splashdown safari kalahari

Pennsylvania

Children under the age of 3 are free

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Splashdown Safari

Wade in the zero depth entry pool, zip down slides of all sizes, play in water features and get soaked under the giant tipping bucket.

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Kalahari Resort Poconos: The Complete Guide

Kalahari Resorts

The Pocono Mountains used to be known for its honeymoon resorts. You can still find a few heart-shaped beds in the region, but today the popular tourism area may be more renowned more for its massive indoor water park hotels. And none is more massive than the Kalahari Resort.

The Poconos Kalahari features the same kind of indoor water park fun as the chain's other African-themed resorts in Sandusky, Ohio, and Wisconsin Dells (and coming in 2020 to Round Rock, Texas). The Kalahari locations are among the largest indoor water parks in the country and offer a wide array of water park activities as well as other attractions and amenities. At 220,000 square feet, the enormous Pennsylvania park rivals its sister properties in size and scope.

More than just a water park, the 150-acre resort includes lots of other things for vacationers to do. Visitors should expect a full-fledged resort that is geared to families with children and includes plenty of options, both wet and dry, to keep everyone busy.

It isn't all kid-centric fun and games, however. Unlike most indoor water park resorts, the facility also reaches out to business and meeting planners with a 205,000-square-foot convention and function complex. Trade show, meeting, and event attendees are encouraged to bring their brood along to enjoy the water park and all of the resort's other activities.

Wild Indoor Water Park

The gargantuan indoor water park includes virtually every kind of slide and attraction found at large outdoor water parks—and some that can’t be found Signature attractions include a water coaster and a Surfari FlowRider surfing ride . There is also The Smoke that Thunders, a large funnel ride ; the Tanzanian Twister, a bowl ride; the Sahara Sidewinders, a huge slide that starts in a launch pod with a trap door; and the Barrelling Baboon, a slide with mini-funnels.

Other water park staples include a wave pool, a lazy river, tube slides, body slides, mat-racing slides, kiddie slides, and indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas. Splashdown Safari is a huge, jungle-themed interactive play structure with tipping bucket.

Have you (or your kids) ever dreamed about becoming a mermaid? Kalahari offers 60-minute lessons complete with sparkly costumes.

Lots of Other Things to Do

The Kalahari offers a ton of “dry” attractions. Among the offerings are The Arena Ultimate VR Experience. There are a couple of computer-generated, multi-player games to choose. The resort also offers a huge arcade with redemption and video games. There are mini-bowling lanes, escape room experiences, a 7-D motion theater, the Gorilla Express train ride, and indoor and outdoor mini-golf courses to try as well.

Children may want to give "Kamp Kalahari" a try. Supervised activities include movies, crafts, and storytelling. More adult-focused amenities include a full-featured spa, a fitness center, and shops.

When the weather cooperates, there is also a large outdoor swimming pool at the resort to try.

What’s to Eat?

The large resort includes a number of dining options. The signature restaurant is the Double Cut Charcoal Grill, a chophouse. Sortino’s Italian Kitchen and the Ivory Coast Restaurant are other full-service restaurants at the Kalahari. Also on the menu is the Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet, the B-Lux Grill & Bar, and Felix’s Bar.

Lighter fare includes the Java Manjaro coffee shop, the grab-and-go Marrakesh Market, and the Pizza Pub. The Last Bite offers baked goods and other treats.

Hotel Rooms, Admission Policy, and Location

Most of the rooms at the Kalahari are suites that come in a variety of configurations. (And yes, the resort does offer a honeymoon suite with a heart-shaped whirlpool tub.) There are also traditional hotel rooms, suites with bunk beds for kids, and 3-bedroom villas available.

Like the other Kalahari resorts, admission to the indoor water park is bundled in the room rates for registered hotel guests. Day passes to the water park are available to the general public based on availability.

The Kalahari Resort is located at 250 Kalahari Boulevard in Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania.

1) Splash in the Water Park –

You won’t want to miss the resort’s 220,000-square-foot indoor water park , the largest in Pennsylvania . Guests will find water coasters, slides and raft rides in all speeds and sizes as well as a basketball pool, lazy river, indoor/outdoor hot tub and more. Kids will love Splashdown Safari (think net crawls, water guns, and slides galore) and Tiko’s Watering Hole with pint sized swings and a mini lazy river.

