A Disappointing Visit to Wiesenhof Waterpark: Our Honest Review
Good morning, everyone! We had a bit of a bittersweet experience recently. On Friday, February 14th, which also happens to be Valentine’s Day, we celebrated my beautiful daughter’s birthday. We spent the evening with a lovely dinner and a walk along the beach. However, the real adventure began on Sunday when we headed to Wiesenhof Waterpark to combine birthday celebrations for both my daughter and my son.
We’ve been looking forward to this day since December, and it was finally time to go! But if you missed our previous blog post, be sure to check it out here to catch up on all the fun we’ve been having lately.
We were up early and ready to hit the road, driving through Stellenbosch and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Upon arriving at Wiesenhof, we were able to breeze through the entrance, thanks to the pre-booked tickets that helped us avoid long queues. Once inside, we secured a locker to keep our belongings safe and enjoy the day without worry.
First Impressions: A Promising Start
We began at the pool closest to us, but unfortunately, that was where the first disappointment occurred. The pool had a strong, unpleasant smell of urine. Needless to say, we quickly moved on to another pool, which was much emptier and calmer. It was still early, so the water was a bit cold, but we decided to give it a try. The pool was small, round, and not very deep, which made it feel a bit cramped.
After a brief swim, we went to queue for tubes for the big blue slide. However, we decided to stick with the calmer yellow slides, which proved to be a much better choice. The slides were fun, and we had a great time, making it one of the few highlights of the day.
The Restaurant Experience: Another Letdown
After a few more rounds on the slides, we returned to the small pool for a short swim. But then, our second major disappointment hit. We were expecting two restaurants, but only one was open due to the other being temporarily closed. We waited in line for 15 minutes to place our order, only to be let down once again. The menu had limited drink options, and there were no items catering to people on a diet or those with diabetes. We ordered French fries and drinks, as we were really thirsty.
However, the wait for our food was frustrating. It took 40 minutes for our order to arrive, and when it did, the fries were overly salty. Despite the food being a letdown, we were hungry and ate it before heading back to the slides.
Power Failures and Unforeseen Issues
Fernando and Angelique finally got their tubes and had an exhilarating ride on the blue slide. That was another small win for the day. Afterward, we enjoyed the yellow slides again, but this is when things started to go downhill. We experienced multiple power failures, with the electricity cutting off three times in just two hours. Unfortunately, there was no backup generator to support the park during these outages.
As the day continued, the two youngsters, Angelique and Fernando, decided to try all the slides. Meanwhile, my oldest and I took a break and went swimming. After about four hours at the waterpark, we had enough. Angelique and Fernando took one last ride down the slides before we prepared to leave.
The Final Straw: A Lost Arm Tag
However, just as we were about to exit, Angelique came to me in tears. She had lost her arm tag during one of the slides, and when she tried to go down the slide again, the guard rudely told her she couldn’t. Despite having been on the same slide just minutes earlier without an issue, the guard insisted that she couldn’t continue without her arm tag. To make matters worse, many children without arm tags were still allowed to go down the slides, but Angelique was singled out. This was the final straw in what had already been a very disappointing experience.
Frustration at Checkout: Leaving With a Bad Taste
We grabbed our belongings and decided to leave, but not before trying to grab a quick drink on our way out. After waiting another 15 minutes to be served, a fight broke out at the counter, and we simply couldn’t take it anymore. We left without getting anything.
Our Final Thoughts on Wiesenhof Waterpark
I don’t often leave negative reviews, but after our visit to Wiesenhof Waterpark, I felt compelled to share our experience. Unfortunately, the park didn’t live up to its advertised reputation. It was dirty, neglected, and didn’t meet the standard we were expecting. The website promises much more than what was delivered, leaving us disappointed.
Wiesenhof Waterpark is marketed as one of the best waterparks in the greater Cape Town area, but we wouldn’t agree. Given the high entrance fees, we expected a much better experience. It felt overpriced for what we received and the poor service we experienced. Our overall rating for the park is 3 out of 10.
If you’re looking for a great waterpark in the Cape Town area, we’re now on the hunt for one that offers a better experience. We certainly won’t be returning to Wiesenhof Waterpark.
Stay tuned for our next adventure, and I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed week ahead!
