It's easy to lose yourself in The Palace of the Lost City.
The Palace of the Lost City
Opening in December 1992, The Palace is not new, yet is rated as one of the Leading Hotels of the World and on many travellers must visit list. The African colours, decor and architectural features are awe inspiring. Everything is done on a grand scale, but it's not at all 'stuffy'.
The short 2½ hour drive from Johannesburg passes through some pretty flat, dry and poor country.
A contrasting scene enroute to Sun City
You're transported to a Desert Oasis; a mini Las Vegas, a golf resort and a playground for people from cities near and countries far.
Forecourt Fountain
Arrival here is both welcoming and an eye-opener. My camera was at the ready at every turn. Clicking away, capturing colour and action from every angle
A Grand Lobby
Lobby Ceiling
The entrance hall of the Palace sets the scene. Look up and you see its high, intricately-painted ceilings. Walk through and admire the mosaic artworks, the massive 5.6 metre tusk archway, and bronze carvings & sculptures. Relax on zebra-hide upholstered furniture.
Friendly Doorman
Tusk Skylight Feature revealing one of the many Turrets
The grounds, verdant gardens, pools and ponds are all fun to explore, as are the in-house restaurants which cater for a variety of cuisines and cultures. If you want more choices, there are
four hotels, several restaurants and 2 casinos in the resort with plenty on offer with drivers at the ready out front willing to run you to any one of them.
Spectacular Gardens and Ponds
The Pool
What do you do when you're here? Relax and Enjoy ! After two months of travel, this was a great spot to STOP before we boarded our long flight to Australia. We only had one full day and were keen to play 18 holes of golf at one of the two courses. We chose the
Lost City Course. It's not every day you share your game with Nile Crocodiles and Mongoose.
The Golf Course & Club House
Tame Mongoose, Water Birds, Water Hazzard
There's plenty to do outdoors when your done relaxing, including a myriad water sports for all ages and skill levels. Experience a game safaris, or maybe try your luck at the one of the two Casinos.
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Friendly Staff, Great Breakfasts
A small corner of the extensive breakfast buffet
A small section of the breakfast buffet
More friendly staff
During our stay, convoys of escorted cars were arriving with guests and dignitaries for a four day, seven-ceremony Bollywood-style wedding. A never ending flow of beautiful women in exquisite saris, accompanied by tall Indian men in colourful clothing were checking in. Some with cute, smartly attired children on one side and elderly parents on the other. Elsewhere casual conversation happened as friends reconnected. By the Olympic-size pool the scene was different. Some lazing in the sun, others splashing around or cooling off under the waterfall.
Some of the flowers for the Wedding
Bronze Elephant being surrounded by drapes and lights for the Wedding
As we holidayed, work progressed with teams of florists and set-construction workers transforming The Palace and grounds from extraordinary to amazing, for a wedding quoted by the press "to be one of the biggest ceremonies South Africa has witnessed".
You don't need to be a celebrity to stay here, just a mere holidaymaker who wants to enjoy what the resort has to offer.
The smaller details that make this place
