Gold Reef City Theme Park - Review

The thought of the impending School Holidays is making me clutch my pearls. What is a mother to DO with a four-year old for three very long weeks? You can understand why I was so relieved when I received an email from the team at Gold Reef City Theme Park detailing their fantastic line-up for the next few weeks. Firstly, I am beginning to understand that Gold Reef City really is a “city” within the City of Joburg s they really do have an enormous variety of events on offer with a very specific focus on family entertainment. And secondly, they are the only venue in South Africa with a 4D movie screen! Even more spectacular than 3D movies, the 4D experience includes hydraulic seats, as well as sensory elements such as gusts of wind, squirts of water and leg ticklers! They are SO much fun and are only 10 – 15 minutes long! The Theme Park has two new 4D movies that have just launched: an exciting yet humorous science-fiction film called Robots of Mars (daily from 09:30 – 11:30 and again at 13:30 – 15:30); and Turtle Vision, a cute coming-of-age story featuring the adorable sea turtle, Sammy (daily from 11:30 – 13:30 and again at 15:30 – 17:00). In terms of theme park rides (I just love them, even though I scream like a girl), the UFO will pin you to your seat with a centrifugal force of note as the ride swirls around at speeds of 50 km/h. The Golden Loop rollercoaster ride propels you to a height of 40m in less than three seconds … before descending again! Miner’s Revenge rotates at 360° while the seats spin around, dropping you head first, causing you to tumble over into the fountain. The Anaconda is made just for the adrenalin junky – I’ll say no more. Not to mention the Tower of Terror where you are dropped 50m from the crest of the ride at 100km p/h straight into an open mine shaft (though your stomach will probably have stayed behind at the top of the tower! I love the fact that the admission to all rides is included in the entrance price to Gold Reef City Theme Park. So you can go on them all. Twice. As mentioned, Gold Reef City Theme Park has lined up some fantastic holiday entertainment – this time in the form of the authentic Wild Wild West adventure show! Direct from Disneyland Paris, Patrick Gruss, will perform in South Africa for the very first time in this action-packed show and will keep you amused with his amazing whip-cracking, pistol-spinning and trick-roping abilities. Prepare yourself for a show filled with gun slinging, lasso throwing and whip cracking cowboys, guaranteed to entertain the whole family. There are two live shows daily – again included in the Theme Park entrance price! The littlies will love the Animal Farmyard that is home to a host of cuddly, furry and feathered creatures including ponies, horses, mules, geese, tortoises, monkeys, alpacas, emus, cows, goats, and so much more! Not to mention the seven rides that are just perfect for their age-group. They can also head to the indoor playground for some fun! You can now see why I want you to spend at least one day at Gold Reef City these holidays - and remember to take photos! For further information please follow the links alongside