Pool day passes in Sun City
Sun City's Valley of Waves day visitor ticket costs R415 to R470 (about $23 to $26 USD), with water slides, a lazy river, and an R80 food voucher included.
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Sun City doesn't work like most day-pass destinations on this site. It's a single gated resort owned entirely by Sun International, with four hotels, The Cabanas, Cascades, Soho Hotel & Casino, and The Palace of the Lost City, sitting inside one fenced complex.
None of them sell an individual pool day pass. The only way in as a non-guest is the resort-wide Valley of Waves Day Visitor Ticket, which covers the water park rather than any single hotel's pool.
The ticket runs R415 per adult on weekdays and R470 on weekends and public holidays (about $23 to $26 USD), with a discounted rate for children aged 3 to 12. It includes entry to Valley of Waves, the resort's wave pool and lazy river complex, plus an R80 food and beverage voucher redeemable inside the resort.
Tickets are sold only through TicketPro in advance, not at the gate, and daily allocation is capped. The Palace of the Lost City's private Grand Pool is reserved for hotel guests only and isn't included in the Day Visitor ticket, so don't expect access to it on a day trip.
- Valley of Waves Day Visitor Ticket — R415 to R470 (about $23 to $26 USD), the only way to visit Sun City's pools without a hotel booking
Planning a trip to Sun City? Here are the tools I use and recommend:
How much does a pool day pass in Sun City cost?
There's one price to know, and it depends on the day of the week. Weekday tickets are cheaper, and weekend or public holiday tickets carry a markup across the board.
| Hotel | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Valley of Waves Day Visitor Ticket (weekday) | R415 adult / R305 child (about $23 / $17 USD) | Cheapest entry, Monday to Friday |
| Valley of Waves Day Visitor Ticket (weekend) | R470 adult / R370 child (about $26 / $21 USD) | Only option on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays |
Can non-guests visit Sun City for the day?
Yes, but access is gated tighter than a typical resort. Sun City only admits non-guests who fall into one of four categories: hotel or Sun Vacation Club bookings, MVG loyalty members, confirmed golf bookings, or holders of a pre-purchased Valley of Waves Day Visitor Ticket. There's no walk-up gate ticket for casual visitors, and the resort caps how many Day Visitor tickets it releases each day.
Do I need to book Valley of Waves tickets in advance?
Yes. Valley of Waves Day Visitor Tickets are sold exclusively through TicketPro at suncity.ticketproshop.co.za, not at the resort gate. Daily allocation is limited, and tickets can sell out on weekends and during school holidays, so booking a few days ahead is worth it if you have a specific date in mind.
Where to stay in Sun City
There's no town outside the gates, so where you stay means picking among Sun City's own four hotels. Families and budget-conscious visitors tend to book The Cabanas, the most affordable base and a relaxed spot for exploring the water park. Travelers who want more polish without Palace-level prices go with Cascades, a five-star hotel with garden and golf-course views, or Soho Hotel, set right in the middle of the action next to the casino.
For a splurge, The Palace of the Lost City is the resort's flagship: 25 hectares of botanical gardens and Leading Hotels of the World status, built to be a destination on its own rather than just a place to sleep.
If you're pairing a Sun City visit with a safari, a lodge in neighboring Pilanesberg National Park, about ten minutes' drive away, is a common alternative to staying inside the resort itself.
Valley of Waves Day Visitor Ticket
Valley of Waves is Sun City's water park, built into the resort's landscaped grounds below The Palace of the Lost City. The centerpiece is a wave pool that generates two-meter swells, alongside a lazy river, a network of water slides, and a designated children's area with lifeguards on duty throughout the day.
The Day Visitor Ticket costs R415 per adult on weekdays and R470 on weekends and public holidays (about $23 to $26 USD), with children aged 3 to 12 paying R305 weekday or R370 weekend (about $17 to $21 USD). It includes resort entry, full access to Valley of Waves, an R80 food and beverage voucher, and free entry to The Maze, a hedge maze elsewhere on the grounds. Towels and umbrellas rent separately at the water park.
Tickets are sold only in advance through TicketPro, never at the resort gate, and the daily quota is limited, so tickets can run out on peak weekends. The ticket doesn't include access to any hotel's private pool. The Palace of the Lost City's Grand Pool, in particular, stays reserved for its own guests regardless of Day Visitor status.
Book direct: suncity.ticketproshop.co.za
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>> Click here for info and current pricing <<Frequently asked questions
Can I use The Palace of the Lost City's pool with a Day Visitor ticket?
No. The Palace's Grand Pool is reserved exclusively for hotel guests. The Valley of Waves Day Visitor Ticket only covers the water park, not any of the four hotels' private pools.
Is the Valley of Waves ticket worth it for young children?
Yes, for most families. The water park has a designated children's area with lifeguards, and kids aged 3 to 12 pay a reduced rate (R305 weekday, R370 weekend). Children under 2 enter free.
Is Valley of Waves open year-round?
It's open most of the year, with a few scheduled closures for special events, including early August and early December 2026. Check the Sun International website for exact dates before booking if you're planning a trip around those periods.
More pool day passes near Sun City
For a more typical hotel-pool day pass experience in South Africa, Cape Town and Johannesburg both have multiple hotels selling individual pool access to non-guests, with prices from R300. If you'd rather compare a similar single-ticket, park-style day pass elsewhere, Ischia runs on the same model, one ticket, one gated attraction, rather than a menu of competing hotels.