T
aking a right at the next T-Junction we
continued rolling out on the R512 towards Brits
and Sun City, then joined the N4 freeway for a
short fast sprint towards Modderfontein, taking
the R556 exit for the long straight to Sun City.
When I say straight I mean straight and I have
photographic evidence to prove it! But the roads
are excellent, a pleasure with immaculate road
surface. The traffic was well behaved. We paid
particular attention when riding through more
built up areas, where there were pedestrians,
taxis and the usual African eyebrow raisers, all
we had to do was sit back and enjoy the ride. On
either side of us the vast landscape was almost
ironed flat with dotted shrubs sprouting out of
the green and yellow grass. Smiling to see a
typical African scene of an un-fenced herd of
cattle lying in the red dirt at the side of the road, I
was tempted to stop and take a photograph but
thought it best not to disturb the large creature's
seemingly tranquil aura. The happy golden glow
of sunflower fields stretched out into the
distance.
Straight, straight road, 30 kilometers from Sun
City and little sign of the endless flatness. Then
suddenly, there in the distance, the Pilansberg
rose up like a proud mushroom! The Pilansberg is
an ancient volcanic structure: a result of
eruptions 1,200 million years ago. Formed by 3
concentric ridges there are few similar volcanic
structures in the world and rare rock types,
minerals and formations make it a unique
geological feature. The Pilansberg Game
Reserve is also situated here. Bordering with Sun
City the reserve has various scattered sites
originating
from both the Iron and Stone Age. The 6,000
animals in the park include all the big five as well
as cheetahs, sable antelope and caracal.
Importantly, the Pilansberg National Park, like
95% of South Africa, is a malaria free zone.
Malaria only occurs in the very low lying areas of
South Africa bordering Maputo in Mozambique
because the female Anopheles mosquito which
transmits the disease cannot survive in the
journey up the escarpment or further much
South because of the colder weather there.
Feeling rather excited arriving at the front gate of
Sun City we had to take those photographs well
known to all bikers - bike, background, different
angles. As we rolled up to the ticket window the
attendant cheerfully informed us that on
Sundays motorbikes are free. It was Saturday.
Exchanging a glance through our helmets we
shook our heads at our luck, shrugged our
shoulders, paid and rode on. Riding our bikes,
exploring the little roads, we saw the entrance to
the golf course, varying accommodations, the
Game Reserve entrance and one of the beautiful
bronze statues by Danie de Jager. This impressive
statue features six double life sized impala
chased by two cheetahs. Eyeing all the different
nationalities as I stood there I remembered a fact
that I read about Sun City: 25,000 people visit the
entertainment centre every day. There is so much
to offer here. As well as the glamorous casinos
and safaris there are theatre extravaganzas,
gourmet restaurants, horse riding, para sailing
and of course the Valley of the Waves.