The Only Rail Toboggan in Africa!

The Rail Toboggan | Africa Style!

If you’re looking for a one of a kind adventure, something you cannot experience anywhere else in Africa. Something that will get your heart pumping, stir your senses and get you really close to nature. Then Misty Mountain’s ‘Long Tom Toboggan’ is it!

Why a Toboggan?

Why not! A toboggan is fun, novel, exciting and offers something completely different to the suite of natural attractions found along the Panorama Route.

It allows visitors to get up close and personal to nature as they whiz down the 1.7km track through some of our regions most spectacular scenery.

The two and a half minute trip will awaken every sense as you see this magnificent part of Mpumalanga from a totally new perspective.

Once you get over the initial adrenaline rush, you’ll start to appreciate the rich aroma’s that come from the sweet vegetation you’ll glide over. You will feel the rush of the wind against your cheeks, as you reach speeds of 45km an hour and you’ll hear the sounds of the Lowveld that accompany the whoosh of the toboggan as you weave through the veld.

It really is a truly special and unique experience.

How did it all come about?

This amazing attraction is all thanks to a YouTube clip and the belief of two passionate Lowvelder’s.

Two years ago Lisa and James Sheard began this journey when they were sent a YouTube clip of a toboggan ride in Austria, with a note “Why don’t you?“.

“We instantly thought, why can’t we do this here” Lisa explains without hesitation. “The thing that struck us were the similarities between the scenery and it made us think that this would be the perfect way to showcase the landscape we have right here in Mpumalanga” says Lisa. 

It hasn’t always been an easy ride (forgive the pun), for Lisa and James. Building the first of it’s kind anywhere is a challenge, but especially in a greenfield area of such natural beauty.

“We wanted the toboggan to have as little environmental impact as possible, after all, this is about showcasing the landscape not destroying it. I am proud to say we succeeded”, says Lisa.

Lisa and James wanted to build an innovative tourist attraction that provided an alternative to the standard attractions found along the Panorama Route. Something that gave tourists an experience, rather than simply an attraction to observe. The toboggan has certainly done this.

So what do the tourist’s think? “Amazing…” “Breathtaking…” “Can I do it again!” … are just some of the happy comments.

What you need to know…

The Long Tom Toboggan can be found at Misty Mountain, situated just outside Sabie on the R37 Sabie to Lydenburg road.

While you don’t need to book, it is advisable over weekends and long weekends and can be easily done by phone: 013 764 3377 or by email.

While it is open to anyone. There are a few restrictions. Riders have to be able to reach the handbrake, which does restrict it to children over the age of 7/8 years depending on their size. The ride is not suitable for people heavier than 120kg. Aside from that, the only requirement is that you wear shoes and no flowing clothing.

Open weekdays and weekends but closed on Mondays (except pubic holidays). At R250 a ride it is worth every cent and our advice is to save up so you can have two turns!

What’s next?

As soon as you meet Lisa it is clear that she is not the kind of woman who stops at just one toboggan, even if it is the first in Africa!

They plan to develop a suite of activities around the toboggan that will provide an action packed tourism experience in keeping with this beautiful part of the world.

Also see more photos here: https://showme.co.za/nelspruit/tourism/tourist-attractions/why-a-tobbogan-misty-mountain-toboggan/