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If your idea of a break away from the city looks like a few nights in a hotel, there’s The Palace, Cabanas, Cascades, and Sun City Hotel. Or if you prefer a few days in a self-catering unit that has you kicking back next to a swimming pool or braai at night, there’s something for every kind of traveller.
The most recent development to entice holidaymakers looking for a quick escape is Lefika Villas which we would describe as the luxury upgrade to a Vacation Club stay.
Opened at the end of 2023, the 48 three-bedroom and 10 four-bedroom villas are a great option for those who like the freedom and space of a self-catering unit but all the luxury trimmings of a five-star hotel.
We were invited for a weekend break earlier this year (May 2024) and found ourselves enjoying the idea of luxury self-catering. You can bring what makes you feel at home; settle into the comforts of a stylish unit that is serviced daily; light a braai fire at night and linger over a leisurely breakfast in the morning (or head down to the restaurant if that’s your thing); and spend your days either exploring the swimming pools, activities, and fun spots around the resort. Or simply kicking back as you please in your spacious unit.
Lefika means “stone” in Setswana, a fitting name given that the villas are built next to the stone-walled Itlholanoga heritage site which was once home to the Setswana people who lived here.
Built around the rocky peaks jutting out on this outcrop, the surrounding area is rugged, offering views over the resort. Our unit, perched on the edge of the Lefika Villa property, had a splendid, unobstructed view of The Palace offering hours of viewing pleasure at night with its flame-lit dome.
The interiors of the villas have been designed with natural materials front and centre, from stone exterior walls to wood trimmings that add a textured feel to an otherwise sleek interior.
Nespresso machines and coffee pods, refined glassware, and a large kitchen make mealtimes a treat. The large, downstairs, open-plan dining and lounge area that opens onto an outdoor patio with braai, table, and couches makes for a comfortable place to spend your days or evenings chatting, cooking, eating, or just relaxing.
Each of the bedrooms is en-suite and the finishings and design offer a significant upgrade from those in the standard Vacation Club units.
Plus, there are elements of local design like bead chandeliers from MASH-T Design Studio (a favourite of ours) and handblown pendant lights by the Glass Forming Academy. These add that extra touch to the décor that the crafts and cultural heritage of the North West Province has inspired. In the reception area, work by fine artists like Karla Nixon, Sue Martin, Mandisi Mncela, and Lesego Moncho continues the trend of showcasing local arts.
If you didn’t want to venture beyond, Lefika Villas has its own clubhouse and restaurant. But if the kids are feeling energetic and you want to explore the rest of the resort, dedicated Lefika Villa shuttles can be ordered with a phone call to reception to whisk you away to where you want to be. Or, you can take a short walk to the bus stop and hop aboard the buses that operate across the resort. A fun trick if the kids want to head out but the parents want to stay in.
The Valley of the Waves is always a big drawcard for visitors to Sun City. The beach loungers, water rides, and ice-cream afternoons harken to days spent at the beach – but this is in the heart of what is essentially bushveld, transformed by palm trees to create a lush tropical feel.
After lounging next to the valley, books splayed out before us and toes dipped in the occasional incoming wave, we thought we’d explore some of the activities on offer from Mankwe Game Trackers, settling on the quad biking experience.
Helmets intact and wearing our finest dust-friendly outfits, the hour-long track took us to the edge of a private game park in Sun City, which borders Pilansberg National Park. We spied zebra, impala, blue wildebeest, giraffe, and eland en route as we bopped up and down the rocky terrain. If you’re toying with the idea of doing some game viewing while here, it’s a fun alternative to going out on a game drive if you’re looking for some fresh air beyond the standard resort activities like rides at Waterworld, The Maze of The Lost City, and golf – a top attraction, of course. Our idea of the perfect balance is to round out a bit of off-roading with a treatment at the Gary Player Health Spa. But there’s lots to keep the whole family happy and entertained.
The three-bedroom villas can sleep eight by turning the couches downstairs into beds at night while the four-bedroom villas come with the added bonus of a private plunge pool and fire pit. If you’re looking for a comfortable holiday pad for the extended family or want to spend some time as a group of friends, a few nights here will do the trick.
Lefika Villas operates on the same timeshare principle as the Vacation Club. Membership starts from R58,590 per year for a flexi mid-week stay in a three-bedroom villa from Mon – Fri. Offers are for one holiday per year for the next 10 years. The four-bedroom villas are sold out. For more information, email sales.svc@suninternational.com or visit the website.
*We were invited to stay at Lefika Villas. The views expressed here are our own.
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