Activity Parks in South Africa

Theme Park thrills: Whether you're looking for somewhere to take the kids, or if you'd like to feel like an excitable kid again yourself, head to South Africa's activity parks. Located in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Sun City there is something on offer for everyone at these fun-filled venues.

Unique rides, ranging from the sedate to the hair-raising, will provide kids and thrill-seekers with hours of fun, while the parks' excellent restaurants and world-class entertainment will contribute to a fantastic day out.

Ride the Cobra at Ratanga Junction: Ratanga Junction in Cape Town was Africa's first full-scaled Theme Park, and is guaranteed to provide an awesome day's fun. Situated at the enormous Century City shopping and lifestyle complex, Ratanga Junction has more than 30 attractions, including 23 rides ranging from kids rides to family rides and thrill rides.

The highlight has to be the Cobra, a suspended, looping roller coaster in which the riders will be catapulted from a height of 34m along 910 metres of track at up to four times the force of gravity and speeds of up to 100km an hour. The riders are suspended under the track, with their feet flying free, making the ride both a terrifying and exhilarating experience. Visitors can easily spend up to seven hours at Ratanga. The theme park provides a vast range of activities, including train rides and boat rides for a calmer type of adventure, and entertainment including snake and bird shows, and music concerts.

Make a Splash at uShaka Marine World: Durban's Waterfront is home to Africa's largest Marine Theme Park, uShaka Marine World, which combines a world-class aquarium with a spectacular water park. SeaWorld houses the fifth largest aquarium in the world and boasts more than 200 species of sea life. Visitors can learn about the amazing creatures that inhabit the South African coastline, and meet the famous Gambit, a 30-year old dolphin who is the largest dolphin in any oceanarium in the world. He and his friends perform regularly for an audience at the 1200-seater dolphin stadium.

uShaka is appropriately themed with appealing African imagery and there's entertainment to be had throughout the Marine World. You can have some thrilling 'fun in the sun' at the Wet 'n Wild water park, a brilliant water entertainment complex with separate swimming pools for kids and adults, relaxing river rides and adventurous slides for the adrenaline junkies. There are mini super tubes and play areas for young kids, while the Open-body slide and Tunnel roller coaster will take you on high-speed, whirlwind rides that you'll want to do again and again.

Go for Gold at Gold Reef City: If you're wondering how you can combine history, theme park rides and perhaps even a bit of gambling and entertainment, head to Gold Reef City in Johannesburg. You can find out why Johannesburg is called the City of Gold, as the park is created around an authentic 19th Century Gold Mine. Combining a theme park, casino and Apartheid museum, Johannesburg's Gold Reef City is bound to engage and entertain.

Adrenaline junkies will love the Anaconda, a knuckle-whitening looping roller coaster, or you might even be brave enough to try the aptly named Tower of Terror ride with its 47m drop. You are securely strapped into a coco pan and are then suddenly thrust from the top of a genuine Mine Head Gear some 32 metres to ground level before you are surprisingly dropped a further 15 metres underground. The ride then travels up a 70 metre incline back to the surface, and you're left understanding a bit about how miners feel when they're deep below the earth's surface.

There are many other fantastic and scream-inducing roller coasters at Gold Reef City, including Jozi Express, Miner's Revenge and Golden Loop. Don't miss the many other attractions at Gold Reef City, including historical exhibits, gold pouring and underground tours.

Fun in Sun City Who knew you could surf inland? Sun City Valley of Waves offers you the chance to do just that. The replica beach is situated in the Sun City resort in the Pilanesberg. With its white beaches, vast wave pool and water slides, the Valley of Waves is a great place to beat the South African heat and catch some perfectly shaped waves. Sun City is an enormous complex, nearly 20 km in circumference, full of luxurious hotels, glitzy entertainment centres, restaurants, casinos, shops, discos and large, magnificently landscaped grounds. The Valley of the Waves is in the lavish section of the resort called The Palace of the Lost City, a wonderful park that creates the elaborate fantasy world of a ancient city. The whole family is guaranteed hours of entertainment at Sun City's perfect beach. Apart from the sandy, pristine beach, the Valley has 1.8m artificially created surfing waves, massive water chutes, some of which are incredibly high, as well as a relaxing Lazy River Ride.

If you need a break between your sunbathing and surfing, there's an incredible variety of things to do in Sun City. The Entertainment Centre is packed with restaurants, conference venues, cinemas, slot machines, and a theatre. Adjoining the Resort is the Pilanesberg National Park, a malaria free area that is home to the Big Five. Any visitor will be delighted with the huge range of activities on offer at Sun City, from the fun-filled Valley of the Waves to the fantastic entertainment extravaganzas.

Author's Note: Toureagle is a revolutionary travel search portal offering an in depth road trip planner, including exploring the main attractions of South Africa. Many activities are available on the trips such as activity parks in South Africa.

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