Learn to swim like a mermaid at Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA

2) Try your pick of signature aqua lessons: Mermaid or FlowRider –

My daughter tried out the resort’s new mermaid lessons and loved learning how to swim in a mermaid tail. I decided to tackle the FlowRider where you grab a board and catch some indoor waves. I won’t tell you how many times I crashed into the side wall but it really was a fun experience.

3) Get lost in the arcade –

You can’t get into the water park without meandering through the gigantic arcade so trust me when I say you will spend a lot of time playing arcade games as well as bowling, playing mini golf, laser frenzy and other fun games. Be sure to agree on a spending plan in advance and save room in your luggage for the prizes.

Kalahari’s Adventurers Club features daily activities for children.

4) Sign up for some family-friendly activities –

The Kalahari Adventures Club features daily supervised activities for kids (some fees apply) like games, crafting projects, character meetings, culinary challenges and family activities like hikes and scavenger hunts.

Kalahari features a wide array of family-friendly dining options.

5) Enjoy family-friendly dining –

Every restaurant is family-friendly at Kalahari from the upscale Brandburg to The Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet which features buffet offerings kids will love (think candy filled pancakes and chocolate fountains). If you’re visiting over a weekend, check out Kenya’s Birthday Bash Celebration, a fun-filled character breakfast party with family-style dining, dancing and kiddie games.

6) Save room for dessert –

There are sweet treats available morning, noon and night at The Last Bite . Ice cream lovers won’t want to miss the super-premium Wisconsin ice cream featuring flavors like Zanzibar Chocolate, Caramel Chaos, Fat Elvis, Big 5 Kalahari and more. It is delish!

Take in the African art at Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA.

7) Take in the African surroundings –

The resort features an array of authentic African decor including batik prints, sculptures, murals, carvings and more. If you’re an art lover, be sure to look out for the gorgeous artwork in the rooms, hallways, public areas and restaurants.

Shop till you drop at Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA

8) Shop Till You Drop –

The gift shops and specialty stores at Kalahari do not disappoint. You’ll find an array of swimwear and fun pool accessories like mermaid fins as well as authentic African gifts, crafts, stuffed animals, games and other souvenirs.

Visit the spa for a little relaxation at Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA.

9) Relax in the Kalahari Spa & Salon –

If you’re looking for a quiet retreat, escape to the spa where you can enjoy a full array of body treatments. I stole away for an hour to check out the sauna, steam room and hot tub and it was so peaceful and relaxing.

Check out story time at Kalahari’s Big Five Fireplace.

10) Check out Character Story Time –

Kalahari’s animal characters greet kids and a selection of oversized kids books are read aloud by the Big Five Fireplace.

Be sure to check out my full Kalahari Resort Poconos review for more details on this fun-filled family destination. This water park is so great it is also featured on this article: 19 Epic Indoor Water Parks You Will Want To Visit This Year !

Has your family ever stayed at a Kalahari Resort? What was your favorite part? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks to Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, PA for hosting my family. As always, all opinions are mine. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates !

Kalahari Resort Poconos Review for Families

Looking for indoor water park fun and family-focused adventures on the East Coast? The Kalahari Resort is sure to thrill kids and parents alike with its African-themed decor, plentiful activities, delicious dining and luxurious amenities. My 6-year-old daughter and I were recently invited to check out this new hotel in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Here’s why you’ll have a roaring good time at this unique resort and family entertainment center.

Kalahari Resort Poconos - A Splashy Escape from the Ordinary

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Kalahari Resort in the Poconos

This is Kalahari’s newest location, joining properties in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and Sandusky, Ohio. Plans are underway for Phase II, which will make this America’s largest indoor waterpark by spring 2017. I was pleasantly surprised by the authentic African decor such as batik prints, beaded souvenirs and carved wooden sculptures and furniture, plus Africa-shaped room signs.

Kalahari Resort Poconos Big Five Fireplace

In the lobby you’ll find fresh ground Rwandan coffee beans, hand painted murals and Big Five animal sculptures featuring Africa’s large mammals: African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and white/black rhinoceros. A large photo collage in the lobby showcases the founding family’s many research trips to Africa. As someone who has visited South Africa , I appreciated this attention to details.

Kalahari Resort Poconos - A Splashy Escape from the Ordinary (Photo credit: Lyla Gleason)

Kalahari Water Park

Without a doubt, the resort’s showcase feature is its 100,000-square-foot indoor water park , the largest in Pennsylvania . Featuring a retractable roof, the waterpark offers a water coaster, and plenty of raft and tube waterslides. Splashdown Safari includes net crawls, water guns, and a huge variety of slides. Sporty families will enjoy shooting hoops in the Lost Lagoon basketball pool.Grown-ups will appreciate the Thirsty Turtle Swim-up Bar, the relaxing lazy river and an indoor/outdoor hot tub (my favorite!). For little ones there’s Tiko’s Watering Hole with adorable swings and a mini lazy river.

