To those that know it, it is surreal – an escape into Africa filled with luxury & splendor, a memorable family holiday, the ideal girlfriends getaway, home of iconic concerts & sporting events – none other than Africa’s jewel, Sun City!
Sun City are proud to announce 2016 as the year of rejuvenation.
Sun International’s legendary Sun City in the North West Province is undergoing an R800-million refurbishment to revitalise its iconic appeal and ensure that it retains its rightful place as South Africa’s Premier Lifestyle Resort and one of the most exciting leisure destinations in the world.
“Sun City is the flagship property of Africa’s largest tourism, leisure and gaming group. It has a special place in the hearts of the millions of people who visit the resort each year. Its rejuvenation is to ensure that it stays at the cusp of experiential entertainment and leisure offerings. With this substantial investment we strive to continue being unrivalled when it comes to providing our guests with superb hospitality options, great adventure activities and the best local and international entertainment. At Sun City we want to create unforgettable and lasting memories for the entire family,” says Mike van Vuuren, the Managing Executive at Sun City.
The resort’s four hotels, the entertainment zones as well as the food and beverage outlets are being revamped. The 382 luxury self-catering apartments at the Sun Vacation Club have already been upgraded, and trusted family restaurant brands, Spur and Ocean Basket, are onboard to enhance the family appeal.
Holidaymakers now have the convenience of a new, upmarket shop, The Pantry and boutique liquor store, Quench, located at Sun Vacation Club. The Pantry offers guests fresh holiday essentials during their stay, without having to venture outside the resort. The shop has prepacked meats, a bakery, fruit, vegetables and other home cooking essentials. The Pantry also stocks a limited selection of wines and beers, and a wide assortment of non-alcoholic beverages.
Enhanced hospitality
Sun City’s Cabanas hotel has just completed a holistic refurbishment which includes a refresh of the guest rooms, reception area and restaurant. This is the first major upgrade of the hotel since 2007 when the rooms were restyled to mark the hotel’s 25th anniversary.
Along with the rejuvenation of the hotel’s aesthetics, the Cabanas now boasts a complete renewed look.
“Cabanas offers guests great value while simultaneously providing them with trend-setting, world class facilities and contemporary rooms, surrounded by beautiful, lush gardens. Aimed at go-getters, trend-setters and young families, guests can use the Cabanas as a relaxing retreat or as a base when experiencing all the adventures on offer around the resort. As the sun sets over the open spaces and rolling lawns, the night lights up at the Cabanas Pool Deck, with cocktails and a vibrant island atmosphere,” says van Vuuren.
The Sun City Hotel, at the heart of the resort, will soon provide an ‘always on’ party zone, complete with a night club, a burlesque club and restaurants. In the meantime guests can enjoy the wildly anticipated Legends restaurant, a trendy grill house that pays tribute to the icons that have graced Sun City since 1979. Take a trip down memory lane while savouring some of the best meals the resort has to offer. This is complemented by the newly opened Mugg & Bean, offering the reassurance of familiarity and the generosity and warm service for which the brand is renowned. Mugg & Bean at the Sun City Hotel offers visitors a place to meet, eat and connect at any time of the day, right at the centre of it all.
At the five star Cascades hotel, Santorini has been reimagined as an exciting upscale restaurant, Bocado. This restaurant offers guests one of the most beautiful settings to enjoy vibrant Mediterranean dishes, offering foodies a chance to explore classic and new flavours from the famous region.
The Palace now offers visitors two new and very exclusive – by invitation only – high-end casinos; The Palace Villa and The Palace Salon. Guests are also spoilt with choice with the new-look signature steak house, The Grill Room. There are further plans for a variety of upgrades to Plume as well as the Tusk Bar and Lounge in the coming months.
Throughout the refurbishment period, guests can enjoy a total of 26 restaurants, guaranteed to tickle all taste buds, across the resort.
More thrilling entertainment
Already offering an unprecedented choice of thrilling outdoor and entertainment activities in one place, Sun City has bolstered its offering for teenagers and adventurers with the recent launch of an adventure hub, Adrenalin Extreme. Adrenalin Extreme offers heart-pounding, adrenalin-pumping outdoor activities including Drift Trikes, Hovercrafts, the Accelerator and the Grizzly 4×4 Quad challenge.
Now underway is the expansion of the Valley of Waves water park to offer new exciting rides and food offerings. Changes at the Valley of Waves include the recent opening of a microbrewery-themed gastro pub, The Brew Monkey, which offers spectacular views over the tidal pool, with a choice of sitting indoors or outdoors on the deck. The menu boasts a selection of hunger-busting bar tins, monkey dogs, gourmet burgers, snack boards and craft beers. The Valley of Waves also boasts a new, expansive and fresh fast food eatery, Food Factory, with a range of affordable choices to suit every taste.
