Sun City is where a golf trip becomes a South African escape. Set against the Pilanesberg hills two and a half hours from Johannesburg, this is one of the country’s most complete resort destinations – championship golf by day, Big Five game drives at dawn, and a resort built for downtime in between.

The Gary Player Country Club has hosted the Nedbank Golf Challenge for decades and remains one of the toughest tests in African golf, while the Lost City Course – complete with its infamous crocodile-guarded 13th – offers a more playful companion round. Beyond the fairways, Pilanesberg National Park sits on the doorstep, making this the rare destination where clients can play a world-class course in the morning and track lion, elephant and rhino by afternoon.

THE GOLF

• Gary Player Country Club: Championship links, host of the Nedbank Golf Challenge

The Lost City Course

• Dramatic, resort-style golf through man-made jungle

BEYOND THE FAIRWAY

• Pilanesberg’s game drives, spa downtime at the resort, and family-friendly attractions like the Valley of Waves round out a stay that works equally well for solo travellers, couples and corporate groups.