I guarantee the water park where you will spend the majority of your visit so be sure to bring your most comfortable swimwear, flip flops, goggles and waterproof camera or phone cover. The pools and surrounding areas are very clean with the water constantly being tested. In addition, I was impressed by the many staff members and lifeguards on-site keeping everyone safe. Towels are available throughout the facility and lockers are available for rental.

For an extra fee you can attempt stand-up surfing or body boarding on a FlowRider or sign children up for mermaid lessons, one of the resort’s newest offerings. If you really want to be pampered, rent your own private indoor cabana and enjoy a flat-screen TV, chaise lounges, refrigerator, security safe, food service and other amenities.

Kalahari Resort Poconos - A Splashy Escape from the Ordinary (Photo caption: Lyla Gleason)

Arcade Entertainment

When you’ve had your fill of water fun, the 30,000-square-foot arcade offers oodles of entertainment. Expect hundreds of video games and arcade favorites. (Skee-ball, anyone?). Families can also enjoy mini-bowling, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf, laser frenzy challenges, virtual reality rides and more. My daughter had never been anywhere like this before so she was in video-gaming heaven.

There is no way to enter the waterpark without going through the arcade so count on your kids pulling you toward the bustling lights and games. Try to set a budget in advance to manage everyone’s expectations. Points are loaded onto a game card and it is very easy to lose track of how much you’re spending until your card needs to be re-filled. When you’re done, take your winning tickets and redeem them for prizes and souvenirs.

Just for Kids

In addition to the waterpark and arcade attractions, the resort offers several options for keeping kids busy throughout the day. The Kalahari Adventurers Club offers supervised activities like arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, family hikes, games and more.

Junior foodies can decorate cookies and cupcakes and make personalized pizzas and their own caramel apples (some fees apply). Younger kids will also want to check out the resort’s complimentary story time in the lobby featuring Kenya the elephant.

Family Fun at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Pocono Mountains, PA. Junior foodies can make their own caramel apples and attend character breakfasts at Kalahari Resorts Poconos (Photo credit: Lyla Gleason)

Kalahari Resort Dining

Choose from three full-service restaurants at the Kalahari Resort in the Pocono Mountains. Ivy Coast Restaurant overlooks the resort’s impressive lobby and offers a la carte favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet serves breakfast and dinner. The family-friendly offerings are extensive with made-to-order and classic dishes as well as fun surprises like a chocolate fountain.

Brandberg , named after the highest point in the Kalahari, is the resort’s most upscale restaurant. Enjoy innovative appetizers like Tempura Battered Banana with maple and ale ricotta and cayenne pepper, steaks, fish, burgers, brick oven flatbreads and more. The space is gorgeous and the knowledgable staff is quick to help with menu recommendations. Grown-ups can order from an array of artisan cocktails, unique beer offerings and a large wine selection featuring several South African varietals. In addition, the weekly Kenya’s Birthday Bash Celebration is a fun-filled character breakfast party with family-style dining, dancing and kiddie games.

Accommodation Options

Kalahari Resort in the Poconos features 457 rooms and suites with African decor and amenities galore (microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, iron, ironing board, in-room safe, cable television, and hair dryers). Accommodations include complimentary Wi-Fi, access to the fitness center and admission to the waterpark. Instead of room keys, all hotel guests receive waterproof wristbands, which open guest rooms and allow access to all facilities. In addition, you can decide which family members can charge via their wristbands, a great option if you are traveling with older kids and teens.

We stayed in a spacious two-room family suite on the ground floor, which was steps away from the waterpark and arcade action. With two attached bedrooms (one in front with a king bed and the other with two queens and a fireplace), my daughter had her own bedroom and bathroom so we could spread out and sleep well. There was also a queen-sized sofa sleeper, making it a great room choice for larger families. Check out is at 11 am but you have access to the waterpark for your entire last day. Believe me, your kids will want to stay at the Kalahari Resort as long as possible!

Has your family ever stayed at a Kalahari Resort? Would you like to? Let us know in the comments below!

A Note from The Globetrotting Travel Mama: Our hotel stay and some of our meals and entertainment were provided free of charge for purposes of this review. All opinions are mine, as always.

