Introduction
Sun City, one of the biggest resort of its kind, known for its charming oeuvre, is situated in South Africa’s North West Province. Sun City is a fantasy world where ancient civilizations once reigned. It is a huge entertainment complex 160km/100 miles north-west of Johannesburg. There are lavish spread out of the original rain forest, the Gary Player and Lost City golf courses and a big casino and entertainment complex. It is not a surprise that the wondrous place draws a daily 25,000 visitors form all over the world. This "Las Vegas of southern Africa" has four hotel complexes. The most resplendent is of course the fairytale palace called the Lost City. It offers a range of facilities that surpass even the very best.

What to do
Sun City offers you unlimited fun-filled activities. You can win a fortune in one of the slot-machines or casino. You can feast your eyes at the shows like Baletsatsi, with dancers, gymnasts and circus people, taking place in the Sun City Hotel’s theatre. There are the Superbowl and world championship boxing events. The entertainment center hosts these rock concerts and beauty pageants. And there are extraordinaire banquets. An avid sports lover would enjoy bowls, squash, gym, sauna, tennis, tenpin bowling and horse riding. Further, there is the Waterworld offering you a variety of water sports such as water-skiing, parasailing, windsurfing and sailing. There are more - visiting the Kwena Gardens Crocodile Farm, Manyane Indigenous Bird Aviary or going on a Camel Safari.

City at a Glance

Latitude (of nearest city Johannesburg) 26° 11' S Longitude (of nearest city Johannesburg) 28° 3' E Population Language English, Local Tribal Languages Religion Christianity, Islam, Hinduism Telephone Code

History
Sun City lies on the territory of the former homeland of Bophuthatswansisee Mmabathol. It exists because Bophuthathatswana state was chosen to be an independent country by the apartheid regime. It could provide immoral entertainment, which was banned in South Africa. In the old days, well-to-do South Africans poured in to Bophuthathatswana from countries where gambling was prohibited. They came to Bophuthathatswana to relax and enjoy. Since then, Sun City has continued to flourish since Bophuthatswana was incorporated in the new South Africa. According to legend, a tribe had wandered down from the northern part of Africa and settled on a volcano in South Africa. They build a citadel which they called ‘The Valley of the Sun’. So, it is assumed that Sun City which is inspired by the Disney, was built on the foundations of that old citadel.

Weather and Best Season to Visit
A perennially sunny climate makes Sun City a great place to visit any time of the year. Midwinter occurs in June and July, Midsummer in December and January. Temperatures could dip to a minimum of 6-8 °C during May-July. The maximum temperature does not go beyond 30 °C.

Attractions
Entertainment Center
The R30-million entertainment center offers nonstop, mind-boggling entertainment. It is an out-of-world experience. The hall of treasures, with its domed, star-spangled roof, contain bank after bank of state of the art slot machines, some of them offering huge progressive jackpots. Other attractions are virtual reality rides, video games, bingo, numerous cinemas, cocktail bars, restaurant and exclusive boutiques.

The Lost City
This is an incredible place for the pleasure seekers of the world. The thing is a fantasy land comprising a hotel and leisure complex, urbane and sense-tickling. The Lost City was opened in 1992, with the theme of legendary lost African culture. It has come to live, though, in a form in which never existed, in an illusory form that has been created by the use of the most modern technology. The central feature is the Palace, a luxury hotel with 338 rooms in a mingling of various architectural styles which nevertheless achieves a harmonious effect. There are these colossal 70m/230ft high tower and a massive 25m/80ft high lobby that belies all the conviction of being in a hotel. It gives you an impression of rather being in a cathedral.

Valley of the Waves
Another equally amazing thing is the Valley of the Waves with its latest art-of-the-technology artificial waves. This allures the non-gamblers to the Sun City.

Waterworld
On the shores of a large artificial lake, have facilities for parasailing, water skiing and wind surfing. . Alternatively you can play bowls indoors and outdoor, go horse riding, work out in a gym, and play tennis or squash

Golf
For every golf fan, there are innumerable escapades lying all over the Sun City. You have to pay just R125 at the superb Gary Player Country club, for 18 holes.

Sun City Hotel
It has the most unbelievable rank of slot machines, a more interesting and sophisticated casino area, shops, restaurants and nightclubs

Places Nearby
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a large sprawling city, is famous purely because of the discovery of gold by a person in 1886. Pretoria, officially some 58km to the north, was established earlier, in 1855, and remains the administrative and diplomatic capital of South Africa. In the past 25 years, Johannesburg has merged with Pretoria and has resulted in one big metropolis. Johannesburg has emerged to be the financial capital of the country because of the gold mining and the enterprises that were established to support mining. Rustenburg
Rustenburg is just 40km from Sun City. It has a long history with a Voortrekker background. There are the Rustenburg Nature Reserve and the Paul Krugers farm at Bookenhoutfontein. One can enjoy the Rustenburg Ramble with craft galleries, farm stalls and interesting places to eat.

After Hours
Sun City seethes with a vivacious night life. The most interesting thing of course is a Night Safari, taking you to the nearby Pilanesberg National Park. For this you have to consult the reception about details.

SHOPPING
Mega City Shopping Centre is a modern and attractively designed shopping center. It encompasses department stores, restaurants, specialty boutiques, cinemas and theatres. The Botswana people are very creative and they produce fine curios and works of art which are sold in the district. Traditional carvings in marula, mopane and ebony, and exquisite unglazed ceramic pieces make wonderful souvenirs and gifts.

WHERE TO STAY
There is a range of hotels for putting up in this astonishing place. You have the 3 star or similar middle of the range, offering excellent accommodation with all the facilities. But if you really want to chill out and don’t mind about the pocket, there are the 4 to 5 star high quality accommodation in the best of locations. The facilities and services are unquestionable. The Deluxe hotel in the Sun City complex offers the most elegant King, African, Royal and Desert suites - each individually embellished with evocative African style.

Restaurants
Gourmets will delight in exploring the many fine restaurants that offer everything from haute cuisine to hamburgers. The Palace is a fabulous place for your wanton tongue to have its way.There are a variety of quality restaurants offering anything in International cuisine. So, you have the Mnayane Complex restaurant. The other options are the Cascades and Sun City cabanas.

TRAVEL INFORMATION
Air Travel Resources
The nearest international airport is at Johannesburg. You can also fly to Sun City's small airport (roughly 7 km from Johannesburg) on SA Airlink. South African Airways (SAA) offers an African Explorer ticket that provides you one month’s unlimited travel.

Land and Water
Sun City buses drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria everyday. If you're driving from Johannesburg, it's easier to take the R24 towards Rustenburg until you meet the N 4, and then take the next right turn, the R 565, which goes through Boshoek to Sun City. The Sun City people recommend the route via Brits. From Pretoria, follow the N 4 past the Brits turn-off, and turn right onto the R 556; from here it's roughly 70 km to Sun City.

Local Transport
Sun City is a good and safe place to drive about. But there are a few signposts over here, so navigators would need to concentrate. From Johannesburg it’s around a two-hour drive, depending on which route you take. The most straightforward route is via Rustenberg, although the Sun City people recommend to travel via Brits.