The Palace of the Lost City

Sun City, North West Province

Star 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, stands as a central feature of the resort and provides endless fun for all 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

326 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.

Please note: The Valley of Waves will be closed every year for a month between May and July for annual maintenance.

 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

  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Location 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 (1739)
  • Very good (578)
  • Average (299)
  • Poor (159)
  • Terrible (155)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Wonderful Pianist at The Palace

Aug 27, 2025 Paradise56478624395

During our stay at The Palace of the Lost City, one of the true highlights was the beautiful live piano music in the Crystal Court, performed by the wonderfully talented Mr. Robert. Each morning, his playing created a refined and magical atmosphere, adding something truly special to the experience of being at the Palace. Beyond his artistry, Mr.… Read more
During our stay at The Palace of the Lost City, one of the true highlights was the beautiful live piano music in the Crystal Court, performed by the wonderfully talented Mr. Robert. Each morning, his playing created a refined and magical atmosphere, adding something truly special to the experience of being at the Palace. Beyond his artistry, Mr. Robert’s kindness left a lasting impression. He graciously welcomed our young children to the grand piano, allowing them not only to play alongside him but also taking the time to show them a few new tricks. It was a generous and thoughtful gesture that turned a lovely moment into a treasured memory for our kids. Thank you, Mr. Robert, for sharing your music and warmth with such grace. You make the Palace feel all the more enchanting with every stay. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Stunning Hotel, but a Bit Impersonal

Aug 25, 2025 CAMCO79 Manchester, United Kingdom

We recently stayed at the Palace of the Lost City in Sun City, a property that is undoubtedly grand in scale and impressive in design. From the moment you approach the hotel, you’re struck by the sense of grandeur – towering pillars, vast open spaces, and a feeling of opulence that sets it apart from many other resorts. However, while it certainly… Read more
We recently stayed at the Palace of the Lost City in Sun City, a property that is undoubtedly grand in scale and impressive in design. From the moment you approach the hotel, you’re struck by the sense of grandeur – towering pillars, vast open spaces, and a feeling of opulence that sets it apart from many other resorts. However, while it certainly makes an impression, I found the experience a little more impersonal than I would have hoped for. The hotel is enormous, which naturally comes with some challenges. On more than one occasion, when returning from a day out, we were asked if we were checking in. While I appreciate the size of the resort means staff see a high turnover of guests, it did make the experience feel less personal, and more like we were simply one of many rather than valued individuals. Staff overall did try to be helpful, and there were some standout touches. For example, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a complimentary bottle of prosecco, which was a thoughtful gesture. Lesley, who provided foot massages by the pool, was particularly lovely – warm, friendly, and clearly passionate about giving guests a relaxing experience. Interactions like this stood out and made a difference. That said, not everything ran smoothly. One odd issue we encountered was with the in-room television, which still displayed the bill of the previous guests. While not a major problem, it was a little unsettling and suggested that attention to detail could be improved. Breakfast, too, while plentiful in choice, felt rather disorganised. There was no shortage of food, but the flow of service and overall atmosphere made it feel busy and lacking the finesse you would expect from a hotel of this calibre. Another disappointment was the closure of the famous Bridge of Time (often referred to as the “erupting bridge”), one of the resort’s signature attractions. We had really looked forward to experiencing it, and unfortunately only discovered it was closed for maintenance when we arrived. It would have been helpful if the hotel had informed us beforehand, as this feature is a drawcard for many visitors. Despite these hiccups, the hotel itself is undeniably impressive, and for some travellers, the sheer scale, grandeur, and facilities will be exactly what they are looking for. There are plenty of amenities on-site, and it makes a convenient base to explore Sun City. However, for us, the lack of personalisation, the occasional organisational issue, and the overall sense of being part of a vast machine rather than an individual guest meant it wasn’t quite the fit we had hoped for. In summary, our stay was okay – there were some nice touches, and it’s certainly a beautiful property – but it fell short of delivering the level of warmth and individual attention that would make me eager to return. If I were to visit again, I would probably limit it to just one night for the experience, or alternatively, consider a smaller, more personal hotel where the service feels more tailored and intimate. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Could be much better

Aug 14, 2025 VonVintlo Johannesburg, South Africa

The staff are super friendly and check-in was quick… but. Our luggage took over an hour to get to our rooms, the carpets need a deep-clean. Rooms are good size, and large bathrooms with separate shower and bath. The shower doesn’t have a hand shower though. The shower water temperature is not constant and swings between cold and scorching hot. The… Read more
The staff are super friendly and check-in was quick… but. Our luggage took over an hour to get to our rooms, the carpets need a deep-clean. Rooms are good size, and large bathrooms with separate shower and bath. The shower doesn’t have a hand shower though. The shower water temperature is not constant and swings between cold and scorching hot. The heated pool is not heated. The gym is decent but no erg rowing machine. The breakfast was awesome for three mornings, however, the last morning my son got mouldy bread, and the Bircher Muesli was dried out, obviously from the previous day. Staying on the 8th floor and looking down, a lot of rubbish was left on lower rooftops. Also, the little guardhouse at the top of the steps to the royal baths is full of trash? The entrance to the hotel is beautiful and the parking is excellent. This hotel could do so much better. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Pianist Robert is fabulous!

Aug 14, 2025 Param G

Pianist Robert is a virtuoso improviser! He’s self-taught and generous to chat with guests about his musical experience, including a theory of music that is seemingly influenced by a South African flavor of unity. He even jammed with me a couple times during my stay at the Palace. Talk to him, he’s the most interesting, and needless to say… Read more
Pianist Robert is a virtuoso improviser! He’s self-taught and generous to chat with guests about his musical experience, including a theory of music that is seemingly influenced by a South African flavor of unity. He even jammed with me a couple times during my stay at the Palace. Talk to him, he’s the most interesting, and needless to say talented, person in the room! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Memorable Birthday Stay

Jul 8, 2025 PatBr55 Greater Johannesburg, South Africa

Lovely special birthday celebration for my mom. The hotel staff was very welcoming & ensured we were able to celebrate in style. Robert B Phiri elevated the atmosphere with his marvelous piano playing at the buffet dinner and at breakfast in the gorgeous Crystal Court. Such a special time for me and my family who were there!