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Long before the glamorous world of marriage, motherhood and travel blogging, Lyla Gleason had an exciting career as a travel publicist representing hotels and destinations across the globe. She spent her childhood on Long Island and then attended college and grad school in Boston and lived abroad in Rome. Some of her favorite vacation spots include the Caribbean, India and Turkey. She is currently a downtown NYC mom who can be found chasing after her daughter, cooking dinner, mingling at blogger events, and exploring near and far with a camera in hand. She is the author of GlobetrottingMommy.com, a lifestyle blog dedicated to travel, family fun and fabulous finds. Connect with Lyla on Twitter at @travelmommy.

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Salut, mon ami! I’m Colleen Lanin, founder of Travel Mamas & Grownup Getaways. I launched this travel blog in 2009 to make world adventures easier and more fun for explorers of all sorts. I love traveling via road trips, airplanes, and cruise ships. Nature? Love it. Theme parks? Yes, please. City escapes? Of course. Swimming in the best hotel pools? Nothing better!

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Navigating Fatherhood Together

Kalahari Resorts, Poconos: 4 Tips for a Successful Family Weekend

May 7, 2019 by Lance Somerfeld

NYC Dads Group co-founder, Lance Somerfeld and his kids at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Indoor Waterpark

During spring break, my family and I hopped into our car for our latest road trip adventure . Less than two hours after leaving our Manhattan home, we arrived at a wonderful oasis in the middle of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions , a dreamy, fun-filled, action-packed, indoor getaway.

Families will want to maximize their overall experience at the recently opened Kalahari. After all, it has America’s largest indoor water park! So, here are a few helpful water park tips and other ideas.

1: Stay overnight at Kalahari Resorts. Arrive early for the awesome water park

The indoor water park is truly the crown jewel of Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos. The tropical, 84-degree African-themed paradise will give you jaw-dropping glee.

The water park reminded me of something out of a fantasy world with rivers and pools of swirling, sloshing and gushing water. Visualize a room the size of a baseball stadium . A welcoming labyrinth of soaring, zigzagging water slides; a three-story safari tree house equipped with a gargantuan bucket ready to soak us to the core; a wave pool, lazy rivers, tot-play areas, water basketball pools; and more. There was something for everyone at every age to enjoy.

Even though room check-in isn’t until 4 p.m., I recommend you preregister as a hotel guest. Then arrive as early as 9:30 a.m. when the water park opens to get a full day in. Our primary goal was to play in the water, not relax in the room! We arrived at the park’s opening to spend the entire day getting soaked.

Don’t forget to pack a small day bag. Include a change of clothes and extra bathing suits so you can keep your luggage in the car.

Frolicking in Splashdown Safari at Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center

2: Let your children plan the Kalahari activities

Before our adventure, we went onto the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions website . Here, we analyzed photos and descriptions of the attractions as well as viewed YouTube videos of their major water slides. This gave my 10-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter several ideas for our daily agenda.

They developed an action plan to go on the water rides that excited them the most first. As a parent, it’s nice to have a “just say yes” policy for a change. Letting our children dictate the schedule for a day and masterfully navigate our flow of rides — including which ones deserved a second, third or 12th time — was fun for all.

For the record, Anaconda, The Smoke That Thunders, Flowrider and Barreling Baboon were all worthy of repeats from my older son. My 4-year-old daughter spent countless hours within the Splashdown Safari confines – a massive “sprayground” filled with water slides, tunnels and interactive water toys.

Our ultimate favorite was Cheetah Race. It’s a fast-paced set of four tunnel slides that whisk you into the darkness where you can race each other as you cascade to the finish line. With relatively short lines, we must have tobogganed down on our water mats at least 20 times. It was pure, edge-of-your-seat awesomeness!

3: Go early AND stay late to beat the lines

The best way to avoid lines at the water park is to arrive exactly when the gates open for the day. The first 90 minutes before the crowd arrives let you soak it all, so to speak, with minimal crowd hassles. Plus, you’ll be able to snag a nice table as a home base to put your belongings and towels down.

You can ride the most popular water slides several times before the queue begins to build. Hit the Anaconda, The Smoke That Thunders and Flowrider during this time because they seemed to have the longest lines during the peak of the day.

Additionally, we learned the crowd thins out during the last hour before closing. Some families head to dinner, journey on the road home or need to put little ones to sleep. So, if you can, take full advantage during the late evening hours to hit the attractions you’ve been drooling about all day, without the long wait times.

