The Kalahari Resort within the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania is the very best waterpark resort that we now have visited. If you’re contemplating a keep, learn on for our full Kalahari Poconos evaluation!
Strolling into the Kalahari Resort and waterpark within the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania is a bit like getting into an African-themed Disney resort, or a huge model of the Rainforest Cafe. I saved ready for the animals scattered all through the huge foyer to come back to life (however they don’t.)
On this final theme resort for households, they don’t miss a chance to hold ahead the African theme, or an opportunity that will help you half with somewhat more cash. However don’t fear, it’s a cashless resort and every little thing is charged to your account utilizing your handy-dandy wristband so that you received’t really feel the ache till take a look at. Even a cynic like me couldn’t assist however be impressed.
We stopped on the Kalahari for a day of “relaxation and leisure” after a really busy two-week street journey via Virginia. I exploit the time period relaxation and leisure very loosely since whereas this was a day of enjoyable for the baby, I don’t discover supervising a waterpark go to or visiting any such Vegas-like resort in any respect stress-free. However I felt that after all of the historical past and actions we jammed packed into our street journey, a day of pure child enjoyable would make an ideal pitstop to interrupt up the final leg of our journey.
Kalahari Poconos Assessment
Word: Our keep was hosted by Kalahari Resorts to facilitate our evaluation, all opinions are our personal.
Straight away I used to be blown away by the scale of the Kalahari Poconos resort, particularly when dragging our baggage down the lengthy hall to our room. When we now have stayed on the Nice Wolf Lodge previously, I at all times felt like one or two nights was greater than sufficient, however I may simply see protecting busy longer than that on the Kalahari.
The Kalahari additionally feels prefer it has extra to attraction to teenagers and adults…from the spa to the swim up bar to the out of doors treetop journey course. However learn on as I break down the eating, actions, lodging, and, in fact, the water park.
Kalahari Resort Eating & Outlets
The Kalahari Resort has every little thing you should hold you entertained, fed, clothed, and even pampered. In terms of household pleasant eating, there are a big selection of choices. For informal snacks, there’s The Final Chunk ice cream and sweet store, the Java Manjaro espresso store, and Mandazi Donuts, which serves up scorching, recent mini donuts.
Informal eating consists of the Cafe Mirage meals courtroom, Nice Karoo Market Buffet, Pizza Pub, B-Lux Grill & Bar, and the waterpark snack bars, together with the swim-up Thirsty Turtle bar.
The signature eating expertise is at Double Reduce Steakhouse, which gives steak and seafood and even reside leisure. For extra choices, there’s additionally Sortino’s Italian Kitchen and Cinco Niños Mexican restaurant.
We opted for Italian and I’ve to say that my rooster piccata was underwhelming, as was Hannah’s mediocre cavatappi pasta marinara. I see why many households convey their very own coolers of meals and microwave one thing within the room when staying on the resort. However for those who select this route, simply remember that no exterior meals or drink is allowed into the waterpark.
If you’re seeking to buy a memento or swimsuit, there are many choices. We had enjoyable poking via the Kalahari Outpost and Indigo Swimwear for high-quality clothes choices, easy t-shirts, and stuffed animal souvenirs. It’s good to know that even for those who neglect one thing, it is possible for you to to seek out what you want with out leaving the resort.
Kalahari Poconos Actions
It’s good that the Kalahari isn’t all in regards to the waterpark. The Spa Kalahari and Salon supplies physique remedies, massages, skincare, nail care and hair providers. It additionally gives a moist remedy room with a dry sauna, a Chromotherapy Steam Room, Halotherapy Salt Room, whirlpool, spa-specific out of doors pool, forehead & lash bar, and stress-free lounge area.
We didn’t have time to make the most of the spa, but it surely was good to see that they do have some “junior” providers too, like manicures, pedicures, and facials. If we had extra time, this could have been a pleasant technique to unwind after the waterpark. My husband would have been joyful that the Kalahari has a 24-hour health room.
In fact, we couldn’t keep away from a go to to the Massive Recreation Room — since it’s important to stroll proper via the arcade to get to the waterpark. The Kalahari arcade was similar to what we skilled on the Nice Wolf Lodge. They use a cashless system to make it simple to load and go (and carry on spending!)
Along with the numerous arcade video games, there’s a mini bowling alley, blacklight mini golf, a 7-D Movement Theater, and now, even two Escape Rooms.
