Page 27 - Intra Muros March Issue 2026

TRAVEL

OUR EPIC FAMILY ESCAPE

Rediscovering Sun City

By Nicky McArthur

he last time I set foot in Sun City Still, my busy life in Gauteng had led me of The Palace peeking out. The resort itself
was for a Black-Eyed Peas concert; to think Sun City was a distant dream – has grown exponentially: it now boasts
Tthe time before that, it was for but after a surprisingly shortish two-hour, The Cascades; The Palace of the Lost City;
those fun school summer parties where 20-minute drive, we arrived. Thanks to The Cabanas; Sun City Hotel; and the Sun
a bus from Sandton whisked us away to the Sun Vacation Club Friday-to-Friday Vacation Club, their fantastic timeshare
the Valley of Waves. Even further back, in timeshare option, the drive proved to be offering.
December 1992, I was lucky to be at the worth every kilometre.
grand opening of the five-star Palace of Our home for the next few days was The
the Lost City, which came complete with So, what did I discover after such a long Reserve, a beloved cornerstone of the Sun City
a dazzling light show by Jean-Michel Jarre. absence? Sun City is still utterly fabulous! holiday experience. This self-catering haven,
initially established in 1996, has undergone
Fast-forward to the present day and a That familiar “wow” factor hit us all as a massive R210-million refurbishment. The
chance to revisit Sun City presented itself. we drove in, spotting the iconic turrets revamp follows the overwhelming success of
Lefika Villas, which introduced the upmarket
self-catering model.

Nestled amongst indigenous acacia and
leopard trees, The Reserve has always felt a
step closer to the wilderness. Now, thanks to
a reimagined design by Blacksmith Interior
Inspiration, the interiors actively encourage
“escapism into the African wild”.
Ryan Ilgner, director of Blacksmith, explains
the company’s vision: “We want guests to
feel instantly transported into the heart
of the African wild. The design draws from
natural materials and textures – from stone-
look tiles to woven savannah-inspired
wallpapers and bespoke animal-pattern
fabrics in bold, vibrant hues. Larger-than-life
wildlife portraits turn headboards into art,
while soft blue ceilings and ambient lighting
evoke the tranquility of dusk in the bush.”

INTRAMUROS MARCH 2026 | 25