4: M ore to Kalahari Resorts than the indoor water park

Beyond the nation’s largest (and coolest) water park, there’s so much to a complete Kalahari experience. During our entire weekend, we never had to leave the property.

Entertainment: The massive arcade, escape room, bowling, mini golf, fitness room and treetop adventure climbing course all offer unique attractions for your family.

Buyer beware: Las Vegas hotels have you meander through their casinos to get to your room. Kalahari has strategically placed its expansive arcade with flashing lights, bells and sirens so you have to pass through it to enter the indoor water park. My kids absolutely loved their time in the arcade. It featured a wide range of games similar to Dave & Busters and Chuck E. Cheese’s, but it was like a vacuum cleaner to your wallet.

Treats: Next, your family is faced with some interesting and sweet options. Get sucked into The Last Bite candy factory offering a mouth-watering assortment of caramel apples, chocolates — and our favorite — chocolate dipped Oreo Cookies with mini M&Ms. The family weekend provided ample opportunities to spoil my kids so we dabbled in their ice cream as well as slurping frozen pina coladas poolside in our refillable coconut cups.

Food: We enjoyed the bountiful breakfast buffet at Great Karoo Marketplace. It featured quality options even for the pickiest of eaters: a top-notch spread with an omelet station, crispy bacon, fresh croissants, pastries and more. With full bellies and feeling refreshed from a great night’s sleep in their hotel, we were ready for more non-stop adventures.

We spent our second day at Kalahari relishing in all of the wonderful water attractions that we’d come to love inside the indoor water park. We’d hoped to replicate the joy from the first day – mission accomplished.

Things to note: To be candid, we have a few minor suggestions for Kalahari worth pointing out. First, the bathrooms are far from the action. It’s very inconvenient if you’ve got a little one in tow that needs to use the potty often. We frequently paused for snack, drink and lunch breaks in the water park and would appreciate hand sanitizer dispensers around the grounds. Lastly, the wave pool was a highlight for us and was so thrilling when you heard the alarm sound that signals the waves will start up. However, my kids said that they would love to see a countdown clock on the wall to provide advanced notice for the waves.

As we journeyed back home to New York City, my children had glowing smiles across their tired faces. They said that Kalahari was even better than Disney, and rated it a 10 out of 10.

This was our maiden voyage to a Kalahari Resorts & Conventions property, and can’t wait to make plans for a return visit this summer to frolic in their outdoor water park.

**Disclosure: The folks at Kalahari Resorts provided complimentary hotel accommodations for our family for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions included in this article are our own and have not been swayed by the free stay.

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About Lance Somerfeld

Lance Somerfeld, co-founder of City Dads Group, lives with his wife and two children in New York City. He frequently contributes to the conversation about modern fatherhood, work-life balance, shifting gender roles, and brand’s marketing to dads. He has appeared on local and national television, including CNN, Today and Katie. He has been quoted by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, GQ, Parenting and The Atlantic.

Reader Interactions

May 7, 2019 at 6:09 pm

Thinking of staying here in June 2019

November 10, 2019 at 5:09 pm

Kalahari resort in Pennsylvania is the best waterpark in America America I will never pay for Disney World again when I go to Kalahari Water Resort my kids and my grandkids had so much fun and me and my wife enjoyed ourself the best waterpark in America I used to go to Camelback but no more I invite all my friends and family to Kalahari Waterpark try it for yourself

January 24, 2020 at 7:13 pm

Hi there We’ve been to the great wolf lodge (innTX and PA) and I absolutely love the place. I can’t wait till Kalahari opens in Austin later this year though as Ive never been. We are planning a trip to nyc in a few months and wanted to have a birthday get-together at GWL but I’m considering if I should do Kalahari this time around. I know what to expect at GWL and since Im inviting people I kinda think it’s important to go with what you know…. What are your thoughts on the difference? Are they pretty much the same? I know the themes are different, but if you had to choose, which one would it be?

I appreciate your response Thanks

January 25, 2020 at 6:27 pm

Good question. It’s really about personal preference because they are similar in concept. The biggest difference is that Kalahari is only 2 years old so the place feels more upscale and modern. I’m sure a birthday party at either venue would be an awesome place for your family and bday friends. Hope that’s helpful.

January 14, 2021 at 6:53 pm

We stayed at the their new resort in Georgetown TX on New Year ave , we had a blast . Can’t beat the prices and rooms , friendly staff and do tour the art . Endless entertainment we will visit again soon .