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The holiday season is fast approaching and for most people this means hosting family and friends and putting together a to-do-list and an itinerary.
While some people will be travelling, others will be staying behind to become tourists in their own cities.
This trend has become known as a ‘staycation’ and has seen a rise in popularity across the globe due to tight economic times.
While it may sound kind of boring, it’s been proven over and over again that it really needn’t be. There’s much to discover and explore even in our most familiar surrounds.
If you’re going to be hanging around Johannesburg during the school holidays, why not revisit good old Gold Reef City?
Here are a few fun things you can get up to
Gold Reef City Theme Park
Walking into the theme park at Gold Reef City is like stepping into another world. Those looking for a bit more excitement can't go wrong with the many rides and activities on offer.
Adrenaline junkies should consider the Anaconda; one of two inverted roller coasters in the world which currently holds the record holder for the fastest and tallest inverted roller coaster in Africa.
“Gold Reef City Theme Park is also home to the largest Big Wheel in South Africa,” says Andre Hudson, Gold Reef City’s Theme Park General Manager. The Big Wheel which was re-furbished earlier this year now has 21 gondolas and offers amazing aerial views of the Jozi skyline.
For children, the well-known Kiddies Corner offers rides such as the Carousel and the Safari Train while the 4D theatre promises to entertain all ages with its latest movies, state of the art technology, digital effects and motions seats.
To take a break from the rides, Theme Park goers can also explore the museum houses, Town Square and the variety of restaurants and fast foods to refuel.
The gold mine tour
Be transported back in time to an authentic mining town from the 1880s where you can descend into the depths of an old mine, spend time exploring genuine museum houses, and hover over the river panning for gold in Gold Reef City’s Jozi’s Story of Gold.
This magical trip down memory lane will tell you all about how Johannesburg came into being, how gold was discovered on the reef and how the lives of men and women formed an integral part of a rich and fascinating heritage.
The gold mine, which has an average of 3 500 visitors per day provides underground tours of the mine as well as gold-pouring demonstrations.
Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum was opened in 2001 and is the spotlight of South Africa’s fight for racial equality.
The remarkable building is designed to resemble the prison-like conditions of Robben Island – a reminder of the apartheid era and what some South Africans went through.
Look out for the historic photos about South Africa’s miracle years in the early 1990s when negotiations led to the first democratic elections on the 27th April 1994. The museum is also filled with interactive displays that include lots of video and film footage.
For anyone wanting to understand and experience the history of apartheid in South Africa, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is fundamental.
The Casino Complex
“At Gold Reef City visitors are spoilt for choice. Not only can you enjoy the theme park but The Lyric Theatre is also a great option for the family and provides top class shows while food lovers can enjoy many culinary delights on our beautiful property,” says Mike Page, Director of Operations and Complex General Manager at Gold Reef City.”
Visitors also have an option of trying their luck on the Slots and Tables games at Gold Reef City's Casino which boasts a magnificent entertainment atmosphere and an abundance of gaming choices.
Come December, guests will also be able to experience and enjoy new facilities such as a newly remodelled Magic Company, crèche, the Tsogo Sun Vigour & Verve restaurant and the newly furbished Back of the Moon restaurant.
For more information visit www.goldreefcity.co.za .
