This year we decided it was time to visit our daughter who lives in Johannesburg, South Africa and enjoy a brief family holiday at Sun City Resort,
www.suninternational.com located some 2 ½ hours drive from Johannesburg. As with most of our trips originating from this part of the world, our journey began at 23:20 Hrs (Emirates Airlines - Kuwait to Dubai, Flying time 1 1/2 hour) then a 2 hour layover before embarking at 03:40 Hrs. (Emirates Airlines to Johannesburg, Flying time 7 ½ hours). The time difference between Kuwait and S.A. is only one hour (they are behind us) however, after having put in a full day of work on the day of departure, then having to stay awake and alert at the airports until our 3:40 AM departure from Dubai, we were both knackered (dead tired) upon arrival. Fortunately for us our daughter collected her groggy headed parents from the airport and took us straight away for the resort. We had been planning this visit for several months and a South African expat friend in Kuwait recommended Sun City as a good - 4 star level - “destination resort” to visit. The plan was 5 nights at Sun City and 2 nights in J’burg.
Some observations about the resort;
Sun City has three hotels and some time share units (managed through RCI) as well as a Gary Players golf course. Guests are free to roam about and visit each hotel. We were booked into the “Cabanas” section of the resort. The hotels have gambling facilities (slots & bingo) and several restaurants as well as kids facilities, arcade games and a water park. We booked 2 rooms, both of which had a king-size bed, wardrobe unit with the typical small electronic combination safe, Cable TV, en-suite bath with shower. Our rooms were ground floor, garden view, however since we were only in them to sleep, no worry, why pay additional cost? Speaking of cost, the room price was S.A. Rand 5,350 per room for 5 nights, with NO meal plan. Having had meal plans at other resorts, we decided that this time WE wanted to choose when and where to eat. We ate dinner at different restaurants every day. We ate breakfast the first morning at the buffet in our hotel (85 Rand per person). The fare was your typical eggs, tomatoes, beans, pancakes, waffles, fresh fruits, breads, cereal, Juices, coffee, tea, etc. As we walked the grounds we discovered that the golf course had a clubhouse open for breakfast restaurant next to the pro shop. By eating there, we were able to order what we wanted, at a lower price then by paying for the buffet in our hotel and only drinking coffee and eating fruits and bread.
The resort grounds were well kept and all plantings appeared well established. Daily temperatures were in the range of high 20’s to low 30’s oC (it is springtime after all). Afternoons, around 14:30 Hrs, saw light breezes leading to light rains which lasted approximately 15 minutes after which the sun re-appeared and things dried off. 30 minutes later it was not possible to tell that it had rained. We usually chilled thought the afternoon on sun beds located on the vast grassed lawn areas surrounding the hotel pool. The hotels are located on a hill side, overlooking the man-made lake and golf course. Live music (Euro pop hits as well as some USA rock & roll oldies) provided at poolside. “Waitrons” (waiters and waitresses) hovered about, at the ready to take our drink or food orders. Being that this was Africa, wild life was expected and on various days a group of several small grey monkeys, some with babies hanging underneath, would run through the pool side area. The guests all grabbed cameras for the photo op whilst the monkeys ran up to the small tables located between the sun beds and grabbed various bits of food from the tables, and plucked
pineapples out of the guest’s tropical drinks. All good fun and great photo opportunities. Our daughter fired up her laptop one day while we on the pool lawn and discovered that there was wireless internet available. 10 minutes free, then charges applied. She also found that the “News Café” restaurant also provided free internet (limit one hour per day per user). The hotel restaurant outlets that we ate at all had good service and good food, but we must mention that the night that we went to the “news café” they were experiencing some kitchen help problems which delayed everyone’s food order. The manager did come around to all of the tables to explain and apologise.
All in all, we give the Sun City resort thumbs up recommendation.
Some Observations on Johannesburg;
We spent 2 nights in J’burg, visiting our daughter and her friends after Sun City. Naturally the ambience was different in the real world. Our daughter lives in Auckland Park, near the University of Johannesburg (formerly R.A.U.). Pleasant neighbourhood, houses had high security walls all around with remote controlled gates across the driveway. We noticed that each block had a “guard” sitting in a chair, apparently paid to keep an eye on things. Our daughter said that this did not stop someone from stealing her friend’s car, parked just outside her driveway gate. We drove around and stopped for lunch and a parking guard approached the car to advise that HE would guard the car. The car was still there when we returned. At every intersection, enterprising people in groups of 4 or 5 plied the cars as they stopped in response to red lights. Cheap children’s toys, sunglasses, cold drinks, etc were on offer. Several people held cardboard signs stating that they were in destitute situations that required the general public to give them money. The “vendors” were not aggressive and moved on when ignored. Our daughter reported that with a 40% un-employment rate, theft was common. Although she keeps everything under lock and key 24/7, in the 3 years that she has been in Johannesburg, her car has been stolen twice, and her house has been robbed of her mobile phone, computer and small personal items. These items are easily sold on the black market for cash. Fortunately, her insurance policy has paid off her losses. Although we never felt threatened with theft while there, we did maintain a heightened sense of awareness and kept things locked up.
Sadly all good things come to an end and we were returned to the airport for our flight back home to Kuwait. In summary, Sun City was great (good for families with young kids) we recommend it to all. Johannesburg is OK, much like any big city. We have been to Africa before, (to Kenya on Safari, see trip report from March 2004) and we will return to Africa again. Our next trip to S.A. will be to Cape Town for the “Garden Tour” which will be a fly-drive trip.
KenO
