We took a flight with Kulula.com from Cape Town to Lanseria for our one week trip to Sun City. Kulula.com was good, but we experienced the in-flight menu as expensive, so eat and drink before you board your flight.
Lanseria airport, was an absolute pleasure from the moment we landed. The walk from disembarkation to airport building is no more than 20 meters. Once inside, you are confronted by the baggage carousel and another 10 meters from there, you are outside again, amongst the car hire desks. It was in stark contrast to OR Tambo, specifically by being so much easier and quicker from start to finish. Within 5 minutes we had our Avis car and we were on our way to Sun City.
On the first night we stayed at the La Dolce Vita, guest house in Cosmos, a village close to Hartebeespoortdam. The drive from the airport took us approximately 40 minutes. Cosmos is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. All the houses are built to overlook the dam, which makes for a beautiful view. We experienced the service to be top notch and as a bonus, upon arrival, we were very lucky to be upgraded to the honeymoon suite. This suite has a beautiful swimming pool right outside the door. Another very special feature is the stunning view of the dam, right from the comfort of your bed.
The following morning, after waking up to the spectacular view of the dam, we set out to Sun City's Cascade Hotel. This would be our home for the next 4 nights.
The Cascades is a very elegant and relaxed hotel. It is surrounded by the most beautiful gardens and boasts a large swimming pool. Near the pool you will find a Greek restaurant called, Santorini. This is quite easily some of the best Greek cuisine I have ever had. The rates normally include a buffet breakfast, which is out of this world, the variety of which, is so diverse, that it would be impossible to try everything on offer. The Cascades is ideally located near the escalators, leading to the entertainment centre. This is more-or-less, where everything happens and you will find restaurants, take outs, movies, kid’s camps, kid’s entertainment (games), theaters and casinos. From the hotel you can walk to the Valley of the Waves, which is a great attraction for kids and adults alike. One of the more spectacular features is a man made ocean with all kinds of rides and entertainment to enhance your relaxation.
On the premises of Sun City they have a Crocodile park and a Cultural village. At the village they have a Shebeen with traditional South African shebeen dishes and beverages. This is quite an experience and an absolute must-do, for anybody wanting to experience the African culture!
No matter where you stay at Sun City, (Palace, Cascades Hotel or Cabanas) there is are Sky trains, shuttles & busses to transport you to all the different attractions.
Sun City lies at the heart of the Pilansberg National Park. We made some time to drive through the park one morning, and was duly rewarded by sighting a beautiful array of animals. My suggestion for anybody that visits Sun City, is to make time and take a drive through this beautiful nature reserve.
From Sun City we took a 2 hours drive through beautiful African landscapes, to our next destination, Monte Casino. Here we stayed at the Sun Square Hotel. My first note on this is that it is a very basic hotel, with small rooms. However it is very funky hotel with a very modern touch and that more than makes up for the size of the rooms. The location is ideal, as it is situated on the doorstep of a lot of restaurants and not far from the main entrance to Monte Casino. This complex has entertainment for everyone. They have a lot of restaurants, lots of shops, at least 10 movies showing at once and a good selection of machines & tables for gambling. A must-do, if you are in the area.
The next morning we were due to fly back to Cape Town. To get to OR Tambo Airport we took the Gautrain from Sandton. There is an Avis depot at the train station. It was very convenient to drop the car and moments later, board the train. But first we needed tickets. What an experience! You buy your own ticket at the machine which is very user friendly. It costs approximately R130, 00 for a one way trip. The train was on time and it took us 11 minutes from Sandton to get to OR Tambo International. It felt unreal, as if we were in another country!
So all good things must come to an end. What a wonderful, relaxing holiday. Sun City is the ideal location for families, honeymoons, friends, and the elderly, discerning traveller. In essence, anybody looking for a break from the troubles of the day-to-day.