South Africa 2002 Part 4: Pilansberg and Sun City

We had booked a 3 night stay at the Pilansberg Game reserve which is next door to Sun City. Pilansberg is the 4th largest game reserve in South Africa. It covers 55,000 hectare and is home to the big 5.
We flew to Pilansberg Airport (well the South Africans call it an airport, I would call it a garage!!!!) and was collected by private transfer to the Park. We had booked into the Tshukudu Lodge which offer 6 luxury Cottages actually in the Game Reserve. A cheaper alternative is the Hotel Bakubung which has studio rooms and lodges and is a 5 minute drive to the park.

We had booked a 3 night package on Pilansberg's website. The cost
includes bed, breakfast and high tea. You are also given snacks and drinks when out on the game drives. The lodges come with

everything from bubble bath (for your sunken bath) to the minibar. The minibar is included in the price (although we didn't know this until the last day!!!!!) and is restocked every day. The Tshukudu lodge is 5* accommodation, and we were woken up by lions and hyenas. The lodges do not have TVs or swimming pools, just your balcony and nature!!!.

We were taken on 2 drives a day. This is not for those who like a lie in on holiday!!!, as the Ranger wakes you up at 0330 to have breakfast and be out in the bush by 5am. This is the best time to see big game as it is cooler and they tend to sleep the later in the day it gets. The other game drive is at dusk about 1600ish. There were only 6 in our group, which was nice as you get to know people better.

We saw lions (they were mating too!!!), cheetah, elephant, white Rhino and a glimpse of a black Rhino. We were a bit disappointed because the Hippos and Buffalo were not playing and did not come out for us!! We saw lots of antelope, Kudu, Springbok and Dung Beetle. Can you believe they eat their National animal!!!!!!
On one of the night drives, we saw mum and baby elephant crossing our path and mum came up to the truck for a nosey and stuck her trunk right in. I have to admit I was a bit worried!!!!

We saw a load of Zebra and it was fascinating to see them in their big groups and running from the lions. There are also thousands of plants, flowers and it is a great place for bird watching also.
It is so quiet in the bush and was really nice to sit on the balcony and just listen to the animals talking to each other. Pilansberg is also Malaria free which is a great advantage.

The meals were served in the Main Lodge reception area which had a large veranda looking over the park. In the afternoon when we had afternoon tea and cakes, the cheeky monkeys would come and try and pinch food or anything they could get their hands on. They were quite sweet, but very cheeky.

I would definitely recommend Pilansberg as it is small compared to Kruger but still massive and the Rangers were very knowledgeable and helpful. It also very handy for Sun City if you fancy a chill afterwards. There are lots of celebrities and golfers who go to Pilansberg because it is next to Sun City. Sun City has a golf tournament every year where the worlds best golfers are invited to compete so sometimes they go to the game reserve after the competition.

We were taken to Sun City by our Ranger when we departed Pilansberg. We checked into the Cabanas Hotel in Sun City.Sun City has 4 hotels in the Resort being The Cabanas, Cascades, Sun City and the Palace of the Lost City which is the most Luxurious Hotel on the resort. Each of the hotels offer different facilities from Water Sports to Golf and a casino.

Guests can use the facilities and wander in and out of each of the Hotels apart from the Palace of The Lost City as this prohibited to guests of the Hotel only (although there are tours of the hotel!!!).

There is also Valley of the Waves which is a pool with wave machine and slides. This is complimentary to guests. There are charges for the water sports and extra facilities. There are beauty treatments (available in the spa), shops, restaurants and lots of entertainment. There is also the Sun City Superbowl where artists such as Queen, Rod Stewart and even the Late Frank Sinatra appeared, Even Miss World was held here.

Sun City reminded me of a Luxury Butlins!!! Only because it reminds me of a holiday camp but with Hotels instead of Chalets and Caravans and people can buy a day pass.
When we were there, the security was very high as the Nedbank Golf Tournament was the following week and as it was the year after 9/11, security was very high.

There are buses that go from Sun City to Johannesburg (it takes about 1 1/2 hours.) The only thing that annoyed us as the minibus air conditioning had broken down so we had to get changed at Jo'burg Airport. Apart from that is , it is a really nice drive with fantastic scenery.

I would go back to Sun City as think it makes a nice relaxing break if you have been touring and doing a lot of sightseeing.