Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is opening the Fairmont Zimbali Resort, an exclusive 154-room property nestled between the 700-hectare forest reserve and the beaches of Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Dolphin Coast on the Indian Ocean on the eastern coast of South Africa. Fairmont Zimbali Resort joins the Fairmont Zimbali Lodge, a 76-room property set nearby along the beach.
The resort is 15 minutes from the brand new King Shaka International Airport (KSIA). Soccer fans will appreciate being just a short drive away from Durban, one of the nine host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup that kicks off in mid-June.
The property offer ocean views, a plethora of dining options, private verandas and luxurious soaking tubs. The range of dining rooms and lounges includes a steakhouse serving South Africa’s finest grain fed beef and seafood, a beach club offering wood-fired pizza and barbecue, a wine and tapas bar, pool and beach side cocktail bars and a tea and coffee lounge featuring strong African roasts and Fairmont teas.
The ballroom can accommodate 180 guests, and those planning to say “I do” have the option of taking their vows in a chapel among the birds and butterflies of the tropical forest, or at the edge of the Indian Ocean.
The site is surrounded by recreational sites and activities, including game-viewing expeditions, safari outings, animal and crocodile farm tours, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, surfing, micro-light flying, boating, fishing, shark and dolphin tours. The nearby KwaZulu-Natal includes historical Zulu battlefields and two UNESCO World Heritage sites nearby: the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba/Drakensburg Park.
For guests who prefer not to stray from the Resort, the Willow Stream Spa offers eight treatment and steam rooms. There are also five outdoor swimming pools onsite, including a freshwater pool and saltwater pools overlooking the Indian Ocean. For golf aficionados, an 18-hole golf course is currently under construction, designed by golf champion, Gary Player. At the nearby Zimbali Country Club, the Tom Weiskopf-designed course is already in play.
The property is equipped with high-speed Internet access and video-on-demand, ensuring that guests never need be out of touch with the latest news, movies and games.
Visit www.fairmont.com.