The Palace of the Lost City

Sun City, South Africa

Virgin rating

Twin Room
Twin Room
Twin Room
Plume Restaurant
Super Room Pool Facing
Super Room Pool Facing
Super Room Pool Facing
The Grill
The Crystal Court at Palace of the Lost City
Tusk Bar
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
Twin Room
Twin Room
Twin Room
Plume Restaurant
Super Room Pool Facing
Super Room Pool Facing
Super Room Pool Facing
The Grill
The Crystal Court at Palace of the Lost City
Tusk Bar
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
Junior Suite

The hotel

One of South Africa’s most sumptuous hotels, The Palace, a member of Sun International’s Sunlux Collection, was based on the idea of a lost African Palace. The Lost City surrounds the Palace - a world of jungles, streams, waterfalls and swimming pools. Each of the luxuriously appointed rooms are fitted with individually crafted furniture. Valley of Waves, one of the most advanced water parks in the world, stands as a central feature of the hotel and will provide endless fun for water lovers. There are also two golf courses designed by acclaimed designer Gary Player that will provide added enjoyment for lovers of the sport.

Amenities

  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Kids Club
  • Wheelchair access
  • Bar
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Safety Deposit Box

Where is it

Next to Pilanesberg National Park for 'Big Five' safari game-driving in a malaria-free zone. Transfer time from Johannesburg Airport: approximately 2 hours.

Hotel information

335 rooms, including suites, in 4 wings with lifts. Each room and suite offers royal hospitality with wonderful views over water or jungle and all benefit from a personal touch. All with air-conditioning, TV, mini-bar*, butler station on request, safe and hairdryer. Luxury Rooms have mountain views and twin beds, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Superior Luxury Rooms are more spacious with views of the gardens or swimming pool and have 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Superior Luxury Family Rooms are ideal for families with 1 king-size bed and a sofa bed in the lounge area sleeping maximum 2 adults and 2 children.

Superior Luxury Pool Facing Rooms have the same facilities as above but with a pool view, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Junior Suites are very spacious with a separate relaxing lounge area complete with sofa bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Superior Suites are located on the ground floor overlooking the pool or on the upper floor overlooking the Lost City Golf Course with 1 king-size bed and an open-plan lounge and dining area, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

2 restaurants; Crystal Court (International buffet for breakfast and dinner), The Grill Room (signature steakhouse, dinner). 2 bars: The Palace Pool Deck (snacks and wood-fired pizzas) and Tusk Bar and Lounge (safari-themed cocktail bar and lounge). High tea*.

Whilst there isn't any evening entertainment at the hotel you can hop on a shuttle to the Sun City resort where you can visit the casino or nightclub.

Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool. Royal Spa*. Valley of Waves water park (​there is a flat charge rate of R50.00 non-refundable for Valley of Waves towels to all hotel guests and day visitors). The Lost City Golf Course*, designed by Gary Player. Water sports*. Tennis. Segway, Zip Slide and many more activities. Both morning and sunset game-drives* available in the neighbouring malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park. 'Kamp Kwena' kids' club*. Shops.

 24-hour room service*. Complimentary WiFi.

Wheelchair accessible rooms available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. For more information and contact details please check out our Special Assistance page

3 nights between 24 Dec-2 Jan.

 * Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1705)
  • Very good (573)
  • Average (289)
  • Poor (154)
  • Terrible (154)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Incredible piano with my breakfast

Jul 25, 2024 Candice M Naas, Ireland

We felt so spoilt and given such outstanding service, my favourite was the talent too, an incredible pianist Robert who was just outstanding who let my son play with him, this created such a memorable moment that inspired my little boy who I know will continue to play the piano, Robert is so talented and a joy to listen too!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Magical and luxurious place to stay

Jul 23, 2024 Tania H

The Palace is a magical place where everything is larger than life. You feel like you’re in a movie or fairytale with themed decor throughout down to the smallest detail. The rooms are spacious and well appointed and the buffet breakfast is abundant with so many choices!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating What a fantastic experience!

