Sun City and Pilanesberg

Sun City, around two hours’ drive from Johannesburg, is a resort built for fun: the Valley of Waves water park with its wave pool and slides, golf courses, a casino, and the fantasy-style Palace of the Lost City, reached across the Bridge of Time, where a mock earthquake rumbles at set times.

Right next door, Pilanesberg National Park fills the crater of a long-extinct volcano. It is home to the Big Five and is malaria-free, which makes it a favourite with families who want a safari without the longer journey to Kruger. Morning and evening game drives leave from the resort.

Two or three nights here make a good add-on to a Johannesburg stay. Summer, from October to April, is the best time for the water park.