Salt Rock Hotel grounds to Tidal Pool

We were reluctant to leave the beautiful Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal after spending a fabulous birthday weekend with family at First Light Beach House on Sheffield Beach, so we decided to make a last stop at the nearby Salt Rock Hotel for breakfast. I wanted to show my son and his gal the stunning large rock pool below the hotel and caravan park. We had a good view from the hotel grounds, but to get closer, we had to walk down a concrete pathway with handrails, making for easy walking.

The hotel offers secure, shaded parking for visitors. The subtropical garden is lush throughout the year, with date and coconut palm trees, wild banana trees, and cycads, and becomes a green oasis during summer.
The wide concrete pathway is wheelchair friendly and leads to the hotel entrance.

Hotel interior with diverse restaurants and bars, as well as gracious seating areas.

We had wonderful sunny weather from the time we arrived for our family birthday celebration on Friday, but rain and wind on Sunday kept us all indoors. Monday was a gorgeous sunny, typical KZN autumn day, no rain, and loads of sunshine!
We wanted to make the most of the weather, so we found a table outdoors on the deck with awesome views of the ocean. We enjoyed cappuccinos, ordered the regular English breakfast, and took a walk afterwards towards the beach and the tidal pool.
This wing accommodates the entertainment areas.

Coffee SR.jpg

I always trailed at the back, stopping to take photos. The sea breeze, the smell of the ocean, and the sound of the waves from the Indian Ocean were the perfect way to end a wonderful weekend.

There is a large lawned area with an open-air lapa, which is used for group activities for hotel residents in peak season.

The stunning tidal pool is safe for children and has plenty of marine life for snorkelling. Naturally, at high tide, caution has to be taken as heavy waves do break over the walls. The pool is emptied once a year to clean up dirt that accumulates, and let in fresh seawater. The area below the caravan park is restricted to the park and hotel residents only, so we were stopped at a gate by a security guard.
One can access the tidal pool from the other side by using a public parking area about 300 metres away.
There are strong currents in this part of the ocean, so it is not safe, especially for inexperienced swimmers. The big waves are very popular with surfers, though.