Sun City and Pilanesberg National Park, North West Province

The Entertainment Centre at Sun City is where all the action takes place. From the fast paced atmosphere in the casinos to the bustling laughter echoing from the restaurants, bars and cabarets, the Entertainment Centre never ceases to amaze young and old.

Valley of the Waves
Overnight visitors to any of the hotels at the Sun City Resort have free access to the Valley of the Waves. This is the most advanced Waterpark in Africa. A large lagoon dominates the scene with a wave machine capable of generating 1.8 metre waves every 90 seconds. This water park has five exhilarating flume rides.

From the aptly named Temple of Courage, swimmers drop a heart stopping 17 metres down a chute and under a bridge before splashing into a small pool at the foot of the slide. For the less adventurous visitor to the Sun City Resort why not take a ride on the Lazy River?

A variety of sports activities may be enjoyed at Sun City. Year round good weather in this part of South Africa, ensures that tennis, squash, swimming, golf, mountain biking, horse riding, and parasailing are all on offer throughout the year.

Sun City has laid out spectacular jogging trails. The Gym and Health Spa keep you perfectly toned, and a beauty treatment is the perfect way to wind down after a workout. A wide range of water sports including water-skiing, parasailing and sunset cruises can be enjoyed at the resort's Water World.

Sun City adventure activities now offer guests a range of exciting new and different experiences. Enter unknown territory at the outdoor adventure centre and allow your adrenaline to flow!

Pilanesberg National Park

Bordering the Sun City Resort, Pilanesberg National Park covers some 55 000 hectare and is the fourth largest in southern Africa. This malaria-free park is perched on the eroded vestiges of an alkaline volcanic crater - one of only three such craters in the world.

The history of Pilanesberg National Park is also unique amongst national parks in South Africa. Pilanesberg National Park's special features of rugged landscape, well-watered valleys and attractive dwelling sites have made it a preferred site for human settlement for thousands of years.

Since late 1979, thanks to Operation Genesis - the largest game translocation ever undertaken at the time, tourists have been able to see Africa's wilder side up close and personal.

The park boasts healthy populations of lion, leopard, black and white rhino, elephant and buffalo - Africa's "Big Five". A wide variety of rare and common species exist with endemic species like the nocturnal brown hyaena, the fleet-footed cheetah, the majestic sable, as well as giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodile, to mention but a few.

North West Province

The North West Province of South Africa is bounded on the north by Botswana, on the south by the provinces of Free State and the Northern Cape, and on the northeast and east by the Limpopo Province and Gauteng.

Covering 118,797 sq km (45,869 sq miles), the North West Province was created in 1994 by the merger of Bophuthatswana, one of the former bantustans (or black homelands), and the western part of Transvaal, one of the four former South African provinces.

Much of the province consists of flat areas of scattered trees and grassland. The Magaliesberg mountain range in the northeast extends about 130 km from Pretoria to Rustenburg. The Vaal River flows along the southern border of the province.

Temperatures range from 17° to 31° C (62° to 88° F) in the summer and from 3° to 21° C (37° to 70° F) in the winter. Annual rainfall totals about 360 mm (about 14 in), with almost all of it falling during the summer months, between October and April.

Mafikeng, formerly Mafeking, serves as the provincial capital. Other significant towns include Brits, Klerksdorp, Lichtenburg, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg and Sun City.

Important historical sites in the province include Mafikeng, the traditional capital of the Barolong people, where a British garrison was placed under siege by Afrikaners during the Boer War (1899-1902); Lotlamoreng Cultural Village near Mafikeng, which re-creates a traditional African village; and Boekenhoutfontein, the farm of Paul Kruger, who was the last president of the South African Republic (a state created by Afrikaners in what is now north-eastern South Africa), from 1883 to 1902.

North West Province Golf Holidays Sun City

A golf holiday Sun City Resort is an awe-inspiring experience. There are also so many world-class golf courses to choose from in the surrounding area. The diverse choice makes it hardly possible to play enough of these stunning courses during one single trip.

These courses include Jack Nicklaus signature Pecanwood, Peter Matkovich redesigned Seasons Golf Course (formerly known as Brits), the interesting yet challenging lay-out at Magaliespark and the classiv parklands of Rusternburg Golf Club.

Sun City can lay claim to having two of the best golf courses in Africa. Both courses were designed by the well-known Gary Player and offer challenging par-72 courses in extremely scenic surroundings.

The tree lined Gary Player Country Club course is acknowledged as a challenging and demanding course - to be enjoyed by both novices and professionals alike. The course is home to the annual Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge and still remains one of Gary Player's most spectacular courses.

The Lost City Golf Course is a unique experience and offers spectacular views across the bushveld. With its desert style design and the contrast between green fairways and the surrounding bush this is a course with great appeal. Also to be noted are the use of bunkers and extensive water-features; including the par 3 13th, where 38 massive crocodiles surround an island green!

Come and enjoy an unforgettable golf safari holiday at Sun City Resort and enjoy some of the best golf and entertainment that South Africa has to offer.

Featured Sun City Golf Holiday: 3 nights Lost City Palace Golf Holiday   Situated on the world famous Sun City Complex and voted one of the top hotels, The Palace is surely one of the most extraordinary hotels in the world. Adjacent to South Africa's 3rd largest game park, The Pilanesberg National Park. The Palace has 338 luxurious rooms and suites that offer royal hospitality with wonderful views over water or jungle for guests to choose from. The furnishings are intricately hand-carved and reflect the flora and fauna of South Africa and attention to detail that emphasizes the personal touch... R 16 550 pps R 13 990 pps

Featured North West Upmarket Hotel: Ivory Tree Lodge, Pilanesberg  The Ivory Tree Game Lodge is nestled in the basin of an ancient amphitheatre divided by lush woodlands and active elephant trails. This Game Lodge offers luxurious accommodation, which is tastefully decorated in earth tones to reflect the beautiful South African landscape. Each guest room at the Ivory Tree Lodge features an energizing outdoor shower, air-conditioner, mini bar fridge, and tea and coffee making facility. Small intimate guest areas have been created to retain comfort and privacy for individual guests staying at the Ivory Tree Game Lodge. ...

Featured North West golf course: Gary Player CC, Sun City Resort       The Gary Player Golf Course, designed by the legendary Gary Player himself, lies amidst breath taking nature and is regarded as one of the best in the world. Stretching over more than 7000 meters, it is definitely one of the world's longest golf courses. All 18 holes are challenging, boasting plenty of bunkers and water hazards in the shape of rivers and dams. All 18 holes are challenging, boasting plenty of bunkers and water hazards in the shape of rivers and dams.