Sundown Country Estate

We enjoyed our short stay at this resort! Thabo was a great safari tour guide. John entertained my boys with activities around the resort.

The resort is situated in a quiet area, offering a peaceful retreat. It was clean, and the host was kind enough to allow us an early check-in. One of the highlights was the on-site restaurant—perfect for when you don’t feel like heading out. I’d highly recommend trying it. The chalets were spacious, providing plenty of room for everyone. The kids had their own beds, which was a big plus. However, I was disappointed that they didn’t provide basic essentials like water, tea, coffee, or sugar in the rooms—that was definitely a downside. On the bright side, you can enjoy a braai right outside your chalet and take a short walk to the waterpark for a refreshing dip. The presence of security guards also added to our sense of safety, making our stay even more comfortable.

I recently stayed at this property while visiting Pilanesberg and Sun City, and overall, it was a decent experience. The location is the standout feature—just 12-15 minutes from the Bakubung Gate of Pilanesberg National Park and the Sun City entrance. This made it very convenient for early morning game drives and exploring the nearby attractions. The property itself is definitely showing its age. While it is kept as clean as possible given its dated infrastructure, it’s clear that some updates would go a long way in enhancing the guest experience. Additionally, the hospitality service was slower than expected, which could be frustrating at times. That said, if you’re looking for a clean and budget-friendly option close to the area’s main attractions, this place does the job. Just be prepared to overlook its age and exercise a bit of patience with the service.

The accommodation was good, especially the customer service, which was great, and the menu options. However, coordination between reservations and restaurants needs to be improved. The rooms were advertised as inclusive of breakfast. However, the restaurant seems to operate with different information, which creates confusion and embarrassment.

Disappointing We drove from Johannesburg and arrive at about 1:30pm. Check in is at 3:00pm so we knew we might have to wait and were allowed to sit by the pool; we also took this opportunity to book two game drives with one being that afternoon. Sadly the pool was rather green and unappealing so we decided that we would not be making use of it (and worry that they have a water park under construction but cannot seem to properly maintain their pool). A drink and a chat later it was 3:00pm so we checked at the desk to see if our chalet was ready. The desk staff didn't know and had to call the manager. Our game drive was meant to be at 3:30pm so we really wanted to get into the chalet to put away food and unpack the car before leaving for three hours. Ten minutes later we were told our chalet was ready. When we arrived the staff were still cleaning but at least we could get the car unloaded. So while it all worked out it was rushed and not the best start. Our even game drive was great and our guide Tian was awesome. Nothing but praise for him! The next morning we had another game drive booked through the hotel at 5:30am. We arrive ten minutes early and no one was at the desk. The appointed time came and went and still no one. We found a security guard who called someone. At 6:00am still nothing and no staff. Finally someone arrived at 6:10am and had to make some calls. We were forgotten and woke up early for nothing. They put us on the 8:30am drive and offered us a cup of coffee. Not good.