Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze, Sunday News Reporter
LUNA Park Family Amusement Park, operating in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks), reopened last Friday, reintroducing a familiar source of family entertainment to the Bulawayo community at a time when many households are seeking respite from the pressures of daily life.
The reopening comes as schools settle into new academic terms, a period often marked by demanding schedules, preparation costs and heightened expectations for children.
The Luna Park is viewed as a facility which is intended to serve as a restorative space, one where children can relax after hectic school routines and families can reconnect through shared leisure.
A local favourite dating back to the 1970s, Luna Park has long occupied a special place in Bulawayo’s recreational life.
Over decades, its rides and attractions have drawn generations of residents, from young children experiencing their first amusement rides to adults revisiting childhood memories.
The park is especially popular during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), when it has traditionally become a centrepiece of family recreation in the city.
Now located at Criterion Farm along Burnside Road, between Circular Drive and Munda Drive, the amusement park offers a more spacious and accessible setting.
The park opens daily at 9am, with entrance free to the public. Individual rides and activities cost US$2, with payments also accepted in local currency. To accommodate a wide range of visitors, the park accepts swipe payments as well as EcoCash and OneMoney.
Parents pay only for the activities their children choose, a pricing structure the operators say is designed to keep the experience affordable. The park features a wide variety of attractions, including virtual reality experiences, rockets, a big wheel, boats, quad bikes, canoes, a roller coaster, jets, dragons, dangler shells, a train ride, jumping castles, a sweets bar and professional photoshoots.
Mr Witness Chihota, the director of Luna Park Family Amusement Park, encouraged parents and guardians to take advantage of the facility, highlighting its family-friendly policies.
He said visitors are allowed to bring their own cooler boxes while braai stands are available without restrictive regulations, a gesture he said, is intended to make families feel at home.
“Our primary goal is to ensure that children have fun and memorable experiences at our amusement park, for me this is not business but to give back to the community as I understand that we are nothing without them,” he said.
Mr Chihota spoke warmly about Bulawayo, describing the city as central to the park’s success and close to his heart.
“Bulawayo always feels like home, it is a wonderful feeling to know that every time we are coming to a place where people truly appreciate and enjoy our services. Of all the places we have stationed at, Bulawayo remains among the best,” he said.
He said the park was committed to meeting the expectations of visitors, with additional attractions already in development.
“We promise to not disappoint our customers, we are already planning horse rides for weekends as we build towards the holidays,” he said.
Addressing safety concerns often raised by parents, Mr Chihota emphasised that safety remains a central priority. The park provides ample parking space, allowing families to enjoy their visit without worrying about the security of their vehicles. He added that operational safety extends beyond parking to the rides themselves.
According to Mr Chihota, Luna Park has qualified personnel who regularly service and inspect the machinery.
“We put the safety of our customers first before the money they bring in. In that very aspect the people operating the machinery at the Luna Park are fully qualified mechanics and engineers who are also responsible for servicing the machinery. Every morning before we start the day, we make sure that the machinery is serviced,” said Mr Chihota.
The relocation from its former site at the intersection of Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street was a deliberate move, he explained, aimed at offering families a more comfortable and less congested environment.
The new location is intended to ease overcrowding typically experienced during peak periods such as Easter holidays and the ZITF season.
Luna Park Family Amusement Park is a family-run enterprise operating under Spares Mania Investments. The company, originally based in Ruwa near Harare, invested in the park’s machinery, including the joyride, train, jets, shells, boats and the iconic big wheel, with the aim of bringing joy and entertainment to communities across the country.
Over the years, the park has gained a reputation for reliability and consistency, qualities Mr Chihota believes are essential in building trust with the public. As Luna Park resumes operations in Bulawayo, he continues to urge families to visit, unwind and rediscover a space that has long been woven into the city’s social fabric.
