Every theme park has that one legend. The one you talk about while standing in the queue, eyes flittering nervously toward the front as the next round of people take their turns. At Gold Reef City, that legend has a name: The Anaconda. After a short pause on the fun for a R24 million revamp, it's back to tempt Joburg’s thrill seekers.
There’s something almost magical about Gold Reef City on a busy day; you don’t really feel like this is the same world as the N1 highway and school timetables. The smell of popcorn and boerie rolls hangs in the air. Distant shrieks echo overhead. Visitors stumble through the ride exits, faces red, trying (and often failing) to act like what they just experienced didn’t almost result in wet trousers.
Towering above it all is the Anaconda. A gleaming tangle of steel that has, for years, been a beloved roller coaster ride among Joburg’s boldest.
Where did it go?
For a few weeks, the ride disappeared behind scaffolding and a small army of engineers. It wasn’t gone. It was being transformed.
The park invested more than R24 million into refurbishing the attraction. Every bolt, track section and system was carefully checked and upgraded. In January, behind-the-scenes clips showed technicians hard at work. By 23 January, testing was underway. On 30 January, the Anaconda officially reopened, ready to resume its favourite hobby of flinging people through the sky.
What's it Like?
The experience begins innocently enough. You’re pulled slowly upward, the city shrinking beneath your feet. There’s a quiet moment at the top, just long enough for you start enjoying the view before realising what’s about to happen. Having doubts? It’s too late now, my guy.
Gravity enters the chat.
The Anaconda dives, twists, and loops with about as much drama as you’d expect. You’re zooming forward. You’re upside down. You’re wondering why you thought this was a good idea, and a little curious as to whether your medical aid will cover a self-inflicted heart attack. Then, just as suddenly as it all started, it’s over. Your cart comes to a halt.
The recent revamp has made the ride smoother and more refined, but the thrill remains gloriously intact. You find yourself glancing to the end of the queue. Inexplicably, you can’t wait to go again.
How Much To Face The Beast?
Entry to Gold Reef City starts at R295 per person when booking online. Children under three enter free, blissfully unaware of the chaos overhead.
Remarkably, the R24 million upgrade hasn’t affected ticket prices. In today’s world, that’s a small miracle.
There’s More Than One Adventure
The Anaconda may steal the spotlight, but the park offers plenty more.
Visitors can enjoy more than 14 major thrill rides and nine family-friendly attractions. Restaurants and retail stores provide welcome pauses between adventures, though we’d advise exercising self-control when it comes to how much you indulge in before enjoying the rides. Food is designed to stay inside your body, after all.
There’s also an underground mine tour that explores Johannesburg’s gold mining history, offering a fascinating break from the high-speed action above ground.
Should You Ride It?
We’ll get straight to the point: the answer is yes.
The Anaconda is a rite of passage. A shared scream. Trauma bonding, as the youths are saying these days.
Johannesburg’s most famous serpent has returned. It’s waiting for you at the top of the track, calm and patient.
The only question left is whether you’re brave enough to join it.
