Naledi Sun Casino Review

Review

Located in Thaba Nchu, or "Black Mountain", the Naledi Sun is nestled in the spiritual homeland of the Basotho people. With peaceful surroundings, fresh air and a fantastic welcome, it's a wonderful place to visit.

But let's be clear about one thing: it is definitely not one of South Africa's megacasinos, which have thousands of slot machines and tens of table games to choose from. In fact, it has just a little over 150 slot machines available and no table games at all.

The slot machines in the Naledi Sun have a reasonable range of denominations - 1c to R5 - albeit one that's much lower than bigger land-based casinos and use SmartCard technology that means there's no need to come armed with a bag of coins; just load up your card with credit and play to your heart's content.

Even so, the lack of table games is a real blow to the casino and will probably put a lot of gamblers off the idea of visiting the venue entirely. The element of choice is key to keeping gambling fresh, and playing slots for hours on end may not be your idea of a good time.

If you're not put off by the lack of roulette, blackjack, baccarat etc. then you'll be pleased to know that the casino is open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, then until 2am from Sunday until Thursday. Plenty of time to get lucky!

With smoking and non-smoking sections, plus several in-house progressive jackpot machines, Naledi Sun does a nice job of appealing to as many players as possible but there's no denying that it's a bit of an underdog in terms of South African land-based casinos.

Restaurants & Bars

The Naledi Sun is home to one of the most popular restaurants in the area, the Kika Restaurant. Kika serves up a varied menu, both in buffet and a la carte forms, in an African decor as well as outside on their patio. There's probably enough choice on the menu at Kika to keep visitors happy during their stay.

This is actually the only place to eat and drink within the complex itself, but there are a few other eateries nearby including a Captain Doregos and KFC just over the river. Aside from these, there aren't many other dining options within comfortable walking or even driving distance.

Foodies might find this aspect of Naledi Sun a little disappointing; many other South African land-based casinos, even very small ones, have two or three restaurants to choose from which helps to keep things fresh for visitors.

Hotel Accommodation

The adjoining hotel at Naledi Sun has 30 stylish and comfortable rooms for visitors who want to be as close to the casino as possible. With its lush, peaceful grounds, the hotel is a great choice for players who want to take in a little nature when they're not hitting the slots.

With 30 rooms overlooking the gardens and swimming pool, Naledi Sun never gets so busy that it feels hectic or like you can't get the attention of staff members should you need it.

There are a couple of other guest houses nearby, not affiliated with the casino, so you might consider them if the Naledi Sun hotel is full.

Entertainment & Nightlife

To put it bluntly, there's not a whole lot of it here! Obviously the casino is open late, or you can grab a drink in the bar, but there's little in the way of scheduled live entertainment.

That's probably not a huge problem for most visitors, because this isn't the sort of place you come to get drunk and dance all night. Rather, it's where you come to enjoy a nice meal, hit the slots and take an evening wander through the gardens.

In that respect, Naledi Sun is very well-suited to couples or even families looking for a quiet getaway. Party animals, on the other hand, might want to give it a miss.

Other Facilities

The Naledi Sun has conference facilities for up to 60 people, so from time to time you might see people in suits walking around who look like they'd rather be in the casino! Or maybe you'll even end up coming here with work yourself...

There's also a laundry service and room service available if you just want to enjoy a quiet night in. Other than that, you're going to need to leave the facility if you want to enjoy some other activities. The Seroalo Dam, for example, is fairly close by and has breathtaking views. It's a great place for a hike on a sunny day.

The resort itself is pretty quiet, and it's certainly a relaxing place to pass some time, but the lack of table games and amenities/activities means it's probably a place that the majority of gamblers will visit when they're on their way somewhere else rather than as their final destination.