Head to Gold Reef City for a day of excitement and adventure. This complex has a theme park and casino. With thrill, family and children’s rides spread across seven themed areas, there’s fun for everyone. The park is set around a 19th-century gold mine so you can learn about the area's gold mining heritage while you’re here.
If you like your rides fast and exhilarating, make your way to Thunder Mountain to ride a runaway train and an inverted roller coaster. Go on the Tower of Terror, which drops you at high speed into an open mine shaft. Get soaked on the log flume and river rapids and brave the 131-feet (40-meter) tall Golden Loop. Climb aboard the Dream Boat and swing through 270 degrees high above the ground. See if you can catch a glimpse of downtown Johannesburg as you speed across the park’s treetops on the Jozi Express ride.
There are also lots of gentler pursuits at the theme park. Challenge your putting skills on the 9-hole miniature golf course and admire the views from the Ferris wheel. Visit the Amphitheatre for dance shows by South African tribes. In Lost Reef’s Animal Farmyard, children will enjoy petting ponies, goats and other animals.
Go to the Town Square to learn about Jozi’s Story of Gold. “Jozi” is an abbreviation of Johannesburg. During this experience you can travel down into an authentic gold mine and see glowing liquid gold. Try your hand at gold panning and then visit the replica of a mine official’s house.
When it’s time to eat, you will find plenty of options for meals or snacks there are more than 20 restaurants, bars and fast food stands located throughout the park.
Gold Reef City Theme Park is a 10-minute drive from downtown Johannesburg and on-site parking is free. Public transport to the park is limited, however, a sightseeing bus stops at the main entrance. The park is open every day except Mondays and Tuesdays however, during school holidays the park is open on those days. There are admission fee savings with a family ticket. Children under 3 years get in for free.
