Pure Fun

Sun City: The fantastic entertainment complex in South Africa

Everything for a dream family vacation with luxury hotels and endless fun in the heart of the savannah

By Sut-Mie Guibert

If there’s a special place in South Africa that combines luxury, entertainment, and adventure all in one location, that place is the Sun City Complex. Situated in the northwest region of the country, just a two-hour drive from Johannesburg, Sun City is a masterpiece of South African tourism. Join us as we explore this mega-fun complex that draws visitors from around the globe.

An Oasis in the Savannah

Right in the heart of the South African savanna rises the majestic Sun City Complex, a true oasis amidst the wilderness. Encompassing an area of approximately 33 square kilometers, this magnificent human creation is surrounded by stunning landscapes, picturesque mountains, and a tropical climate that enhances the stay here even more. With a variety of available attractions, one can spend several days here, and we can already forewarn that children will not want to leave.

Exceptional Attractions for the Whole Family

Sun City is famous for its diverse entertainment options. The Valley of Waves Water Park is a true tropical paradise. With a 6,500 square meter wave pool, white sand beaches, and thrilling water slides, it’s the perfect place to cool off and have fun with the whole family.

For those who love sports and adrenaline, Sun City boasts one of the world’s largest and fastest zip lines, stretching 2 kilometers in length, 280 meters high, and reaching an average speed of 120 kilometers per hour! Therefore, only children above 12 years old can venture on it. But children taller than 1.20 meters will enjoy the new treetop adventure circuit, with various challenges and elements for both small and big adventurers to have fun together (or separately). As for Waterworld, it’s an artificial lake that offers activities like jet skiing, parasailing (individual or tandem), wakeboarding, and family boat rides.

The Lost City Maze is one of the main attractions of the complex. It’s the largest maze in the Southern Hemisphere, a place constructed with artificial stones and woods that create the illusion of a lost archaeological site. To access it, you need to cross a 100-meter-long suspended bridge from Sun Central Entertainment. Children (accompanied by adults) and teenagers will love the adventure, imagining themselves in an Indiana Jones movie!

To complete the adventure, adjacent to the complex is the Pilanesberg National Park, where visitors have the unique opportunity to take part in exciting safaris and spot the rich African wildlife, including the famous “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinos). It’s also possible to take balloon tours, mountain bike trails, or guided walks. An exhilarating safari is an experience that will be etched in the family’s memory forever.

Golf enthusiasts will find two world-class golf courses at Sun City: the Gary Player Country Club, designed by the famous South African champion Gary Player, and the Lost City Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course surrounded by spectacular savannah views. A series of lakes separate the ninth hole from the final hole.

And to wrap up the day for adults, the Sun City Casino is one of the largest in South Africa, offering a wide range of games and nighttime entertainment. Additionally, the resort features live shows, musical performances, and exciting sports events. Several artists have graced its stage, including Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Sting, just to name a few.

Sun City also houses a Sun Central (entertainment hub), with various options for shopping enthusiasts, from stores selling souvenirs to designer products. Even our Brazilian brand, Havaianas, can be found there. Moreover, the complex’s restaurants provide a gastronomic experience with a variety of international cuisines and typical South African dishes, most of which have a kids’ menu.

Photo 1: The Valley of Waves Water Park / Photo 2: Lost City Maze / Photo 3: Golf Courses /
Photos 4 and 5: Safari and Hot Air Balloon Flight at Pilanesberg National Park

Endless Fun for Kids

Children are treated as the “Lion King” and enjoy many specific attractions designed and created especially for them. No one will want to leave this endless fun!

