Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
9 January 2009
The newly opened entertainment and fun centre at the Lion Park in Gaborone attracted 30,000 visitors over the Christmas and New Year holidays clocking P1.5 million in entrance fees alone.
This was confirmed by the elated manager of the park, Johan Weideman, in an interview with Arts & Culture review this week. The amusement centre, owned by the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), opened to the public on December 5 last year after awarding a five year management contract to Dewald van der Walt from Namibia and Weideman, a South African.
"We had a very good response. People come here and say this is what Gaborone and Botswana needed for years, especially on public holidays and weekends. There is no doubt people enjoyed themselves here," said Weideman, who also employed 40 casual labourers.
The amusement centre has a fancy locomotive that meets visitors at the entrance and takes them around the centre. It is a magnificent looking place with views of artistically designed rocks and boats overlooking the entrance into the park.
It is a pleasant place where local musicians would like to shoot music videos. "Some of them have started making enquiries. We are open to receive requests and see how we can fit them, if a fee can be agreed of course," the manager said.
For a very hot city like Gaborone the treasured part of the park must be the water park, also known as the "Beach within Reach".
"It is like a sea, really. We create these roaring waves. It is safe in the water for kids and adults because people can go on the shallow end if they are not good swimmers. We have life guards around the pool, to save people in cases of drowning," Weideman says.
Over the holidays the surroundings of the pool were turned into a beach as hundreds of fun lovers sun bathed there, before going back to immerse themselves in the luxury chalets.
Fun lovers, young and old, first enjoy a long slide from either the Super Tube, Speed Slot or the Kiddies Slide, which carry people into the wavy pool.
This Friday the magical pool is hosting a big Pool party from 9pm till late. A DJ will be playing the vibey tunes as the revellers cool themselves in the pool.
The amusement park also provides merry go round, elephants rides, big wheel ride, as well as shells or waltzer rides and cups and sauces rides for both kids and adults.
Although the amusement centre has caused a stir among fun lovers in Gaborone and Botswana, Weideman says they are not going to rest on their laurels. They want to introduce predators so that people who love watching wildlife can come there to see lions, hyenas, wild dogs and cheetahs.
Weideman also has plans for a 4x4 off-track drive. "It is a fun activity for 4x4 owners lots of whom would like to test their driving skills against those obstacles.
With eight years of managing a bigger facility in Johannesburg, Weideman says he will be tapping on the success of the Gold reef City Amusement Park there.
The Lion Park Resort is also launching a Birthday Club this month, which will take care of birthday parties for children.
" It will take away the hassles of planning for your kid's birthday," Weideman says.
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