Sun City Accommodation

Close by and a must visit is some of the best accommodation in the Pilanesberg. Flanking Sun City it hasd a wealth of opportunities available to relax

Sun City, unique in the context of world resorts, with a combination of features unmatched anywhere, draws thousands of visitors each year to its magnificent sporting and recreational facilities including 2 world class golf courses, and the magical Lost City water-park, The Valley of Waves. Situated in the bushveld of South Africa’s North West province, it is surrounded by the imposing mountains of the Pilanesberg.

Golf Courses

• When construction of the Sun City Resort began in 1978, the decision was taken to build a golf course that would rival the best in the world. South Africa’s most successful professional Gary Player, was an obvious choice to route the course in what is the crater of an extinct volcano. Today, the Gary Player Country Club is deservedly ranked as the number one South African golf course. Both the inward and outward loops are perfectly balanced, with every club in the bag being tested along the way.
• Some ten years after the completion of the Gary Player Country Club, the popularity of the Sun City Resort and its many attractions demanded that another golf course be built. Just a two-minute ride by shuttle bus from the Gary Player Country Club, you can now find the imposing Palace of the Lost City. In its shadow lies the legendary golf course. The course defies being bracketed into any particular genre – having touches of mountain, desert and even a brand of African parkland in its makeup.
• Rustenburg Golf Club is a modern golf course with old fashion values. The course has been ranked consistently in the Top 100 courses in South Africa for the last 5 years. People seem to be pleasantly surprised by the splendid condition of the course regardless of where they come from.

Hot Air Ballooning

• Airtrackers Hot Air Balloon Safaris operates within one of the most breathtaking and scenic hot air balloon locations in the world namely The Pilanesberg National Park. They are presently the only hot air balloon company in Southern Africa that permanently operates from within a National Park. This gives them exclusivity to fly hot air balloons within this unique location with all its scenic beauty and wildlife .
• If you don’t have time to experience a hot air balloon ride whilst at Black Rhino Reserve, then schedule a flight for your return. AirVentures Hot Air Ballooning provide exhilarating game viewing safari flights in the Muldersdrift area. Launching from a private game reserve your photographic opportunities are endless.

Hiking

• The Kgaswane Reserve, Rustenberg, caters for a wide range of interests and is famous as a hiking destination. Ther are two overnight trails and two day shorter day trails. The overnight trails are extremely popular and early booking is essential. The Summit Route is 25,3km and includes Natural Pools in which swimming is permitted. The Baviaanskrans Route is 19,5km and includes the Waterfall View and the Garden of Remembrance. The Peglarae Trail is a day excursion of approximately 5,5km over fairly steep and rocky terrain. The shorter Vlei ramble, just 2km, takes visitors to a viewing hut on the vlei – a favourite spot for the many birders who enjoy the reserve.

Pilanesberg National Park

The crater of a long extinct volcano is the setting for the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and National Park – a fascinating alkaline complex produced by volcanic eruptions some 1300 million years ago. Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world. Its rare rock types and structure make it a unique geological feature.  The area is fringed by three concentric ridges or rings of hills – the formation rises from the surrounding plains like a bubble. The structure of the park is termed the “Pilanesberg Game Reserve Alkaline Ring Complex”.
Ancient, even by geological time scales, this extinct volcano is the most perfect example of an alkaline ring complex. A number of rare (but not necessarily economically important) minerals occur in the park. Pilanesberg Game Reserve rates high amongst the world’s outstanding geological phenomena.
The creation of the Reserve is considered one of the most ambitious programmes of its kind to be undertaken anywhere in the world. Thanks to Operation Genesis in 1979, which involved the game-fencing of the reserve and the re-introduction of many long-vanished species, the park now has in excess of 7 000 animals including 24 of the larger species.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve (Pilanesberg is not a National Park under the control of SANParks) is in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province, adjacent to Sun City.  An abundance of wild life proliferate in +/- 55,000 hectares of diverse and interesting bushveld terrain. The park is home to healthy populations of lion, leopard, black and white rhino, elephant and buffalo – Africa’s “Big Five”.

A wide variety of rare and common species exist like the nocturnal brown hyaena, the fleet-footed cheetah, the majestic sable, as well as giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodile, to mention but a few.
There are nearly 200 kilometres of excellent quality roads for either self-drives or guided drives. Numerous hides and scenic picnic sites enable the tourist to experience “out-of-car” experiences as well. Bird watching is excellent with over 300 species recorded. Some are migrants, others permanent inhabitants; some eat carrion or live prey, others eat seeds, fruit or tiny water organisms.

The park exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as “Bushveld”. Unlike any other large park, unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone. The varied topography features syenite koppies, thickly forested ravines, typical bushveld and also rolling grasslands and lightly wooded areas.

