Southern Africa's Golden Triangle

A Wonderful Welcome

First stop Johannesburg. As the world’s largest city not on a body of water, this sprawling conurbation isn’t a sightseer’s dream, lacking a “heart” that a harbour, river or lake side tends to bestow. However, with several flights daily from Hong Kong, Jo’burg becomes the hub for many South African adventures, and whilst transiting to and from the country, we stayed in The Maslow, another part of the Sun International Group catering primarily to business visitors and boasts fantastic conference, banquet, wedding and leisure facilities. I’ve travelled all over the world for work and have to say The Maslow was one of the best appointed business hotels I’ve ever stayed at. There is even an “arrivals and departure” lounge, where guests with early or late flights can go before checking in and after checking out. Like the airport equivalent, the lounge has shower facilities, drinks and snacks, large TV screens, newspapers and magazines, etc. It’s a fantastic idea and I wish more places would do this.

From Jo’burg, it takes around two and a half hours to drive to Sun City, the world-famous leisure resort created by Sun International’s founder Sol Kerzner in what was formerly Bophutatswana. As an independent state, Bophutatswana allowed casinos to operate when South Africa itself did not. Equidistant from Jo’burg and Pretoria, Sun City became and remains a hugely popular retreat from these major cities.

We stayed at the Palace of The Lost City, one of four hotels in the resort and the flagship for the Sun International Group. The sheer scale and grandeur reminds one of Macau, but with the Pilanesberg Game Reserve on the doorstep there is no question one is in Africa.

The accommodation is everything one would expect, with fantastic dining and leisure amenities. The temptation to never leave the massive grounds is strong, but just beyond the entrance driveway some of the most memorable experiences in the world await.

As one might expect, there is first-class golf on your doorstep in the form of two great tracks. The vastly experienced Golf Director Anthonie Els (no relation of the “Big Easy”) runs a superb organization throughout and the facilities are superb.