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Long exposure night shot of the Sable Fountain at the Sun City Resort in South Africa. The fountain is illuminated with colorful lights and surrounded by palm trees.
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Sun City Vacation Packages and Tours

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Overview

Take a trip to Sun City on your South Africa Vacation

Sun City has been described as South Africa’s answer to Las Vegas. Located between the Elands River and Pilanesberg National Park, it is a luxury casino and resort found in the North West Province of the country on a South African vacation.

Sun City was the brainchild of Sol Kerzner and officially opened on 7 December 1979. At that time, Sun City was not part of South Africa but was instead a Bantustan of Bophuthatswana, an area established by the apartheid regime to house the black populations of South Africa. This area had been deemed an independent state by the government and was therefore allowed to offer gambling which had been banned in South Africa.

Sun City with its four hotels, water park and concert venue, the Superbowl, attracted not only tourists but big-name musical acts. Frank Sinatra, Queen, Elton John, Liza Minnelli and Rod Stewart among others graced the stage. The Superbowl also attracted controversy when it became the subject of E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt’s Artists United Against Apartheid campaign in 1985. Musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and U2 vowed never to play at the resort because of their opposition to apartheid.

Since 1994, when Sun City was incorporated back into South Africa, the resort has continued to welcome both national and international visitors alike on South Africa tours. World-class hotels, a state-of-the-art water park, casinos, golf courses equipped with crocodiles and a border shared with Pilanesberg Nature Reserve have ensured that Sun City remains a world-renowned holiday destination.

At a Glance

Languages

Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English

Currency

South African Rand (ZAR)

What do the experts say?

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Skip the more commercial wineries and visit artisanal producers—you’ll find sparkling wines and small-batch reds that are absolutely world-class.
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Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
Djembe drumming at GOLD in Cape Town is an immersive African experience through their 14-dish food safari and unique live entertainment.
Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
The game viewing in Kruger and Eastern Cape always draws me back—it’s truly superb.
Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
South Africans are famously warm—when you’re new in town, you're often invited to a braai, our way of welcoming people through food.
Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Shamsheer (Sam) Cottar

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
South Africa is a wonderful starting point for Africa. It's got some of the top cities in the world, stunning food and wine, and exceptional value for money.

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