Jul 19, 2024 Getaway01739418435

I was blown away. Staff friendly, helpful and kind. Food divine! My daughter took ill, and the resident paramedics came to attend to her in our room. Last but not least, Robert Phiri, the pianist - gentle soul that makes his piano sing the sweetest songs. Bless you All for an amazing experience
Image of the Tripadvisor rating HUGE Disappointment

Jul 11, 2024 Sheryl_Barclay Johannesburg, South Africa

I have just come back from a 3 night stay at the palace with my family of 10 people. I had booked 4 Family rooms for our stay the begining of the year. One would think if there was something wrong with the booking system that someone would have contacted me between then and my check in date. NO... Upon arrival I was told that I need to pay in… Read more
I have just come back from a 3 night stay at the palace with my family of 10 people. I had booked 4 Family rooms for our stay the begining of the year. One would think if there was something wrong with the booking system that someone would have contacted me between then and my check in date. NO... Upon arrival I was told that I need to pay in extra money plus the monies that was outstanding after my deposits. This was not acceptable especailly for an error on their side. Once we were taken to our rooms which were clean and a good size, it was time to shower and get ourselves refreshed for the evenings dinner. NO HOT WATER...We were told that we must run the taps for 30min before our shower or bath so the water can come through. I am sorry but this was ridiculous, a waste of water and a waste of our time frankly. We were not given other rooms. My father in his 70's never bathed or showered for 4 days! Others in the party braved the cold luke warm water. My children ages 3 and 5 had a bath with kettle water. Excuse me but where are we staying again?? The Palace...are you sure? Where room service trays stayed outside a room I walked past for 3 days before being collected. Also where one of the ladies cleaning the room asked us straight out where is my tip as I have a day off tomorrow and won't see you before I leave. Excuse me but where are we staying again?? The Lost City...are you sure? The Grill Room well that is another story. Fine dinning with two waitresses serving the whole restuarant and waiting 45 minutes for our meal. The food was good but the service was terrible. Not the waitresses fault. Managements fault. Breakfast was a beautiful spread of food but most people were not at their stations serving the food. On more than one occassion I had to a waiter/waitress who is frying the eggs. No one cleared our plates at breakfast and we had to stand up and put them on the next table to make space. Is this the service you expect from The Palace? NO. Cappuccino's were ordered every morning for myself and my husband to have with our breakfast that was only delivered to us once we had finished our food on all three occassions. A 20minute wait for coffee or tea at breakfast. Appaulling. Excuse me but where are we staying again?? A five star hotel...are you sure? I have travelled the world and stayed in many 5 star hotels. This I am affraid is not one, no where even close! It is a pity as I have staying many times at The Palace of The Lost City but unfortunately I won't recommend it at all. I am proudly South African and I thought taking my Australian guests to one of South Africa's best has turned out to be an embarressment and a five star joke. I trully hope that they can get this hotel back to its 5 star glory it once was but, for now I will be spending my money elsewhere in Sun City. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Beautiful Hotel Let Down By IT Department

Jun 10, 2024 EddieOnTour Waterford, Ireland

Stunning hotel. In general staff were excellent. Rooms were very spacious bathrooms well appointed. Had to run hot water for 5mins before we got hot water in the mornings and late evenings. Breakfast was very very good and in a stunning restaurant/setting. Service throughout was also very good. What totally ruined our stay was the IT… Read more
Stunning hotel. In general staff were excellent. Rooms were very spacious bathrooms well appointed. Had to run hot water for 5mins before we got hot water in the mornings and late evenings. Breakfast was very very good and in a stunning restaurant/setting. Service throughout was also very good. What totally ruined our stay was the IT department. We have a TV box which we have taken everywhere in the world, and it gives us access to our local TV. It initially worked via a VPN then after 1-1/2hrs it was blocked. I removed the VPN and continued watching TV then after an hour that was blocked. I checked my phone, and it was also blocked. Called reception and they advised they would advise the IT Department. 3hrs later someone from the IT Dept. arrived at our room. He advised that they had done a reset and the system worked again. Unfortunately this was only for 1-1/2hrs and then all our devices were blocked again. I called Reception and they advised that they would let IT Department know. Three hours later I called Reception and asked if anyone was going to come and sort out our internet issue. I was told that there are many guests in the hotel and IT Department would deal with our issue when they had time. I said this is supposed to be a 5-star hotel surely, they could offer a better service than that and was told you'll just have to wait. We never had internet again for the rest of the day. The following day I went down to reception and asked to speak with the manager. He was very sympathetic to our issues and said he would take care of it. I explained that I couldn't even use my phone for WhatsApp calls. The manager did take care of it however it only lasted 1-1/2hrs and then we were back to no internet on all our devices. Fortunately, I had a spare phone with Vodafone sim card, and I used that to hot-spot our main phones to get internet access. We never got hotel internet for the rest of our stay. Our experience at reception when asking for assistance to solve the internet problem was very disappointing and felt we were just brushed off and were an inconvenience. The manager did sort out the issue, but this was just temporary. There was no follow up to see if we had any further issues. Based on our experience we both agreed we wouldn't stay in this hotel again as it had the worst customer service of the nine 5-star hotels we stayed in. It also felt that the hotel and guests and front desk reported to the IT department. Read less