South African safari

Sun City
If you want a change of pace, though, the North West Province has just as much high life as wild life. Halfway between Madikwe and Jo'burg is Sun City - the Las Vegas of South Africa. This is a fantasy city built on a heroic scale - it even has its own mythology of an ancient civilisation of unimaginable wealth destroyed by an earthquake. Its 'remains' include gigantic elephant statues, a smoking mock volcano, the Palace (now a five-star hotel of staggering opulence) and - far from the sea - a perfect sandy beach with 1.8-metre high waves, death-defying water slides, waterfalls and rainforests.

This outdoor paradise is just a short walk over the Bridge of Time to the Lost City Entertainment Centre, complete with star-studded spectaculars, cinemas, glamorous casinos and games arcades. There is plenty of sport, too, from golf to horse riding and every kind of water sport. And, if you still hear the call of the wild, you can take a ten-minute shuttle bus ride to the Pilanesberg National Park, situated inside a vast, ancient - and this time, real - volcano and one of the best places in South Africa to see hippos.

Health tip
Though the Madikwe is malaria-free, it still nonetheless has mosquitoes. Remember to take mosquito repellent and to cover up at dawn and dusk when they are at their most active. Whatever time of year you go, take plenty of high factor sunscreen, too, as even in the winter, the African sun is very strong.

Information
Anna and Christian travelled with Steppes Africa
Tel 01285 650011
Fax 01285 885888
E-mail safari@steppesafrica.co.uk