48 hours in Sun International- Sun City, Bakubung and Pilansberg

A statue of Shawu, one of the Magnificent Seven Elephants, at the Palace of the Lost City, Sun City (South Africa). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What an incredible 48 hours we had! After making a flash decision to take up some of my booked Bakubung timeshare week after all, we left on Friday morning. Friday night was a delight with some wine and the most delicious food. Saturday morning we got into the Pilansberg game park nice and early and saw loads of game. I love, love, love the Pilansberg and Bakubung, and by now, after years of going frequently, I always feel at home. We exited around lunchtime, and took a nap, dolled up and took the shuttle to Sun City. Do enlarge the photos – they are really stunning, and on closer inspection you’ll find some surprises!

My close friends will know that I am able to force my way through barricades (I managed to get into the CTICC 5th birthday bash some years ago, through all sorts of security checks, into private parties etc, without a ticket, and not because I did not want to pay, but because I thought one could buy tickets once inside, only to find out that it was by invitation only once I got there!). So, for those who know, one cannot simply get your butt into Sun City’s The Palace of the Lost City, unless you are pre-booked. This is to protect the rich and famous from prying eyes and give them space to move in relative free surrounds. But, as it was my husband’s birthday yesterday, I wanted to take him there. Of course they stopped us at the door, and of course they tried to shoo us away in the most diplomatic way possible, but I would have none of it. And so, we were let in! Once inside, and having been before, I noticed that the area where one would normally have the most delectable high tea in the afternoon, was now decked for dinner already. Glancing to my right, and the courtyard where the big elephant statue is, I took Kobus by the hand and started strolling down the corridor in that direction. We then noticed a bar, with a tapas stand full of yummie looking stuff, and people helping themselves there. Upon asking, we were told that if we order a drink at the bar, we can also eat from this tapas trolley! Well, there we were, sitting in the posh Palace Bar, Kobus with a Windhoek Light, and I with a glass of Boschendal Chenin Blanc, and we ate our tummies full for the price of a beer and a glass of wine! We shared a slice of Black Forest Cake and had a coffee each, and giggled about the lovely, cheap meal we just had. We then went and lay on the loungers by the pool and I took some stunning photos of the surrounds in the last light of the day. Once we got to the front door, expecting a shuttle down to the main Sun City Hotel, we were surprised with a ride down in a luxurious Volve XC60, our driver being a young white female. Sharing with us, was Henrik Stenson, some hot-shot golfer from Sweden.

We were dropped right in front of the Hotel, and spent all of R200 on gambling a bit – laughing ourselves silly as we had no idea how the machines worked and had to call for help three times!. The whole of Sun City was rocking this weekend, being the last weekend of the Nedbank Golf challenge, and we also encountered Ernie Els and his family, him casually sitting and eating an apple, looking on as his wife was taking photos of their son by the elephant statue mentioned earlier. With no money left of our budget for the evening, we called Bakubung’s reception to ask them to collect us. We got back just as the restaurant was closing down, and we were spoilt with cheese and biscuits, ice-cream and coffees on the house!!

Yesterday morning was a sleep-in, and a delectable breakfast for my husband’s birthday, from the Bakubung Buffet at the restaurant. I rounded it off with pancakes with chocolate mousse! No wonder I am as round as a ball these days. We took off for our last game drive and here I thought I knew the park like the back of my hand – well, NOT!! With me being the driver for a change so Kobus could relax and enjoy the game drive, I took us on some unknown road that led us to the top of the highest hill in the park, from where it really felt like I was touching heaven! We saw loads of rhino – gladdening our hearts, as they are so hunted down for their horns these days. Once we got back to the resort, Kobus went and had a nap, and I went and lay by the pool to get some sun on my pale body, then headed home. A wonderful, wonderful 48 hours!!! O yes, almost forgot, we took the bubble lifts on the side of the Cascades Hotel at Sun City, to the top floor, not once, but twice – the view over the lake, the golf course, the rain forest and the rest of the Sun City resort too beautiful from there! I always do that when I get there, and always love it! I don’t think Sol Kerzner ever thought that his dream for a resort in the hills he saw from the helicopter window would ever turn out to be such a huge success – Sun City and all the rest that followed – The Cabanas, The Cascades, The Vacation Club and then The Palace of the Lost City, have surpassed everyone’s wildest expectations over the years. For my overseas friends, should you ever have the pleasure of coming to S A, make sure you add Sun City to your list of must see places. http://www.sun-city-south-africa.com