In the summertime, Kalahari brings a number of the enjoyable exterior on the Gorilla Grove Treetop Adventures. Open seasonally, the ropes course gives 87 components together with tightropes, swinging log steps, shifting platforms, rope internet climbs, tunnels, hanging posts, and zip traces. There may be additionally a quad zip line, the place 4 buddies or relations can race towards one another. You possibly can mix the ropes course and the zip line or simply do one or the opposite.
Understand that the ropes course, zip traces, and new out of doors Legends of the Misplaced Jungle mini golf can be found for an extra price. Additionally, individuals of the ropes course and zip traces should be a minimum of 4 – 7 years outdated and 36″ to 44″ tall for the kids’s course, and seven years outdated and 44″ tall for the grownup programs and twin zip traces.
Kalahari Resort Assessment: Lodging
The African theme continues into the Kalahari visitor rooms, with the liberal use of African prints and artwork. The rooms themselves are pretty easy because the foremost motion is downstairs, however nonetheless comfortably appointed.
Whereas the Kalahari gives one- and two-bedroom suites, and even a room with bunk beds, we stayed in the usual Desert Room with two queen beds and a queen-sized sleeper couch. The room included a small fridge and microwave, for those who wish to hold drinks and snacks within the room. One in every of my favourite options was the free WiFi all through the resort (even the water park!)
The one factor I didn’t like in regards to the room was the tub structure. I’m usually not a fan of bogs the place the sink and self-importance is exterior of the lavatory, however often, these are a minimum of behind a wall to reduce noise and light-weight for sleeping children. In our room, the sink and self-importance have been related to the counter with the microwave in the primary room. It was far more disruptive than a typical arrange and I’d prefer to hold toilet germs away from my meals prep space.
Kalahari Waterpark Assessment
In fact, the primary cause to come back to the Kalahari Resort is the indoor water park. After current journeys to the Nice Wolf Lodge, Kahuna Laguna on the Crimson Jacket Resort, and Water Nation USA, Hannah was psyched to go to the Kalahari and see the most important indoor water park. Since I’m not as thrilled about water slides, I used to be a bit extra trepidatious. When strolling in I used to be relieved to see a really giant “Splash Down Safari” space with slides that have been enjoyable, however not scary…together with dumping buckets and different splash areas.
Households with toddlers may even be thrilled with the toddler and preschool areas. For all of the water parks we’ve been to, I’ve by no means seen somewhat child space as cute or as giant. There are welcoming giraffes, elephants spurting water, tiny slides, a big splash pad, and even toddler swings.
In fact, there are additionally sufficient “huge” slides to fulfill the older children and thrill seekers — after which some! The Anaconda twists and turns up excessive, earlier than splashing down. On the opposite facet of the park are slides just like the Wild Wildebeest, the Rippling Rhino, Zimbabwe Zipper, and the Barreling Baboon.
We gave the Rippling Rhino a number of tries and Hannah cherished it, however its early quick acceleration made my coronary heart race. I positively was NOT up for the Tanzanian Tornado, which culminates in a vortex earlier than flushing you out right into a pool under.
Judging by the individuals we watched, you might be often dumped out head first in order that was a giant “no thanks” for me! If Hannah had a braver buddy alongside, I’m certain she would have fortunately tried many of the slides however she didn’t like going it alone.
As an alternative, she spent more often than not within the Splashdown Safari, stress-free within the lazy river, and soaking within the big indoor/out of doors scorching tub. There may be a lot to do within the waterpark it was laborious to depart. There may be the water basketball space, the FlowRider, the out of doors swimming pools, and even swim-up bars. The dimensions of the drink glasses on the swim-up bar is a bit regarding as I’m undecided big drinks and supervising children in a waterpark can be a nice combo.
We have been there mid-week and it wasn’t crowded in any respect, however if you’d like somewhat extra privateness they do supply cabana leases. There are additionally loads of rental lockers accessible to soundly stow your stuff whereas on the rides.
Since you could have full entry to the waterpark till it closes, even after you could have checked out, you possibly can spend the entire day on the waterpark. They’ve giant locker rooms for altering earlier than you permit. The one draw back is that the bathe room is large open, with no privateness curtains.
It wasn’t in any respect what we have been anticipating, particularly when a mother with a younger boy got here in. So we shortly showered in our fits and used the curtained altering rooms to get into our road garments for the drive residence.
We had a blast and I used to be very impressed. If your loved ones likes waterparks or resorts just like the Nice Wolf Lodge, I’d advocate giving the Kalahari Resort within the Poconos a strive.
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