Pilanesberg Game Viewing

Residents of Kgorogoro have traversing rights over the entire Pilanesberg National Park, although with the Big 5 frequently spotted within 3kms of the Lodge, the need to travel long distances is not an issue. There are plenty of game viewing opportunities available.
There are  a number of rewarding “Sundowner” locations, a large hide next to a popular water hole, and a unique, private breakfast spot in the Wilderness area of the Pilansberg NP. A boma and braai area in the bush away from the lodge is currently under plan with exclusive access to  Black Rhino residents.

The Kgorogoro Lodge comes complete with game viewer and 2 well experienced field guides, offering 2 x 3 hour game drives a day, or one extended drive to a maximum of 6 hours. The fences have been removed between Black Rhino Reserve and Pilansberg National Park and all game is free to roam the entire area, over 55,000 hectares of unique alkaline volcanic crater.

The Black Rhino Reserve

Black Rhino Reserve is a new reserve which is incorporated into the north western side of the malaria free Pilanesberg National Park. The +/-1,800 hectares of local game viewing opportunity attracts all of the animal species from the Pilanesberg, as all fences have been removed between the two reserves.

The predominantly sweetveld vegetation compliments the sour and mixed veld of the Pilansberg, adding to the attraction. Large numbers of Tamboti trees are present on the reserve so sightings of the rare  black rhino are quite probable.

The Black Rhino Reserve was the first extension to be incorporated into the Pilanesberg, with an ambitious goal to ultimately link up with the Madikwe Game Reserve to form a “Heritage Park” of approximately 300,000 hectares. Currently we have a privileged traversing agreement allowing us to experience hours of game viewing over the full 55,000 hectares of Pilanesberg as well the 1,800 hectares of Black Rhino Reserve.
Scenic game drives in our private game viewer can be taken through an unexplored valley before reaching the 200km road network of the Pilanesberg National Park. Game sightings, and bird spotting opportunities, are outstanding.

Kgorogoro lodge

Kgorogoro Self Catering Unit

Kgorogoro lodge is situated in malaria free, Big 5 territory within the Black Rhino Reserve, found in the exclusive North West part of the captivating Pilansberg National Park. The Black Rhino Reserve is easily accessible from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, and is ideally situated for a weekend getaway, or a full week of luxurious bush living.

Kgorogoro lodge is just 35 kms from the main entrance to Sun City, your time can be shared between relaxing at the lodge, taking game drives or guided walks, bird spotting, or enjoying the local activities and amenities such as golf, Valley of the Waves etc at the forever exciting, Sun City.

Kgorogoro is a fully furnished and equipped self catering lodge, which is serviced on a daily basis. Qualified rangers provide two informative game drives a day, in our private game viewer. As guests at Kgorogoro, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an early morning coffee break, or sun downers, in exclusive areas within both the Black Rhino Reserve and the Wilderness area of the Pilanesberg National Park.

Kgorogoro Lodge has 5 thatched, double sleeping units, well positioned in the bush surrounding the main lodge, providing excellent privacy and comfort. Two sleeping units have an adjoining room, which can either be closed at each end, or left open if young children need to be accommodated close to their parents.

Each sleeping unit has its own bath, double shower, toilet and double wash basins. A fridge and tea set are provided for your convenience, along with airconditioning, all towels, bed linen and extra blankets. Wooden folding doors open onto a private deck with two sun loungers. The two end units have king size extra length beds and the other units, two single beds. The sleeping units are connected to the main lodge by pathways, which are well lit at night.

The viewing deck is perfectly positioned under thatch to enjoy “al fresco” dining, or relax on one of the sun loungers whilst watching the amazing bird life that frequents the lodge. A gas braai is conveniently positioned on the deck if an alternative to indoor cooking, or outdoor braaing in the boma is preferred. The bar is endowed with a large under counter fridge and an ice making machine. The wooden windows fold back to encompass indoor and outdoor living, but just in case the rugby is on, a TV is well positioned overlooking the bar!

The vast main lodge is open plan with a large formal lounge (with library), dining area, fully equipped kitchen with cold room and scullery, family room, bar (both with flat screen TV’s & DSTV), and large viewing deck, all with superb furnishings to meet your every requirement.

There will be plenty of time to relax undisturbed in the bush, and appreciate the wonders of nature. You can chose to relax by the private pool, catch the cooling breeze on the viewing deck, or enjoy time in seclusion on one of the loungers on the deck of your individual bedroom unit.

On arrival you will complete formalities at the main reserve entrance, and then travel a short distance to the lodge, game spotting on the way. You will be met at Kgorogoro lodge by the managing rangers who will assist you with your luggage and guide you through the rules of the lodge. You will be well looked after during your stay, but please note that the onsite staff do not offer any catering services.

Kgorogoro Lodge – True Beauty