We’ve all grown up watching those flashy American and European shows, people getting wild in places that look like adult amusement parks.
Fast cars, bright lights, and just the right amount of mischief. For many of us, one city stood out: Las Vegas.
The “entertainment capital of the world.”
Or, as it’s famously called, Sin City.
It’s got the biggest casino hotels, shows that never sleep, and more neon lights than your eyes can handle. No surprise that about 40 million people visit every year.
And of course, we’ve all heard the line: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
But not for Sol Kerzner.
After a visit to Vegas, Sol decided he wasn’t leaving all that fun behind. He was taking it with him, straight to South Africa.
Sol’s Grand Gamble
Sol Kerzner was born in 1935 to Russian Jewish immigrants who ran a small hotel chain. By the early ’60s, Sol had taken over the family business, and in 1969, teamed up with South African Breweries to create Southern Sun Hotels.
But Sol wasn’t content running hotels. He wanted a kingdom. A place with casinos, golf courses, water parks, clubs, cinemas, restaurants, and even a congress centre. A mini-city.
There was just one problem.
At the time, South Africa didn’t allow gambling or that kind of entertainment.
So Sol pulled a legal rabbit out of the apartheid government’s hat: he set up shop in Bophuthatswana, one of the so-called \"independent homelands\" for Black South Africans.
These areas weren’t recognised internationally, but they operated separately from South Africa's laws, meaning Sol could build his Vegas there.
And that’s how Sun City was born.
Just a couple of hours from Johannesburg and Pretoria, it quickly became the playground for South Africa’s wealthy.
But here’s the kicker: Black South Africans weren’t allowed in.
Yep. Sun City was built inside a Black-designated territory under apartheid… but Black people couldn’t enjoy it. The irony writes itself.
The Palace and the Legends Who Played There
Sol wanted this place to feel legendary, so he hired architect Trishia Wilson to design a hotel that would blow minds. She came up with The Palace of the Lost City, inspired by the mythical “Lost City of Kalahari”, a local tale of a forgotten African kingdom swallowed by time.
Sun City didn’t just serve luxury; it served music, too.
The complex had a massive concert venue, but this was during the height of apartheid, and the United Nations had issued a global cultural boycott. Artists were urged not to perform in South Africa.
Sol had other plans.
He offered top-dollar deals to performers. So good, some couldn’t say no. The Beach Boys, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Boney M, and even Frank Sinatra showed up.
American artists mostly got away with it. But when Queen performed in 1984, all hell broke loose. British media slammed them. They were fined by their musicians’ union and even landed on a United Nations blacklist. Yikes.
Queen’s response? “We play to anyone who wants to listen. We’re not political.”
That didn’t fly with everyone. In 1985, 49 musicians, including Bruce Springsteen and Run-D.M.C., came together as Artists United Against Apartheid, releasing a protest album called Sun City. It raised over a million dollars for anti-apartheid efforts and became a soundtrack for resistance.
Meanwhile, Michael Jackson visited and loved his suite so much, he kept suggesting ways to “make it even more magical.” Classic MJ.
Splash, Safari, and a Million Dollars
Outside the Palace, two championship golf courses designed by South African legend Gary Player keep fans swinging. They’ve hosted some of Africa’s biggest tournaments and are often compared to courses designed by the likes of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
For kids (and kids at heart), there’s The Valley of the Waves, an aquatic park with artificial waves, lazy rivers, and slides galore. It’s still one of the largest in the world.
And if you want something wilder? The entire resort sits on the edge of Pilanesberg National Park, which means you can finish brunch and go on safari in the same afternoon.
Sun City is still alive and thriving today. It hosts beauty pageants like Miss South Africa, concerts in its famous Super Bowl Arena, and even Africa’s largest poker competition- The Million Dollar Tournament.
So hey, when your pockets are feeling heavy and you're ready for an experience that mixes safari, luxury, and a little sin…
You know where to go.
Feel free to blow it all in a week!
Just don’t blame us if what happens in Sun City doesn’t stay there.
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