With its casinos, glitz, attractions and activities, Sun City is like a little bit of Las Vegas transplanted to the African bushveld. In its beginnings, this completely purpose-built, self-contained resort consisted of only 1 hotel with extensive grounds, a golf course and water-sports lake, with gambling (and the associated entertainment) being the main focus. To broaden its appeal, a family hotel with children's facilities was added, later to be joined by a third hotel with tropical gardens as the attraction. The crowning touch was the inclusion of the surreal "Lost City", which is part adventure playground, part theme park, part extravagant hotel. It all has to be seen to be believed, and when you have seen it, you may not believe it. Some dismiss it as kitsch, others think it is marvellous, nearly everyone has heard of it and most want to see it if only to say that they have been there.

When gambling was illegal in South Africa, it remained legal in Bophuthatswana, which is how this whole complex started. Originally aimed exclusively at gamblers, with other entertainment thrown in as bait. When the homeland was absorbed into South Africa proper, Sun City technically became illegal. Casinos were therefore quickly legalised (and taxed) and licences awarded all over the country. To fight off the increased competition, Sun City has therefore had to widen its appeal to the pure leisure market. The master stroke has been the building of the Lost City - half leisure paradise, half Disneyesque theme park. That - together with a lot of hype, high-profile "events" (like Miss World and World's Strongest Man competitions) and word of mouth - has given it a reputation that tempts many to come and see for themselves. Popular with families as well as mature single-sex groups heading up from the cities for golf and gambling weekends.

Four hotels from the over-the-top Palace to the simpler Cabanas. Only the oldest hotel, Sun City, has gambling within the hotel; the rest do not. Large timeshare apartment complex also.

Although hundreds of miles inland, the resort with everything does indeed have a pure white "sand" beach. Like everything else here, it is artificial, being made from refined mine waste. It slopes into a sizeable lagoon complete with wave-making machine. All hotels have very large pools and extensive sunbathing facilities.

A few boutiques selling clothes, beachwear, jewellery etc. Souvenirs of the resort and the Palace hotel, curios and African handicrafts.

Daytime: two 18-hole golf courses, bowling green, horse riding, minigolf, squash, tennis, mountain biking, jogging trails; most types of water sports at Waterworld lake; children's animal farm; Valley of the Waves (part of the Lost City "theme park"), whose star turn is the hourly volcanic eruption and earthquake on the Bridge of Time; various water slides; many other parts of the Lost City, which tell the totally fictional legend of its creation. Nightlife: gambling at roulette, blackjack, craps or slot machines is the major activity; live shows; bingo; cinemas.

Fast food to fine dining, and most things in between.

Free shuttle bus runs round the resort continuously. Monorail is there only to transport day visitors from the entrance car park to the slot machines as quickly as possible.

This is an excursion, but safari trips are offered outside the resort complex to the neighbouring Pilanesberg National Park (3¾ mls), home to the Big 5 (elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion).

In the extreme N of the country, towards the Botswana border, in the former homeland of Bophuthatswana. 105 mls NW of Johannesburg and its international airport. Own airstrip for private aircraft.

At the edge of the plains region of North West province, on slightly rising land leading up to hilly Pilanesberg National Park.

Telephone Area Code: 14
Website: sun-city-south-africa.go2africa.com

Airport : Jan Smuts
Airport Code: JNB
Flight time from ther U.K.: 12 hrs