A Family Legacy of Fun & Community
Splash Water World in Amanzimtoti has been a beloved family-run water park for decades. Our story began in 1982 when Peter Clayton opened a single water slide on Amanzimtoti Main Beach. The modest slide proved so popular that by 1987, Peter had expanded with additional slides, and in 1992, his brother Richard Clayton took over ownership, gradually developing it into the full-fledged water park that locals know and love today.
Under Richard's guidance (with his wife Ann managing day-to-day operations), Splash Water World grew to offer a variety of rides and amenities while maintaining a friendly, community-oriented atmosphere. Richard's daughter, Cindy Theunissen, started a small kiosk at the park in 1992 – this later evolved into the on-site restaurant Thirsty Whale, which officially opened in 2005.
The Clayton family's hands-on leadership made Richard a well-known figure at the park and in the community. He even founded Raging Rapids Water Slides, a company that helped design water park slides across South Africa, including those at uShaka Marine World in Durban and Gateway. Though Richard sadly passed away in 2018 at age 68, the park remains in the Clayton family, ensuring the original values of safety, hospitality, and family fun continue into the present day.