The activities are playful, some teach environmental and cultural awareness, like the Bridge of Time, a theatrical bridge surrounded by elephant statues that make noises every hour with different sounds and smoke, or the Forest of Lights, at dusk, which transforms gardens and waterfalls into a scenic walk, full of lights and colors. But families will really enjoy the Leeto-Kgolo Village tour, which takes place on bikes, to visit a village, learn a local recipe, and see how a Pilanesberg tribe lives. Another excursion is the Segaetsho Cultural Village, this time to watch performances of traditional music, learn how to make bead necklaces, and buy custom-made souvenirs and crafts. These programs are paid separately and extremely interesting for children to learn about the lives of other people.

After a day of water park or safari, they can still play at Breakout Games, with different escape games (something fun to do as a family), watch a movie in the cinema, take part in a virtual reality game, enjoy the electronic gaming area, and play family bowling. Everything is located at Sun Central and some activities require separate reservations and payment.

During the day, they can also opt for the trampoline park, play mini golf as a family, ride mini quad bikes, and the little ones will enjoy riding the train around the lake.

There’s even a “Kamp Kwena,” a kids’ club for children aged 3 to 12, where kids can play and engage in playful activities while parents relax at the Royal SPA, assured that their little ones are being well taken care of. For children under 3 years old, parents can hire a babysitting service.

Photo 1: Bridge of Time Bridge / Photo 2: Segaetsho Cultural Village / Photo 3: The Valley of Waves / Photo 4: Kamp Kwena /
Photo 5: Electronic Games at Sun Central

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Diverse Lodgings and a Fabulous Hotel

The Sun City complex offers 4 hotels with a variety of lodging options that cater to all tastes and budgets: the most affordable is Cabanas, youthful and colorful, located on the shore of Waterworld lake. The 4-star Sun City Hotel was the first to be built. The rooms are classic and cozy. The 5-star Cascades features waterfalls and rivers in its decor but is also close to Sun Central and the water park.

And finally, a highlight for the majestic and iconic 5-star The Palace. It has been visited by numerous wealthy and famous individuals, showbiz stars, royalty, and politicians. It is meticulously adorned with intricate sculptures, stained glass, textures, and classical decor. Guests can spend hours marveling at all the intricacies, such as the hand-painted dome by nine artists, the 10,000-piece Czech crystal chandelier, the tapestries exclusively created for the hotel, or even the hand-carved wooden doors of the rooms, including the hotel’s main entrance, which stands at 8 meters tall! All to ensure a memorable stay in what was the world’s first 6-star hotel. The Palace has just celebrated its 30th anniversary, and its 326 rooms and suites have undergone a complete renovation, gaining renewed vitality.

The Royal SPA and Salon are also new and offer a variety of treatments for adults (and even for children, as the SPA Kids Menu is available) to unwind.

The gardens are lush, filled with waterfalls and native plant species. The hotel’s pool is Olympic-sized. Alternatively, for those who prefer, direct access to the water park is available.

All rooms in the hotel cater to families and offer accessible options. From rooms with panoramic views to presidential suites, every detail is thoughtfully planned to ensure maximum comfort and convenience for the guests.

Photo 1: The Palace Details / Photos 2: Majestic Entrance / Photo 3: Elephant Courtyard / Photo 4: Hand-Painted Dome /
Photo 5: Main Restaurant with Crystal Chandelier / Photo 6: Suite / Photo 7: Royal SPA

For families who aren’t heading to Cape Town in the south of the country or to Kruger Park in the north, Sun City is an excellent choice for a fun and unique vacation. It’s almost like a theme park, but with the added opportunity to see real animals up close on a safari, which is truly unforgettable!

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How to Get There

Sun City Complex is located about a two-hour drive from Johannesburg. International travelers can fly to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and then take a domestic flight to Pilanesberg Airport, or they can use the shuttle service offered by the complex.

Latam Airlines and South African Airlines have resumed direct flights between São Paulo and Johannesburg.

For more information, visit www.suninternational.com/sun-city

The agencies “Viajar com Crianças” (Traveling with Children) and “Viajar com Adolescentes” (Traveling with Adolescents) specialize in destinations and can organize this trip for your family.