Harlequins Cocktail Bar
- Hippo Bar
- Palm Court Lounge
- The Shabeen
- Silhouette Club
- Sun City Hotel Pool Bar
- Tusk Bar and Lounge: Palace of the Lost City Hotel
- Traders Bar
- Sand Bar
- Vista Bar
- Santorini Restaurant: Cascades Hotel
- Crystal Court Restaurant: Palace of the Lost City Hotel
- The Calabash Restaurant: Sun City Hotel
- Palm Terrace Restaurant: Cabanas Hotel
- Peninsula Restaurant: Cascades Hotel
- Setta Bello Restaurant: Sun City Hotel
- Squires Restaurant: Entertainment Centre
- The Fishmonger Restaurant
- Sun Terrace: Sun City Hotel
- My Grill My Bar
- Orchid Restaurant: Sun City Hotel
- The Raj Restaurant: Sun City Hotel
- Villa del Palazzo Restaurant: Palace of the Lost City Hotel
History of the Sun City Casino and Resort, Pilanesberg (South Africa)
Sun City was developed by the South African hotel magnate Mr Sol Kerzner as part of his Sun International group of properties. The Sun City Resort in the North West Province of South Africa was officially opened on 7 December 1979.
At the time of the opening, the Sun City Resort was located in the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana.
As Bophuthatswana had been declared an independent state by South Africa's apartheid government, the Sun City Resort was allowed under South African law to provide entertainment such as gambling and topless revue shows, which were banned elsewhere in South Africa. The exciting entertainment facilities and the choice of different hotels ensured that Sun City quickly became a popular holiday and weekend destination.
Many famous performers such as Frank Sinatra, Queen, Elton John, Julio Iglesias, Rod Stewart, and Tina Turner performed at the 'Sun City Super Bowl' which is a large auditorium seating 6,230 guests. The Sun City Resort also featured several important Heavyweight boxing matches during the late 1970s and early 1980s. One such boxer was Gerrie Coetzee, who, in the year 1981, became heavyweight world champion.
Awards of the Sun City Resort, South Africa
The Sun City Resort & Casino in the North West Province has won a series of awards in various categories, including Environmental, Heritage and Travel and Tourism. Some of the most prestigious awards include, amongst several others:
Environmental Awards:
- Winner of the Best Practice Accommodation Establishment, 2003
- Winner Best Social Involvement Program, 2004
- Winner Best Single Resource Management Water, 2005
- Winner Best single resource Management Waste, 2005
- The overall winner of the Fedhasa Imvelo Awards for Responsible Tourism, 2007
- Winner - Best Corporate Social Investment Program, 2007
Heritage Awards:
- The Palace Hotel, the Cascades Hotel, the Sun City Hotel and Vacation Club awarded Platinum status, 2009
- The Cabanas Hotel maintained Gold status, 2009
Travel and Tourism Awards:
- World Travel Award (WTA) for the leading hotel brand, 2008
- The Gary Player Country Club: 2002, 2008 and 2009: Rated number 1 course in South Africa
- Lestsatsing Conference Centre in Sun City Hotel was awarded 5 stars for the "meeting Centre", 2008
Eventia International Travel & Meetings (ITM) Awards World Event Management:
- Platinum Award for the incentive project deemed to be the "Best of the Best"
- Best Event Demonstrating Corporate Social Responsibility Best Conference or Congress, Long Haul Best Celebratory Event
- Diners Club International "Wine list of the Year" award to the Palace Hotel - Sun City Resort
Diners Club International - Wine list of the Year Awards:
- Palace Hotel, 2007
- Santorini Restaurant awarded Platinum status, 2009
- Villa del Palazzo Restaurant at The Palace Hotel awarded Diamond status, 2002, 2009
World Travel Awards 2009:
- Africa's Leading Family Resort
- Africa's Leading Resort
- Africa's Leading Casino Resort
Star Awards:
- Best Holiday Resort in South Africa
- Best Wedding Venue in South Africa
Special Awards:
The 'Reach for a Dream Foundation' presented the Sun City Resort with a certificate of appreciation for the support of children with a terminal illness.