Rope Adventure is coming to uShaka Marine World!
Chief executive, Stella Khumalo, announced this week that uShaka Marine World would launch Durban’s first rope adventure course in the park ahead of the busy 2015 July holiday season. She said construction began last month and that this exciting new feature was expected to be fully operational by mid-year.
As part of a joint venture between uShaka Marine World and Chimp & Zee, a company set up by members of the SA adventure tourism industry to design, build and operate rope courses, zip lines, aerial adventure parks, climbing structures and free fall devices across South Africa. Visitors to uShaka Marine World will be having a swinging time at Africa’s largest Marine Theme Park.
The uShaka Rope Adventure course will consist of a series of rope bridges, obstacle courses, climbing nets, zip lines and crossings that will be suitable for all ages.
The trail will start from the Village Walk and travel over the scenic Sea World and uShaka’s signature phantom ship. Khumalo said that the elevated nature of this attraction allowed uShaka to make maximum use of the space available as well as the beautiful views over Durban’s Golden Mile and Point Waterfront.
The facility to be built at uShaka will feature two courses – one for children and the less adventurous, as well as a second for thrill seekers and is estimated that the average person will take about 45 minutes to complete both courses. Both these courses have already been planned and laid out and visitors to uShaka will begin to see the first poles being planted shortly. After that, the platforms and elements and zip lines will be constructed incrementally around the courses.
The two courses will form a rough figure eight, allowing adventurers to continue straight onto the second course after the introductory course if they wish. The beginner course consists of 18 elements, including two short zip lines over the rocky reef and turtle enclosure tanks. The intermediate course includes 17 elements that slightly more challenging. It ends with a double zip line off the top deck of the ship and over the snorkel lagoon back to the end point at Village Walk.
Both courses will be 100% safe with a continuous clip on once and go system. Each participant will wear a full body climbing harness and will be attached to a safety cable above their heads as they navigate their way across the swing bridges and obstacles.
Trained guides will be on hand to instruct participants on the correct use of the equipment and to also monitor and assist participants.
Khumalo said she was extremely excited about this new feature. “Since uShaka Marine World opened in April 2004, we have constantly introduced new elements into our offering – from new water slides to the Dangerous Creatures exhibition and more. New attractions need to complement the existing uShaka offering whilst still bringing something new to the customer. This is going to be a strong focus for us in 2015”.
She said that market research had shown a strong move towards adventure tourism with adventure experiences gaining popularity both internationality and in South Africa.
The Rope Adventure is expected to be a major attraction during the winter season. Although Durban’s winter is mild and warm and conducive to water based activities, many might fancy an alternative offering.
“With this attraction being able to operate both during the day and under lights at night, this provides a valuable night time attraction to uShaka’s Village Walk and to Durban as a whole,” Khumalo added.
One of the exciting ideas behind the initial two courses is that it can be expanded and future phases are available to extend this attraction.
The Chimp & Zee Rope Adventure ticket and administration office will be located in the Village Walk. The attraction will be open between9am and 9pm and can accommodate between 400 and 500 people per day. Tickets are expected to cost R120 per person.
For more information contact Ruth Mhlongo at uShaka Marine World on 031-3288000