The revitalisation of the Valley of Waves includes two brand new slides. This is the first time since the opening of the waterpark in 1992, that new slides have been introduced. The new tube slide has already opened over the December holidays, with the additional slide scheduled to open towards the end of 2016.
Conferencing with a difference comes in the form of the Sun Park, a multipurpose facility for hosting lifestyle events, music festivals, product launches and other experiences. Ample and versatile, Sun Park will offer the support services of an indoor events venue with the flexibility of an outdoor space, the possibilities are endless.
On 11 January this year, the ambitious reinvention of the Entertainment Centre commenced, with the aim of creating an experiential journey. It will be home to arcade games, lazer tag, ten pin bowling and other fun-filled activities for visitors of all ages. The Entertainment Centre will also house a South African Hall of Fame honouring the country’s iconic sporting heroes and performing artists, as well as an optimised Convention Centre on the upper level.
During the closure and upgrade of the Entertainment Centre, conferences will be accommodated at the Sun Sky Village, a temporary but fully-equipped facility near Sun City’s front entrance.
The redevelopment of Sun City will reach fruition by the end of 2016.
Come make memories with us!
Between now and June 2016, holidaymakers booking a stay at Sun City can enjoy a host of value-adds as part of the Sun City Super Stay Promotion. The longer the stay, the more value guests receive. Sun City Super Stay packages include great rates on accommodation at Sun City hotels (including breakfast); free entry to Sun City; a food and beverage voucher (the value of which is determined by the length of stay at the resort); an activities voucher with Mankwe Gametrackers and free entry to the Valley of Waves.
To check hotel rates and make a booking, go to http://www.suninternational.com/sun-city/specials/sun-city-super-stay and use the promotional code SUNFIESTA.
There is always something to do at Sun City. The Valley of Waves is renowned for its wave pool and thrilling water slides which include the Temple of Courage, three super-fast tube slides and two body slides.
There are also a variety of water sports, including jet skiing, parasailing and water skiing, available at Waterworld. In addition, the resort offers a choice of sparkling pools, two aviaries, jogging trails; quad biking; archery; floodlit tennis courts, guided tours of the resort on zippy Segways, and one of the world’s longest Zip Slide – to mention just a few of the fun things to do at Sun City.
Children can enjoy the adventure playground, an animal farm and a kiddies’ mini car race track at Waterworld. Fun-filled, supervised workshops are hosted at Kamp Kwena twice a day. The programme varies to include loads of exciting activities for children. These include visits to the crocodile farm, musical games, arts and crafts, story-telling, adventures at The Maze of the Lost City, Bumper Boats, and lots more.
Arcade lovers can access the temporary Magic Company Games Arcade inside the Valley of Waves next to Food Factor. This arcade hosts a select number of the most popular games. Access to Magic Company, Food Factory and The Brew Monkey is free for all guests. Guests can enter through the left side access of the Valley of Waves which has been blocked off from the waterpark.
Sun City borders the game-rich and malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park where people can spot the Big Five on magnificent game drives and experience spectacular views of the reserve in hot air balloons.
Getting to Sun City has become easier with direct flights to Pilanesberg International Airport from Cape Town or Johannesburg. Bookings for flights to and from Sun City are available through SA Express at http://www.flyexpress.aero/
For more information about Sun City visit sunintrnational.com/sun-city, like us on Facebook SunCitySA or follow us Twitter SunCityResortSA #NewSunCity
ISSUED BY THE MAIL ROOM PR.
If you haven’t visited yet, what are you waiting for?! The Kingdom Awaits 🙂
Until next time I have been everywhere…but it’s on my list!
Nadia xo xo
About Sun International
The Sun International Group is southern Africa’s premier hotels, gaming and entertainment group, with a diverse portfolio of properties including 28 hotels, ranging from three star to world class five star hotels; 12 modern and well located casinos, and premium resorts in superb locations.
Sun International’s iconic hotels include The Royal Livingstone Hotel at Victoria Falls, Zambia; The Palace of the Lost City at Sun City in South Africa’s North West Province, and The Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Its exciting portfolio of city and resort casinos includes GrandWest Casino in the Western Cape; Sun City in the North West Province; Sibaya in Kwa-Zulu Natal; Boardwalk in the Eastern Cape, and Carnival City in Gauteng.
Over more than three decades, Sun International has built on the success of its first world-renowned property, Sun City, to consistently deliver experiential luxury, enduring quality, incredible adventure, and a high standard of personalized service. Sun International has been listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange since 1984.
The iconic Sun International brand now has a strong presence in southern Africa, with properties in five neighbouring countries, a property in Nigeria, and a growing footprint in the Latin America region.
Nadia Singh 