Spotlight on... Sun City
By Anna Melville-James, TravelMail
Last updated at 11:34 20 September 2005
Safari in style with a stay at the Palace of the Lost City
Find it:
A hop, skip and an Impala jump from Pilansberg National Park in the deep Bushveld, two hours drive from Johannesburg. Sun City Resort, combining four different hotels, rises out of the dusty and deserted bush like some kind of strange moon colony or a particularly flashy Centerparks.
First impressions: Las Vegas in the Bush. An oasis of man-made (and money-making) fun in the middle of the rugged African scenery, Sun City strives to be all things to all people, with four hotels, convention centre, cinema, theatre, casinos, spas, children's activities, safari game drives, cultural village, waterpark and botannical gardens.
What about the rooms? There's a mentality of space, thanks to the vast amount of it in South Africa, that is mirrored by top end hotels in their hotel rooms. All standard rooms at The Palace of the Lost City, for example, consist of an entrance foyer, en-suite bathroom, lounge and seating area.
Wow factor: The resort's four hotels each have different strengths - for wow factor, The Palace of the Lost City comes top, with it's giant sculptures, Taj Mahal-style architecture and general opulence. The other three hotels are comfortable and glossy in a lower-key way - and possibly better suited to family stays - but are rather generic in character.
Best for: Families, people who want to go on safari but don't want to take anti-malarials, keen gamblers and golfers. Also great for anyone looking for shorter South African breaks - you can take an overnight flight to Jo'Burg from the UK, drive two hours and be there before midday the next day - with no jet lag thanks to sympathetic longitudes.
Will the kids like it? They'll love it. Water parks, safari on your doorstep (and in a malaria-free area), scenic train rides, kids clubs - Sun City is extremely family friendly and caters for children of all ages. Teens will love the game drives to see the Big Five, hot air balloon rides and outdoor adventure centre nearby.
Food and drink: Food quality is excellent, and there's plenty of it - South Africans love to eat, fruit and vegetables are sun-ripened and plentiful - and meat is big on the menu.
Official rating: Three (Cabanas) Four (Cascades and Sun City Hotel) and five-star (Palace of the Lost City)
Our verdict: Those whose hobbies don't include gambling or golf - or who want an authentic African bush experience - will find Sun City brash and commercial and dislocated from its surroundings. However, the resort is undeniably well thought out and well designed and would make a great comprimise for families with small children who want to go on waterslides and parents who want to go on safari.
Value for money? A continuing weak Rand against the pound means that South Africa remains good value for money for travellers. It pays to shop around for the best internet deal - a standard room at the three-star Cabanas can start from as little as £60 a night.
Book it: Get the best deals on rooms at on www.thisistravel.co.uk. • Book online: Cabanas Hotel • Book online: Cascades Hotel • Book online: Sun City Hotel • Book online: Palace of the Lost City
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