Ratanga Junction – `the first full- scale theme park in Africa’ – opened its doors to a fun-hungry public this week. Dave Chislett dared to ride the Cobra roller-coaster
As one approaches the main gates to Cape Town’s Ratanga Junction the first feelings of unreality begin to set in. I mean, how many people do you ordinarily see wandering around in the midday sun wearing pith helmets, khaki shorts and shirts? Once inside the imposing wood-and-stone gate structure, this sense of dislocation from the everyday only grows.
A far cry from the Rand Easter Show, there’s nothing cut-rate or boring about this adventure escapade that opened to the public this week. Our guide, a voluble Monex PR representative, leads the gaggle of journos through the maze that is the reconstructed turn-of-the-century mining town, complete with Lost City- esque mythology and history.
While some of the implications of this imperialistic era may not be too savoury to the PC minded, the venue goes out of its way to side-step this for the most part, and to present a fun-filled fantasyland that is pretty well mind-boggling in scope.
All around, bizarre structures have sprouted from previously barren ground. Sights along the way include the Monkey Falls – a truly terrifying looking water ride that’s going as one of the highest log flume rides on the planet; the less intimidating kiddie-size Diamond Devil roller coaster; restaurants; bars; kiddie rides; and the awesome Nu Metro MegaVu cinema offering the latest in international films on the biggest commercial screen in Africa. There are also family rides, a junior roller coaster, a double tier Ferris Wheel and junior bumper cars and boats.
By night, the venue turns into an adult playground of 20ha proportions. With a number of bars and restaurants operating off the Ratanga Island, the bigger children can party the night away with cabaret shows, fine dining, pubs and cocktail bars.
But all of this is dwarfed by the looming presence of the object of our visit: the Cobra.
Conspicuously manufactured from yellow and black steel, its twisted shape towers over everything else in the park. Cunningly situated so that a lengthy stroll past all the park attractions is necessary to approach it, the true depth of its nastiness is saved until you’re suddenly staring at its foot.
Clearly a thing to be avoided by those
with weak hearts, pregnant women or people shorter than 1,2m!
The first climb disappears into the blue sky, and even watching the empty seats whirl round engenders a feeling of nausea. This intrepid gang of hacks, snappers and news-hounds gathers nervously in the shadow of the beast’s spiny skeleton, comforting each other with hollow bravado until it is time to mount the metal monster and enjoy the mayhem.
The stats on this thing are imposing enough: a 34m lift to the first drop, 100km/h speeds, four-times gravity traction on the bends, and you begin to get the picture. Well not really actually, because only once you’ve been tossed about like a banana in a blender by this baby do you begin to get a true appreciation of what it is all about.
Once mounted and strapped in, the machine gently cranks the unwary up to the top of the first lift. There is a magnificent view of Table Mountain to your left, if you have the leisure to have a look. Then, as gravity clutches at your palpitating heart and levitating stomach, the beast is away down to 2m above the ground, into a gut-wrenching turn, and before you know it your feet are above your head and your lunch becomes keen to meet its maker’s shirt.
While you’re still trying to figure out what the hell is going on, you’re through another series of turns, a cork screw effect that has you upside down twice more, and hurtling into a tight bend at 100km/h, with your feet centimetres above the ground before slamming to an abrupt halt. One minute 30 seconds and the ride is over. Madness. I went five times. I think you will too.
Booking vouchers for Ratanga Junction can be obtained from Computicket, which are then exchanged for tickets at the gate, or you can just pay and enter on the day