Hotel The Palace of the Lost City

The Palace dominates Sun City, a luxury oasis located in the Pilanesberg area, 118 miles from Johannesburg. Count about a 2 hour and a half drive, or 35 minutes by plane thanks to daily flights from Johannesburg to Sun City. Pilanesberg National Park, the fifth largest park of the country, is 1/2 hour drive.

The first desert golf course in South Africa, Lost City Golf Course is known for its originality, as shown by the crocodile pond by hole 13. A second course, the Gary Player Golf Course, named best of the country, is also available. It includes a fitness centre offering numerous treatments and hosts, every year in December, the "Nedbank Golf Challenge", an international competition featuring the best golf players in the world. Generally, you should reserve your green fee when you make your hotel reservation, because availability is limited. Additionally, note that the Lost City Palace is a member of "Leading Hotels of the World".

Arriving at the Lost City Palace is like diving into Indiana Jones universe. Greatness and excessiveness assail the visitor as he enters the lobby, nestled in a 82 feet high rotunda decorated with savanna animals. It continues with a gigantic staircase directly leading to the "Crystal Court", a restaurant with patio decorated with columns sculpted as elephant feet. On either side of this central space, boutiques, sitting areas, bars, and conference rooms are scattered, rivalling in originality, like the superb "Tusk Bar" with sculpted wooden tusks weighting over 2 tons each! Access to the large outside pool of the hotel is just as spectacular: It is an artificial grotto from which flows a cascade, along the "Villa del Palazzo", the upscale restaurant of the Palace. There, large African tents house a bar and a restaurant. Children have their own swimming pool with toys and giant animals. From the impressive statue of "Shawu", a 92 feet high symbolic bronze elephant, large stairs flooded with foliage give Palace guests direct access to Sun City beach. This beach connects to the Entertainment Centre through the Bridge of Time, periodically shattered by earthquakes. A totally artificial environment, but surprisingly realistic!

The hotel includes 338 particularly spacious rooms accessed by richly decorated elevators. The only difference between Luxury and standard rooms is the view of Sun City. The four luxury suites have the Pharaonic size of 4,304 feet² each! All rooms have adjustable air conditioning, minibar, safe, direct telephone, and satellite television offering movie rental and Internet access. To reinforce the feeling of space even more, bathrooms open largely onto the rooms thanks to two large wooden sliding panels. They are equipped with a shower, a tub, and separate toilet. Also, hair dryer, make-up mirror, robes, slippers, and welcome toiletries are provided. The decor is the work of Trisha Wilson, in the African theme up to the minute details. The furniture, made of noble materials and handwoven fabrics or rugs, was made exclusively for the hotel.

The Palace is a gourmet paradise. Located in the lobby, the "Crystal Court" offers a prestigious environment and pleasant patio for all three meals. Breakfast alone is worth the trip: Around the impressive elephant fountain, abundant trays of fruit, cheese and cold cuts, breads and cereal, pancakes and omelettes prepared according to your wishes. International gastronomy with a strong African flair is served for lunch and dinner, sometimes with a theme menu. Light meals and a South African grill are also offered for lunch by the pool. Open only for dinner, the very chic "Villa del Palazzo" offers gourmet Italian gastronomy and a particularly rich wine selection. Composed of five round pavilions on the water, this very upscale restaurant is a tasteful mix of African and Mediterranean styles. One sits in chairs sculpted into wild animal heads while the tableware and the head waiter's outfit are a reminder of the famous "Villa d'Este" restaurant on the banks of Lake Como. Its chef Jean-Marc Droulers himself trained the "Villa del Palazzo" 6 chefs.