Frommer's Review
Six kilometers (3 3/4 miles) south of the city center, Gold Reef City is built around the No. 14 Crown mine shaft that began operating in 1887 and, by the time of its closure in 1975, had produced over 1,400 tons of gold. A re-creation of the Victorian town of the gold-rush era, the "city" houses a variety of gold-related exhibits and museums, of which the most interesting is the 200m (656-ft.) descent into the old mine shaft, after which you can watch demonstrations of gold being poured and minted. Make sure you time your visit to coincide with a performance by the gumboot and traditional dancers -- by far the best entertainment on offer (at least for adults). These take place two to three times a day; call for times. Despite allusions to Jo'burg's history, Gold Reef City is essentially a theme park, and during the school holidays its target audience becomes apparent as teenagers jostle for space on rides like the Anaconda roller coaster and Tower of Terror, and toddlers screech as they trundle past on the Jungle Train or Lazy Boats. The theme park now includes Africa's first 4-D cinema theater, which bring smells and odors to an audiovisual movie-watching experience that's also enhanced by hydraulic lifts. Adults can take an emotional roller-coaster ride in the adjacent casino, reached via a skybridge, or enjoy jazz along with African-fusion dining at Back o' the Moon Restaurant (tel. 011/496-1423); you can also take in a musical at the spanking-new Lyric Theatre.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
