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The famous Sun City & The Pilanesberg National Park

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shelley in South Africa,, Family Holidays,, Food & Wine,, On Safari,, Self-drive holidays,, Travel Tips,, Wildlife,,
November 09th, 2011 at 11:40am
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I could never understand what the hype was about Sun City as I had never been there before and there have been so many different reviews about this resort and its accommodation on offer. I really liked this resort, as its very family friendly and activity driven but with that said, you need to keep in mind that it does get busy! There are 4 different hotels on the premises and a vacation club, each with a average of 300 rooms so it can get quite crowded during peak season;  there'll always be a few hundred people sharing the facilities with you regardless of the time of year you travel.

Arial view from The Place of the Lost City

The resort has a variety of things on offer, from children’s play areas to entertainment centres for the whole family as well a casino and nightlife for the party goers. The resort also has a man-made beach called The Valley of the Waves, a hugely popular attraction for people of all ages . The resort also has its own golf courses, namely The Gary Player and The Lost City Golf Course,  with a health spa and gym centre all within walking distance from the hotels. Should you not enjoy walking everywhere, the resort also has its own shuttle buses that ferry you between activities and other hotels within the resort.

Valley of the Waves at Sun City

The four main hotels on offer consists of The Palace of the Lost City (5 star deluxe hotel), The Cascades Hotel (average 5 star hotel), The Sun City Hotel (top class 4 star hotel) and The Cabanas Hotel (average 3 star hotel). Each of these hotels have there own pros and cons. The Cabanas Hotel is great for families who want to be close to the activities, with the hotel rooms and services fairly standard. The Sun City Hotel, which has recently been refurbished, is a stunning option: it has a large casino and restaurant areas within the hotel that could get noisy at night but the rooms are really nicely decorated. The Cascades Hotel is a good, clean hotel which is a suitable accommodation option but somehow misses the wow factor. The Palace of the Lost City is just completely over-the-top amazing, with immense attention to detail in all the luxury and decor, such as the marble pillars, wooden furniture and the crystal chandeliers. The rooms are outstanding with all you can expect from a 5 star hotel.

An easy combination for Sun City is The Pilanesberg National Park. They have daily game drives on offer departing from Sun City to the park and back again. Its also a really short drive from Sun City should you wish to add a safari portion onto your vacation. The park has some nice lodges namely Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge, Bakubung Bush Lodge, Black Rhino Lodge, Tshukudu Bush Lodge  and Ivory Tree Game Lodge. Most of the lodges are family friendly and cater for children’s needs, however children under 6 years are not allowed on game drive at any of the above mentioned lodges.

Ivory Tree Game Lodge does offer other activities that entertain the children like bush bumble and spoor trekking. Tshukudu Bush Lodge is the perfect setting for guests who want to be away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living or for a little romantic weekend away. The chalets are located high in the mountains with a bit of a walk to the lodge consisting of 132 stairs, each step is worth the effort with the breath taking views from above. The Pilanesberg National Park really has something for everyone with great game viewing and amazing lodges.

Ivory Tree Game Lodge outside pool area

My favourite lodge within The Pilanesberg National Park has to be The Black Rhino Game Lodge. This lodge was recently built with a small and intimate experience in mind. All 14 suites are well appointed for maximum privacy. Although the lodge seems like a romantic getaway they do allow children at the lodge and have all the family rooms located around the pool area. The lodge also has some nice added extras that make the guests stay comfortable. The staff at the lodge are all really helpful and friendly which immediately makes you feel welcome. A really amazing lodge in general.

View from Tshukudu Bush Lodge

Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, so don’t write off Sun City or The Pilansberg National Park before you have tried it, you might just love it!

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