Don’t miss out on these valuable tips before visiting Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio.
Kalahari resorts are known for their massive indoor waterparks throughout the United States. While the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells holds the record for America’s largest indoor waterpark, Kalahari in Sandusky claims the title as Ohio’s largest.
Kalahari offers more than an African-Safari-themed indoor water park. Guests can enjoy onsite restaurants, boutiques, a full-service spa, a large arcade, and an outdoor adventure park. This article will dive into what to expect as a first-time visitor to Kahalari and tips for visiting the resort in Sandusky, Ohio.
Kalahari in Sandusky sits along Lake Erie, offering guests many additional attractions to visit during their stay. Spend the day exploring Put-In-Bay, plan an afternoon at one of Lake Erie’s beautiful beaches, or go thrill-seeking at nearby Cedar Point.
Pulling into Kalahari, follow the signs to the main entrance for check-in. There is much hustle and bustle at the entrance as families come and go.
Check-in time begins at 4:00 pm. Should you arrive as early as 10:00 am, you can pre-register and begin to enjoy the waterparks.
Check-out is no later than 11:00 am. After you have checked out, you can stay until 3:00 pm in the waterpark.
Planning Tip: Drop someone off at the entrance to check-in. It should be the person who booked the room, as a photo ID is required. Then park in the nearby parking lot to wait until check-in is complete and you have a room number.
Lines can get long at check-in, so there is no need to pull the entire family out of the car to wait in line.
Photo Opt: Upon entering Kalahari, there is a great photo op right near the main entrance with elephants and the waterfall. Park in the parking lot in front of the entrance, then walk over or pull up for a quick photo.
Address: 7000 Kalahari Drive Sandusky, OH 44870
If this is your first time visiting the Kalahari water park resort in Sandusky, prepare to be overwhelmed initially. The waterpark is massive, the lobby resembles Grand Central Station, and you may be left looking around, wondering what your next move is.
Here are a few tips for newbies:
Kalahari is known for its African Safari-themed resort and indoor waterpark. While the waterpark is the main attraction, there are a variety of other amenities and attractions to enjoy, such as mini-golf, virtual reality, a mirror maze, and more.
The first thing is to get familiar with what is offered in the waterpark area. I recommend having kiddos measured so you know which attractions they can and can’t go on and which ones they can do with an adult.
At some point, the family will throw in the towel for the waterpark, which means it is time to explore the other fun family activities at Kalahari Sandusky.
Planning Tip: Attractions outside of the waterpark are ala-carte.
While many families love spending the weekend at Kalahari Resort, so do adults! Whether it is a romantic getaway, a destination wedding, or parents with children are a few spots you need to know about.
During our recent visit to Kalahari, we were joined by four other families. Renting the 5 Bedroom Entertainment House was the most cost-efficient way for everyone to visit. It provides tons of space plus waterpark admission to everyone staying.
Price Breakdown
The Kalahari Entertainment goes for roughly $1600-1800 a night. A standard double room goes for roughly $350 a night. For a three-night stay, our cost was 4800 for all five families to split, making the total $960. If each family were to get standard rooms, it would be $5250 for all five families making the total $1050.*
*These prices are based on our booking experience for early August 2022. I recommend running the numbers for both options to determine the best deal for your family.
The Entertainment Houses have a fully equipped kitchen allowing families to cook meals to avoid the cost of eating out. The kitchen was vital when choosing the Entertainment House because dining out at Kalahari is not cheap.
The five-bedroom entertainment was a two-level house with three bedrooms on the 2nd floor and two, including the master on the main level.
Planning Tip: The shuttle can sometimes be a wait. The walk to the main entrance is roughly 10 minutes. However, if you are visiting while the outdoor waterpark is open, you can easily access that in a quick 3-minute walk.
Pro Tip: If you plan on cooking meals in the house, place a pick-up order at the local grocery store to save time.
Celebrations are taken seriously at Kalahari as many families celebrate important life events, birthdays, and milestones at the resort. For my mom’s 60th, she wanted the whole family together for a vacation. Little did she know we added a few fun surprises to help make her trip more memorable.
If you are traveling, it is often hard to make the trip with a birthday cake. The Instant Birthday Party Package was perfect because they had a beautiful cake, a fun plush, and an arcade card waiting in the room for us. You also get a 14″ pizza and four soft drinks!
Many other packages are available such as balloon bouquets, surprise boxes, delicious candy from the Candy Hut, and more. Check out all the Enhance the Fun options to surprise someone for a special occasion.
Relax and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit with excellent body treatments, luxurious massage, skincare, nail care, and more. Spa Kalahari & Salon offers a variety of tranquility packages to help you relax. Whether it is a session in their Halotherapy Room or a soothing massage, a visit to the spa is often on the itinerary for many guests.
Planning Tip: Salon services have no age restrictions. All persons under the age of 18 years require parental consent. Make your reservations in advance.
As with many families, budget often comes into play while planning adventures. If you are considering visiting Kalahari, here are a few ways to quickly save a little money while still enjoying all the fun Kalahari has to offer.
Kalahari Family Nights are special rates on special dates at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells and Sandusky, Ohio. These special deals are available for anyone who signs up in the “Don White Block.”
The “Don White Block” is a special room block at the Kalahari not available to the general public. A limited number of rooms are set aside at a rate well below the regular Kalahari rates. Learn more about the Kalahari Family Nights.
One of the best ways to find great deals at Kalahari is by joining their mailing list. That way, you are getting special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
Eating out is a quick way to increase your expenses during a trip. To help keep food costs at a minimum, consider these options:
Families looking only to spend the day at Kalahari can purchase a day pass to enjoy both the indoor and outdoor waterpark. Day passes should be purchased directly through Kalahari as they provide the wristband needed for entrance.
Depending on the season you are visiting, you will need to come prepared to visit the indoor and possibly the outdoor waterpark.
A top priority when considering what to wear to a water park is comfort. Opt for lightweight, loose-fitting clothing to wear over swimwear. A comfortable pair of sandals that are easy to slip on and off will make getting around the water park more enjoyable.
Kalahari has a firm rule against using water slides and certain water attractions with swimsuits that have zippers, buttons, and any exposed metal.
Prevent an embarrassing moment by ensuring you have the correct swimwear on. For example, a bikini top can easily come up during the plunge on a waterslide.
If you plan on doing more than waterslides during your visit to Kalahari, pack casual wear such as shorts and a t-shirt to wear around the resort for mini-golf, arcade, and dining out.
I recommend reading our Ultimate Waterpark Packing List to ensure you come fully prepared.
Planning Tip: Bring a stroller. Kalahari is a huge resort, and little legs get tired quickly.
We hope you enjoyed our article on helpful tips for visiting the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. Check out our related articles for finding more awesome things to do in Ohio.
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