Property

The mega-resort next to Sun City named one of the best in the world

Kirsten Minnaar • 30 September 2026

The Kingdom Resort, a large holiday destination located five minutes from Sun City, was named South Africa’s Leading Family Resort at the 2026 World Travel Awards.

The prize was announced at the World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony in Zanzibar on 23 September 2026.

Located in the Pilanesberg area of the North West, the Kingdom Resort is part of the Beekman Group, which operates across 40 destinations in five countries.

Beekman Group also received two other World Travel Awards at the 2026 event:

Cayley Mountain Resort in KwaZulu-Natal was named South Africa’s Leading Lifestyle Resort
San Martinho Beach Club in Mozambique was named Mozambique’s Leading Family Resort

Cayley Mountain Resort has now won South Africa’s Leading Lifestyle Resort category for five consecutive years.

San Martinho Beach Club has also recorded five consecutive wins in the Mozambique’s Leading Family Resort category.

Beekman Group executive director Wayne Beekman said the awards recognise both the resorts and the people responsible for running them.

“To receive three World Travel Awards across three very different destinations is an incredibly proud achievement for everyone at the Beekman Group,” he said.

Beekman Group was also named KZN Top Brand 2026 at the KZN Top Business Awards in July.

Beekman explained that the latest awards reflect the group’s long-standing focus on hospitality.

“Hospitality is about making people feel welcome, cared for and at home, wherever in the world they may be,” he said.

He said the group has been welcoming holidaymakers for more than five decades and that many families return to its destinations over several generations.

The Kingdom Resort

The Kingdom Resort is designed as a family-focused holiday destination combining resort facilities with access to the wildlife and attractions of Pilanesberg.

The resort is located five minutes from Sun City and a two-hour drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria. This gives visitors access to both the resort itself and the attractions in the surrounding area.

Guests can visit Sun City’s Valley of Waves, Water World and casino, the Predator World Big Cat Experience, and the Pilanesberg National Park.

The resort also has its own game reserve and offers game drives and a Rare Game Experience.

This game drive focuses on some of the less common species found in southern Africa, including rare colour variants of antelope and wildebeest.

The Kingdom Resort also offers a range of other activities, including adventure golf, archery, bumper boats, a bungee catapult, a climbing wall, an outdoor cinema, and a waterpark.

There are also swimming pools, including a dedicated children’s pool, a trampoline, a jumping pillow, a playground, and a jungle gym.

Guests can hire bicycles, take part in volleyball and outdoor table tennis, or use the resort’s padel facilities. The resort offers quad-bike game drives, a Body Bliss Day Spa, and activities through LEAP Adventures.

Food and drinks are catered for through several outlets, including Acacia Terrace Café, a restaurant, a snack bar, a bar, and Jungle Bar and Lounge. The resort also has a boma and braai facilities.

The Kingdom Resort offers a range of accommodation options, including self-catering units where guests can prepare their own meals.

Basic amenities include towels, linen, selected DStv channels, and WiFi hotspots. A shuttle to Sun City is also available.