The Palace of the Lost City
Sun City, North West Province, South Africa
Location
Sun City
The Palace is the centrepiece of the Sun City resort in North West Province, on the edge of the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, set in 25 hectares of botanical 'jungle' gardens with waterfalls — around two hours' drive from Johannesburg.
Transfer
A Sun City transfer
Around a two-hour drive from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo airport — safari without the bush-plane, on the edge of the malaria-free Pilanesberg park.
Villas
335 rooms & suites
335 rooms and suites across four wings, with handcrafted furniture and balconies — from Luxury rooms through Superior and Suites to four Presidential Suites with Jacuzzis and Grand Pool views.
Best For
Who it suits
Families, golfers and groups who want a maximalist resort-plus-safari in one — a malaria-free Big Five park, a wave-pool beach and two Gary Player courses on a fantasy-palace resort.
Board Basis
Bed & breakfast
Booked on bed and breakfast, with half-board options — Crystal Court for grand dining, Plume for fine dining and the Tusk Bar.
About the Resort
A fantasy palace beside a Big Five park
The Palace of the Lost City is a fantasy made real — a maximalist, baroque-African 'lost city' palace at the heart of the Sun City resort, set in 25 hectares of botanical 'jungle' gardens with waterfalls, on the edge of the malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park. It is theatrical and entertainment-led, and that is the appeal: a malaria-free Big Five park, a wave-pool beach and two Gary Player championship golf courses all on one resort, around two hours' drive from Johannesburg — safari without the bush-plane. The 335 rooms and suites fill four wings, from Luxury rooms to four Presidential Suites with Jacuzzis and Grand Pool views; dining runs from the grand Crystal Court to fine dining at Plume, with the Tusk Bar and the Grand Pool deck. Days mix Pilanesberg game drives and ballooning with the Valley of Waves water park, golf on the course that hosts the Nedbank Challenge, a casino, and kids' clubs. This is a maximalist family playground, not understated luxury — and for families wanting Big Five and a wave pool in one malaria-free resort, there is nothing quite like it.
Accommodation
Rooms & suites
335 rooms and suites across four wings with lifts, in handcrafted furniture with balconies — from Luxury rooms through Superior Luxury and Suites to four Presidential Suites with Jacuzzis, saunas, hand-carved interiors and Grand Pool views.
Entry
Luxury Room
Sleeps two to three. A king or twin with a balcony, over the gardens or 'jungle' — the entry room.
BalconyGarden view
Superior
Superior Luxury Room
Sleeps two to three. A larger, pool-facing room, with Grand Pool or garden views.
Pool-facingLarger
Suite
Suite
Sleeps two to four. A separate lounge, with garden or water views.
LoungeGarden view
Top
Presidential Suite
Sleeps two to four. A Jacuzzi, sauna and hand-carved interiors, over the Grand Pool — one of four.
JacuzziGrand Pool
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining is grand and varied — Crystal Court for breakfast and dinner, fine dining at Plume with the Grill Room alongside, and the Tusk Bar and Grand Pool deck.
Signature
Crystal Court
Crystal Court, the grand setting for breakfast and dinner.
Fine dining
Plume
Fine dining at Plume, with the Grill Room alongside.
Bar
Tusk Bar
The Tusk Bar and the Grand Pool deck.
Wellbeing
Royal Spa
The Royal Spa and Royal Salon handle treatments, with an upgraded gym. Beyond them, two outdoor pools including the Grand Pool, and a private walkway to the Valley of Waves water park.
Royal Spa
The Royal Spa and Royal Salon, with an upgraded gym.
The Grand Pool
The Grand Pool, one of two outdoor pools.
Valley of Waves
A private walkway to the Valley of Waves water park.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
A resort that does safari, beach and golf at once. Drive the malaria-free Pilanesberg for the Big Five, ride the waves at the Valley of Waves, play two Gary Player courses, and balloon over the bush.
Pilanesberg Big Five
Pilanesberg Big Five game drives and bush walks, malaria-free and right beside the resort.
Valley of Waves
The Valley of Waves — a man-made beach and wave pool in the bush.
Gary Player golf
Two Gary Player championship golf courses, one host of the Nedbank Challenge.
Hot-air ballooning
Hot-air ballooning over the bush.
Kids' clubs
Kids' clubs, a casino, quad biking, horse riding and tennis.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By road
From Johannesburg
Around a two-hour drive from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo airport.
At Sun City
North West Province
At Sun City in North West Province, on the edge of Pilanesberg.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting The Palace of the Lost City. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- Booked on bed and breakfast, with half-board options.
Made for families
- A maximalist family playground — a water park, kids' clubs and endless activities, alongside couples and golfers.
Malaria-free
- Pilanesberg, the Big Five park beside the resort, is malaria-free — a rare worry-free safari for families with young children.
Getting there
- Around a two-hour drive from Johannesburg — safari without the bush-plane.
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Dates & party
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Adults
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Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
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Flights
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