The Caledon Casino Review

Review

Only an hour or so away from Cape Town, The Caledon Casino, Hotel & Spa is a little slice of heaven in the heart of the Klein Swartberg Mountains. It may not be the biggest casino in South Africa, but its sleepy location makes it ideal for a short, or not so short, break.

With 300 slot machines and 8 tables, The Caledon Casino actually has a pretty good selection considering its relatively small size. It offers American Roulette, Blackjack and Raise 'Em Poker on its tables, which is par for the course in South African land-based casinos; players really do need to look to the much bigger casinos to find Baccarat or Craps.

Slots at the Caledon come in all shapes and sizes, with denominations from 1c to R25, including 3-reel, 5-reel, video poker, progressive and multi-bet games. Slots fans are sure to find an old favourite or something new to try amongst such a selection.

The Caledon Casino has smoking and non-smoking areas, as well as a Salon Privé with higher stakes for qualifying MVG players, so players can always feel comfortable when they play. Despite being a fairly small casino, The Caledon is one of the most popular on the Western Cape thanks to a good selection of games, an excellent spa (which we'll talk more about below) and its idyllic surroundings.

Restaurants & Bars

Considering its fairly small size, The Caledon Casino has quite a bit of choice when it comes to where you can eat and drink. There's a buffet dinner at The Blue Crane, an a la carte menu at The Black Sheep Diner and pizza or pasta at daVinci.

If it's just drinks you're after, you also have a choice to make. Try the Satellite Bar for full service in the galleria or in the casino – nothing beats having a drink in your hand while you gamble. Or, if you need to unwind and relax, take in stunning views of the Swartberg Mountains with a drink on the terrace (or retreat to the warmth of a log fire in winter).

There isn't much in the way of dining options in Caledon, so you'll probably end up staying in the casino complex to eat and drink, but we think that there should be enough variety to keep most guests satisfied.

Hotel Accommodation

The Caledon is also known for being a hotel and spa as well as being a casino. The adjoining hotel has 38 standard rooms, 50 superior rooms and 6 luxury suites with views of either the mountain range or The Caledon's private gardens.

Guests also get access to the outdoor pool and, if you're in need of some pampering, the spa and Victorian bathhouse are only a short walk away. The hotel isn't cheap – it isn't exactly expensive either, but there are guest houses nearby that sometimes go for half the price of a room in The Caledon – but we think the prime location and amenities available make it worth spending a little extra.

Plus, it's the only way to get as close the casino as humanly possible!

Entertainment & Nightlife

The Caledon Casino complex isn't exactly the hottest nightspot in town – there are a couple of bars, but they don't stay open all night and you aren't exactly going to find anyone dancing on the tables in either of them.

But it must be said that The Caledon isn't really the type of place you visit for this sort of getaway. One of its biggest draws, other than the casino, is its spa. As well as six treatment rooms, a rain spa, Zen garden and Victorian bath house, it also boasts natural and mineral rich warm spring baths.

After a session at the spa, we can't imagine anyone wanting to hit the club and dance the night away! If you're really craving a late night or just can't sleep, the casino stays open until dawn but that's really the only option for night owls.

Other Facilities

If you fall in love with the idyllic surroundings of The Caledon, you might like to know that it's available for weddings and conferences. There's a golf club nearby, as well as horse riding and forest adventures for those who want to get in touch with nature.

If you fall in love with the idyllic surroundings of The Caledon, you might like to know that it's available for weddings and conferences. There's a golf club nearby, as well as horse riding and forest adventures for those who want to get in touch with nature.

What makes a trip to The Caledon Casino complete is its lush surroundings and its incredible spa. We're sure you'll find plenty of other things to do if you want to take a break from gambling and being pampered, but the majority of guests are comfortable sticking with just those two activities!