Looking for Shaft of Terror and Anaconda reviews

I've been looking all over the net for information regarding these two monsters at South Africa's Gold Reef Ciry, and besides for some great shots of Anaconda, I've found almost nothing. What I'm really looking for is a ride review of either of them as I'm curious to know what these one of a kind monsters ride like. If anyone knows of any info or has been there themselves, could you let me know how it is>?

Thanks for your time :)

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--Dingo 65--
http://rct.ogresnet.com
Forgotten member of Thrillride forums.

I realise I'm digging up an old topic here, but nobody ever answered this. I'm planning to go to Gold Reef City in April, and would also appreciate any links to photographs or trip reports from both here and from Ratanga Junction.

My guess is that no matter how large the CB subscription base is, the chances that a person has:

A. Been to South Africa
B. Been to the park
C. Signed up for CB
D. Read this post

is slim to none. I'm not trying to be a smart*** here, but I think your odds are not too good. I'll help you out with this bump.

P.S. Give us the trip report after the April trip.

I have been trying to get downloadable videos of these rides for years. I was able to recently contact a person at the hotel/resort there. They said they have a promo video but could not send it to me due to the cost factor. But when you go, I agree, post a report and see if you can get any videos that you could post. I think these rides may be hidden gems.

I was in SA in October 2003 during my one day spent in J'berg before I went on my Earthwatch Expeiditon. I do have some decent shots of Anaconda, the Golden Loop, and the Tower of Terror that I can post once I get home. I do belive I still have the park map from there as well. Admission to this park was very nice (I think about $9 US after the conversion from Rands). I went on a weekday but apparently it was not a school day and there were a lot of teens in the park.

I can give some basics now on the 3 coasters -

Golden Loop - very basic looping coaster - they pull you back up the hill, you shoot through the station and through the loop to the top, coming back through backwards - I can relate this to SF Darien Lake's Boomerange minus the second loop.

Anaconda - steel inverted coaster - decent length ride with several loops, 0-g roll, and double corkscrew. This was a smooth ride too, not too much head banging going on

Shaft (TOwer) of Terror - this was unlike any other coaster I've been on - they put you in a mine train - like car with an odd combination of a over the head seatbelt and a restraint similar to that on MF at CP. You are taken up the tower very slowly to the top where you are turned to face back towards the station. They take you to the end and put the car at a 90 degree angle and hold for about 3-5 seconds. You then are dropped into an underground tunnel that is semi covered where you come back around to the station. This is a very slow loading ride so the line moves very slowly. I only managed one ride on this since I got to the park around 12 and they closed early due to rain, which especially stunk because I was next in line.

Have no fear - I'll photograph the parks I'm going to thoroughly and try and get some off-ride footage. If the park gives me permission I'll shoot some POV footage too.

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Jeffrey R Smith said:
I'm not trying to be a smart*** here, but I think your odds are not too good.

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So much for your odds.

Isn't Golden Loop a Schwarzkopf shuttle loop?

-Jim

Man the title of this thread SCREAMS porno. :) LOL!

Where's Moosh when you need him?

For what it's worth, I'm making a long weekend trip down there for Ratanga Junction and Gold Reef City. About 24 hours of flights for two parks (and one side trip to catch the only other coaster in South Africa). Yes, I am insane.

Golden Loop is indeed a Schwarzkopf shuttle (formerly White Lightnin' @ PC). Unless some odd change was made, it won't pull you up the back spike.

Isn't Ratanga Junction closing? Are you sure it will be open in April, or is it waiting till June (can't remember, but it seems like I read that). I know it will be closed after this year for sure.

Regardless, Richard, take lots of pix, as much video as you can (esp. of Ratanga, since I'll never get to go), and do a nicely detailed TR.

I hope to get to Gold Reef City in 07 or 08. I'm doing Africa and Europe at some point then:).

Yes - the Ratanga closing was what prompted this trip. Gold Reef City has always been on my personal to-do list, and it's harder to justify a flight half way across the world for one park than for two. I contacted them and enquired exactly when they were closing, and I was informed May 2005.

The detail of my trip reports is probably known to the regulars here at this point :)

Yes, but I don't want you to skimp out on this one, as I'm highly interested in Gold Reef City;).

Me too :)

Go to rcdb.com for pictures. Anaconda looks like a great ride. Why didn't Giovanola make more inverts? Shaft of terror has a 90 degree drop that tilts to the right. http://www.rcdb.com/ig1481.htm?picture=3

http://ft.digital-coaster.com/videos/

here are some videos that may have what you are looking for

oh yea, Shaft of Terror pulls 6.3 g's, the current world record for a coaster I believe.

If anyone's remotely interested, I can confirm that Richard Bannister is indeed clinically insane :) But he's still ridden less coasters than me ;)

You could be right about the Golden Loop. That one is a little blurry. I don't remember much else of the park besides those 3 rides. That's what you get for getting off the plane after an 18 hour flight and going straight to a park. Some nice jet lag and a foggy reconigition

Indeed, but as Martin is no longer slim enough to fit in quite a few coasters he won't maintain that lead for ever :)