Page 328 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

326  GA UTENG , LIMPOPO AND MPUM ALANGA

a wave machine, and a
number of thrilling waterslides,
including the 70-m (230-ft)
Temple of Courage. To enter
this, visitors cross the Bridge
of Time, an ingenious mock-
volcano that erupts every
hour in a theatrical display
of rumbling volcanic sounds
and smoke.
Although changes in gam-
bling law introduced in 1996
mean that casinos have sprung
up around the country, Sun City
The Cascades Hotel at Sun City continues to attract visitors with
its many other entertainment
7 Sun City designed by the former South options. Not only does it offer a
African golfing champion chance of winning a fortune at
Road map D2. Rustenburg. N4, take Gary Player. the spin of a wheel, there are
R565 turn-off. n Welcome Centre, also elaborate stage shows
014 557 1580. ~ Pilanesberg, It soon became apparent
014 552 1261; Johannesburg and that the complex could and music concerts at
Cape Town. @ Sun International not cope with the the Superbowl, a
Central Reservations, 011 780 7855; influx of visitors, man-made lake
tour buses from Johannesburg and and a further two for parasailing,
Pretoria. Open day visitors: 8am–9pm hotels were added water-skiing and
daily. & 7 0 - = F I in 1980 and 1984 jet-skiing, horse-
respectively – the riding stables and
Set in a fairly bleak part of the Cabanas and the a 10-pin bowling
North West Province, two hours attractive alley. The com plex
by road from Johannesburg Cascades. Then in also houses restau-
and Pretoria, Sun City was the 1992, the Palace of rants and coffee
brain-child of hotelier Sol the Lost City (see shops, boutiques,
Kerzner. In the 1970s, when the pp328–9) opened, and a cinema, a spa and
complex was built, the land today it is still Sun City’s Casino entrance swimming pools. At
formed part of the quasi- five-star flagship hotel. In the entrance to the
independent “republic” of the same year, the Valley of the resort is Kwena Gardens,
Bophuthatswana, where Waves was constructed below home to more than 7,000 Nile
gambling, officially banned in the hotel and a second golf crocodiles that can be seen
South Africa at the time, was course added to the complex. from elevated walkways.
legal. The casino was a key part The Valley of the Waves is one of
of the initial success of the Sun City’s favourite attractions – O Kwena Gardens
resort, which then included a huge waterpark with a man- Tel 014 552 1262. Open 10am–6pm
only one luxury hotel, a man- made beach with palm trees, a daily. Feeding: 4:30pm daily. & - =
made lake and a challenging “roaring lagoon” with ∑ kwenachalets.co.za
18-hole golf course

Sun City is a completely man-made oasis in the North West Province
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp389–90 and pp408–10

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