New R1 billion amusement park launching in South Africa

The Durban beachfront will soon be getting a new tourist attraction, as the eThekwini municipality plans to open a R1 billion new amusement park on South Beach.

The amusement park will be completed by 2027. It is being developed by the city in collaboration with Masithu Consulting and Project Managers (MCPM) – a Durban-based company, with more than 17 years’ experience.

As opposed to the popular Durban waterpark, uShaka Marine World, the Durban Theme Park will be a land-based experience with views over the ocean. 

Visitors can expect to find attractions such as a Lightning Roller Coaster, Disko 24, Vertical Swing, and a 1,500 square metre  Virtual Reality Theme Park with more than 160 interactive games and global e-sports activations. 

The city will also be partnering with two leading Italian amusement engineering firms, well known for projects at Ferrari World, Universal Studios and Disneyland.

The Durban Theme Park will be open both day and night, with bright, neon-lit walkways for safety and panoramic viewing decks for looking out over the sea or admiring the Durban skyline.

The city says that the park will be an “alcohol-free, family-oriented environment that prioritises safety, inclusivity and multigenerational use.”

With this in mind, the park will feature parks within the park for all ages, children, teens, adults and seniors. 

Themed food courts and leisure areas will be scattered throughout the theme park. 

“We are excited that this partnership allows the Municipality to upgrade a key public amenity, while securing significant private investment into the beachfront,” said eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba. 

There is no opening date for the new attraction yet, but eThekwini said that construction will begin as soon as the remaining statutory and commercial processes are completed.

“This project will strengthen Durban’s position as a leading coastal destination and continue to attract visitors to enjoy our warm weather all year round.”

Replacing a Durban icon

The new theme park will be built on the old bones of the abandoned theme park, Durban Fun World. 

Funworld was a beloved attraction for generations of locals and tourists for 75 years before it shut its gates permanently in 2023.

In 1977, the park opened to all races, making it the first public entity to do so. The park changed names a few times over the years, but was operated by the same family throughout its life.

The third-generation owner of the park, Nic Steyn, told News24 at the time that urban decay and crime had chased visitors away, making the Funworld unprofitable. 

Steyn said he watched in sadness as “the jewel in Durban’s crown, its beachfront, deteriorated at an alarming rate.”

Steyn had previously tried to sell off portions of Funworld, and even had multiple offers from interested parties who would have taken the park over as a going concern. 

He said they all ran into the same stumbling block of not being able to secure a lease from the municipality. Steyn’s own lease expired six years before he was forced to close the theme park. 

Steyn was forced to leave the park abandoned, warning that “anything that can be sold for scrap will be gone, and whoever takes over will literally have to start again.”

The Durban Themepark will, therefore, have its work cut out for it in redeveloping the site and bringing it back to its former glory. 

eThewkini said that the revitalisation of the site is part of its bigger plan to revitalise the beachfront economy, attract private investment and become a leading African tourism destination. 

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More photos of the Durban Theme Park: