Ratanga Junction photos added to ThemeParks.ie

It's too bad that this park is closing. It was the biggest park in South Africa, and has only been open a few years. According to my brother (who lives in Cape Town), the main issue was the marketing of the park - they never seemed to appeal to any particular target audience.

The only other substantial park left in South Africa is in Johannesburg (Gold Reef City).

Pictures of that will follow when I get a bit of time... :)

I rode the Golden Loop there about 10 years ago - gravity powered Schwarkop shuttle. Awesome ride!

Now that Ratanga is closing, I could kick myself - I must have been past there 20 times, but each time I was in Cape Town I was just too busy to make it. Sucks.....

So...what US park is the SLC going to? ;)

I was there, god, 5 years ago, where has the time gone, and thought it was a good little park.

The slc was very enjoyable for me- was my first SLC and was in good condition, no q's at all, so front row all the way!! Had real live snakes in the q'line which was a nice touch.

I dont remember the bushwacker but the Mine train was a good example of the genre- with 2 lift hills i seem to remember right next to each other.

The log flume was excellent- especially compared to the old ones i was used to in England.

A huge shame it is closing, could have easily been a good tourist attraction and perhaps with a kind pricing structure for the locals (take lots of money from the tourists) they could have made it financially viable.

The best thing about this park was watching- and hearing the reactions off the Africans when the were on and coming off the 2 coasters. Obviously their first time- and my god were they pumped. Too funny.
*** This post was edited by gyjdnb 4/19/2005 10:29:45 PM ***

Maybe SFA could pick up the Minetrain. It would add to our collection of Vekoma coasters.

The mine train is a good ride. The SLC, though, is quite possibly the worst of the breed I've ridden.

There was a rumour going around at one point that the SLC was going to stay in South Africa, and possibly be relocated to somewhere on or near Table Mountain in Cape Town.