Behold the Long Tom Toboggan, the first of its kind in Africa. Jump aboard your precarious yellow cart and reach speeds of 45 kilometres an hour as you twist and turn through flowers and forests down 1.7 kilometres of stainless steel pipeline.
Opened in March this year, The Long Tom Toboggan is Africa’s first toboggan ride of its kind. Built and owned by James and Lisa Sheard, the 1.7km monorail track took over two years to complete, using the principles of a European model known as an ‘alpine coaster’ or sommerrodelbahn. Utilising over 348 lengths of steel the monorail twists and turns through flowers and trees for an exhilarating three-minute ride.
Even their chef, Cleto, gives it the thumbs up!
“Most people are nervous for their first ride,” says Mike Head, fastening a small seatbelt around my tummy. “So the second ride is much more fun when you realise you won’t actually fall out. Now here’s the brake lever, which you pull towards you when you want to brake. But don’t brake too much because there’s somebody about 40 seconds behind you and you could end up with a bumper car situation. That won’t be fun for anyone.”
With that final piece of advice and before I can change my mind, I am pushed off a platform squealing like a banshee. Three minutes later I slid to a halt with eyes as big as a Bushbaby. “So when do I get to go again then?” I asked while being helped out of my cart, legs shaking like jelly. For someone who isn’t much of an adrenalin junkie, it was the most exhilarating three minutes of my life and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
After your ride you are welcome to stop in at Misty Mountain Lodge for lunch or book in to stay for the night. Keep an eye out for their next Moonlit Toboggan Ride, which takes place under the full moon and the tariff includes dinner and a night’s stay. This ride is weather dependent so keep an eye on their Facebook page for announcements.
If you need a beer to calm your nerves, then pop into The Sabie Brewing Company just at the bottom of The Long Tom Pass, where you can enjoy a few pints of locally handcrafted beer and a delicious meal.
Long Tom Toboggan
Where is it: The Longtom Toboggan ride is at Misty Mountain on the R37 Long Tom Pass, 24 kilometres from Sabie and 31 kilometres from Lydenburg on the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga.
Cost: R250 per ride (valid until 31 January 2017). Bookings are essential, especially over weekends and public holidays.
Contact: Tel 0137643377, email [email protected], or visit their Facebook page.
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