Sun City Resort

North West Province, South Africa

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Sun City Resort is a large luxury entertainment destination in South Africa's North West Province, located about 140 km northwest of Johannesburg near Rustenburg and bordering the Pilanesberg National Park, often called Africa’s “Kingdom of Pleasure”. Opened in 1979 by entrepreneur Sol Kerzner, the resort combines glamorous hotels—including the opulent 5-star Palace of the Lost City, sophisticated Cascades, relaxed Cabanas, and original Sun City Hotel—along with a massive casino, two world-class golf courses (including Gary Player Country Club), live entertainment venues, a crocodile park, an aviary, and numerous restaurants and bars. Its centerpiece attraction is the Valley of Waves, an elaborate water park featuring a 6,500-square-meter Roaring Lagoon wave pool with a palm-fringed artificial beach, thrilling water slides like the 70-meter Temple of Courage, a Lazy River, and the Maze of the Lost City, an intricate labyrinth designed to look like an ancient archaeological site. Unique to Sun City is its “surf-and-safari” combination, allowing guests to enjoy pool beach days and water park adventures by day and go on Big Five game drives in the adjacent Pilanesberg National Park or take hot-air balloon safaris over the bushveld by air. The resort hosts major events like the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge and is recognized for sustainable tourism practices, making it a premier family-friendly, romantic, or group getaway within a two-hour drive of Johannesburg.