With winter well and truly here, the sun may have lost some of is heat, but at the Wild Coast Sun, 24-hour summer fun is what they’re all about, writes Lorna King.
When the Wild Coast Sun opened its doors at the end of 1981, a kilometre from the KZN border in the then Transkei, one of its main attractions was the casino, offering South Africans the opportunity to take a break and try their luck at gambling legally.
Fast forward to 2022 and the Wild Coast Sun has mushroomed into a one-stop holiday resort offering families – from the young to the elderly – enough activities to keep their days and nights filled with fun, adventure, leisure and pleasure.
The weekend I visited the resort it rained most of the time, but that didn’t discourage visitors from making the most of the Wild Waves Water Park. If it’s adventure you’re after, these water ride attractions are sure to tick all the boxes. A nice touch was the “private space” with guaranteed shade and loungers one could book in advance.
But the outdoor water fun doesn’t stop there. The Riverside – based on the banks of the Umtamvuna River – offers amongst others, water-skiing, paddle boats, canoes, Wake Snake rides, and the ever-popular cruise up the river. With a full bar on board while chugging up the river, what a relaxing way to end the day.
The resort boasts two outdoor swimming pools (one for young children) and one indoor pool where you can enjoy cocktails and sundowners as you unwind before tucking into a buffet-style supper at Chico’s.
If watersports are not your thing, there are plenty of other options: horse riding on the beach taking in the sea air, quad biking tours, karting, Segway rides, tennis, lawn bowls, a guided beach walk to the Petrified Forest to see marine fossil beds which are actually fossilised logs embedded in rocks, and, of course, the 18-hole champion golf course.
Saturday afternoon turned into an afternoon of treats. First stop was Mangwanani Spa, where every knot was banished from my body as we enjoyed a couple’s full body massage. After leaving the spa feeling like a new couple, it didn’t take much temptation to try out the high tea which was in full swing. What a delight! A selection of savouries, more sweet treats than I could actually eat, and a long list of teas to choose from. Well worth every cent.
Indoor entertainment activities are just as vast as the outdoor offering. There’s a fully equipped gym if you’re needing to work off the calories, a Netflix room, ten-pin bowling, an escape room, and for the little ones there are three separate areas filled with fun and adventure. Parents can leave their children at Squawkers Cove knowing they will be supervised and safe.
It has been a while since I last visited the Wild Coast Sun, but one thing general manager Peter Tshidi and his team have done, is successfully transformed this stretch of beautiful coastline into a playground where families can come and enjoy life. A place where dad can play golf, granny can chance her luck in the casino, mom can relax by the pool, and the children have fun, make new friends, and go home with memories to cherish.
Rooms: The bed was comfortable, and the room was spacious and clean with all the standard facilities. We could have done with an extra power point.
Staff: All staff carried out their duties with a smile on their faces, and were happy to go above and beyond.
Food: Catering for a diverse clientele, the food was in abundance. From a choice of soups, carveries, curries, pizzas, fish, salads, vegetables and desserts for supper, to eggs anyway-you-want-them with all the normal trimmings, fruit, yoghurt, waffles, pastries and much more for breakfast.
FOR MORE INFO: www.suninternational.com