By Gavin Prins
A weekend breakaway was needed to celebrate a special family birthday. We are the home away from home type of holidaymakers. So, a few options came to mind. But Sun City’s Lefika Luxury Villas ticked all the boxes. To my family, all I mentioned was luxury and, instantly, they said YES!
Sun City was built in 1979 when I was two years old. While I have always been a city guy, something always takes me back to the Valley of Waves, to The Palace Hotel, to a vision created by the legendary Sol Kerzner. What is impressive is the continuous innovation created by the resort’s current owners. Say hello to Sun Vacation Club’s new baby – Lefika luxury villas on a hill overlooking the resort and the towers of The Palace Hotel.
Lefika means stone in Setswana and is inspired by the nearby stone-walled Itlholanoga heritage site.
Okay, enough background. Let me get into it. As we arrive at a four-bedroom villa, the last one located on the hill, the thick natural stone walls, futuristic designs, and roof slab overhangs blow us away. This place screams luxury.
You walk into an open-plan room with a state-of-the-art kitchen with essentials, including a double-door fridge, dishwasher, and even a Nespresso machine. Yes, please. A long dining table divides the kitchen from the TV area. The flatscreen TV hangs on a stone wall. Next to it, a closed-combustion fireplace and an L-shaped couch. As in any modern home, there is always WiFi.
The colour scheme is natural, with interior art, wallpaper and a hand-blown glass pendant light hanging from the ceiling. One guest bedroom with an ensuite is downstairs. This has been designed for mobility impaired in mind… those in wheelchairs or grandparents.
Outside, oh wait, let’s go upstairs first. The main bedroom is in the middle, with a huge balcony overlooking the valley. Two ensuite bedrooms are on either side of the main. A massive study desk with plug points and a washing machine complete the upstairs.
Two sliding doors open to the outside entertainment area. One large table is located next to the braai area (wood and firelighters were already placed there for us), a sitting area, a heated splash pool, and a boma area.
It was time for activities. The Segway is an hour-long activity where you ride (drive?) a Segway. Don’t worry. They take about 20 minutes to train you. About two minutes into the group driving, I ended up in a ditch, losing my balance. Some stranger made a U-turn and rushed to the Segway office to alert them. Within minutes, a guide was there who assured me it was not my inability to ride the Segway, but the battery was flat.
We drove the Segways through the breathtaking golf course. Next up, the jump park. Our 21-year-old bounced while playing basketball, while the 11-year-old just jumped until she got tired. The day ended with ten-pin bowling in the entertainment centre before returning to the villa.
You are encouraged to leave your car at the villa and take one of Sun City’s minibuses (free of charge), but the wait can be irritating for some.
Lefika Villas is a MUST for anyone who wants to enjoy luxury away from their luxury. Book now at www.suninternational.com or the Sun City app. IB



Did you know?
Sun City was built on a now-extinct volcanic site among the Pilanesberg mountains.