All photos are courtesy of tsogosun.com

It’s late on a Monday evening, and I’m siting on my enormous, comfortable bed, listening to the crickets and the silence outside in the African night. The lighting is soft -- after the turn down--and the room is a haven of soft, inviting peacefulness.

I am not in fact somewhere in remote, darkest Africa or on an Indian Ocean island. No. I am at the Southern Sun Silverstar Hotel and Casino, a mere 20-minute drive from the metropolis of Johannesburg in South Africa.

This place is almost the antithesis of what you would expect a busy 4-star hotel and casino to be. From the moment you enter, it exudes an ambience of tranquillity and class.

Since I was here the last time, almost two years ago, Tsogo Sun has invested a whopping $29.1 million in renovations of thee hotel and casino.

Designed to take advantage of the spectacular location of Silverstar, which is situated at the foothills of Roodekrans Ridge, the new development brings Silverstar into the open air, with leisure and entertainment facilities built around a large village square.

Entertainment deluxe 

Silverstar is now THE entertainment capital of the West Rand, with six cinemas, all boasting the latest technology 3D screens; a 12-lane bowling alley; four new restaurants surrounding a central square that can also be used for outdoor events; a large outdoor screen in the central square, featuring cutting edge technology; two additional restaurants inside the property (which brings the total number of restaurants to six); a unique beer garden; laser games; a refurbished casino; a large outdoor domed events arena; an upmarket indoor multipurpose events venue; and additional parking. They also feature world-class acts in the events arenas.

The Soulstice Spa, Silverstar Hotel, Steak restaurant, Centre Star Buffet and Black Cherry coffee shop all remained open throughout construction, with little or no impact on their operations, as I experienced the last time I was here.

Silverstar is a luxury, contemporary and exclusive 38-room hotel. The hotel is bright and cheerful and is a showcase of some of the most beautiful mosaic art deco. It sits alongside some of Gauteng's best tourists destinations. The Cradle of Mankind, Maropeng, the Sterkfontein and the Wonder Caves, The Lion Park as well as the Krugersdorp Game Reserves, bungee jumping, canopy tours and is situated only 15 minutes from Lanseria Airport. Other nearby activities include Ingwenya Glass, Gilroy's Brewery, hot air ballooning, fly fishing, as well as two golf courses within a 10 km radius.

We are quickly checked in upon arrival and offered fresh juice and snack while doing so. The colour scheme of the rooms are the same as I remember - cream, black and red with very sophisticated furnishings and fixtures. Each room has a balcony. The bathroom is huge with a state-of-the-art rainbow shower and oval bath. One gets the distinct feeling of being very far away from the city, surrounded by undulating hills with the colours of early summer and clear blue skies. I quickly catch up on my emails courtesy of the high-speed free WiFi access the hotel offers and then my friend Louise and I are off to explore.

Try your luck 

The casino features 812 slot machines and 22 tables, which are divided between the main floor, the smoking casino and Privé.

The main casino offers a dynamic mix of gaming products such as American Roulette, Black Jack, Texas Holdem Poker and Poker.

The Privé lounge offers VIP gamers a private space in which to enjoy the comforts of gaming. Inside the lounge is a bar with complimentary snacks and drinks.

We win a few straight games to our utter delight and surprise. Wisely we decide to call it quits after tallying up our handsome winnings and we head for dinner.

We have a lovely view of the huge plaza with its water fountains and lights display at the Vigour and Verve restaurant which serves simple yet very tasty dishes such as calamari tempura, rump steak, lamb shanks, fillet steak, crunchy salads, open sandwiches, unique butter chicken and chicken Dargyle pizzas, to name a few. The kitchen is open plan, which allows guests the opportunity to watch their food being prepared. One of the highlights of the well-designed space is the beautifully red wooden pizza oven which is rightfully emphasised in the front section of the kitchen.

The next morning breakfast offers more pleasures--not your run-of-the-mill soggy buffet scrambled eggs here, no, no! You’re are greeted with champagne and orange juice and then lamb chops, haddock with béchamel cheese sauce, fillet steak medallions with mushroom sauce and hash browns are served all off the menu. The buffet offers superb quality deli meats, cheese, yoghurts, cereal, fruits and a fantastic array of delicious pastries.

Before leaving I pop in to have a quick peek at the hotel’s Spa, the Soulstice Day Spa. The Spa offers a wide range of treatments, designed to give clients the ultimate experience in head-to-toe luxury and personalised attention.

Facilities include a flotation tank, Rasul chamber, heated jet spa pool, purifying steam room, sauna, outdoor swimming pool and relaxation area.

It is not surprising that this small hotel with a big heart is so popular and special. Visit Silverstar and you will see what I mean.

Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences. Combining an established heritage with a professional and energised approach, the group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 90 hotels in South Africa, Africa, UAE and Seychelles. Silverstar casino in Krugersdorp is one of the 3 casinos in the Gauteng province, including Montecasino in Fourways and Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park in Southern Johannesburg.

Contact: 

For more information contact Silverstar on +27 11 662 7300, visitwww.silverstarcasino.co.za or like Silverstar’s Facebook page to be kept in the know about what’s happening at Silverstar.

Follow them on Twitter: @SilverstarZA

Like them on Facebook: Silverstar Casino

Getting there - Flights 

Air China now operates three flights a week, code-sharing with SAA.

Flights from Beijing will depart at 23:15 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, arriving in Johannesburg at 07:55. Returning flights will depart Johannesburg at 11:50 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, arriving the following day in Beijing at 07:30.

Go to http://www.airchina.com/index.shtml