Rapids is a good family ride. You may not get very wet, if at all, but it is more of a phycological ride more than anything. I.e when you approach those raging waterfalls (when they are working!), you think, oh god im going to get soaked, but instead you pass right down the middle.

But there is always the water spout at the end of the ride (again when it works), which if you are unlucky enough to get caught in a jam here, you may get bashed, time and time again in to the path of the water spout, and get very wet, as all the other boats sail past you to the safety of the station.

Rate it 7/10, good for a relax, or a laugh if all the rapids/falls/spouts are working to full effect. Better try the Flume, at the front for getting wet.

Lauzi: Please watch grammar mistakes

Good ride for all the family and the queue moves quickly. Last time I went, everything seemed to be in working order (waterfalls, jet of water at the end which is usually aimed in my direction)

Also the new boats are much better and seat more people if I’m correct.

-Roddy

My Review - Congo River Rapids

You will get wet, you may get soaked! Yes, you guessed it, it’s the Congo river rapids! A lot of the time this ride is overlooked at the Towers, with white knuckle rides such as Rita and Oblivion, it is easy to see why it has faded into the background. With a surprise around every corner and a hose pipe around the next, The Congo River rapids is one of the best water rides ever to grace this land. Set in the fabulous African Katanga Canyon, the fabulous scenery of the Congo River Rapids fits right in. As it dates back as far as 1986, the Rapids are a great part of Alton’s history. And to this day, it remains a great ride for all the family.

Whether you like white knuckle monsters or family rides, the River Rapids is right for you. After queuing for a relatively short period of time, you step on to the revolving platform and into your 6 seater boat, the journey begins! Right from the word go you are bumped and bashed by your inflatable ring, holding on for dear life. You then travel through waterfalls and fountains, all the time being rocketed from one side of the river to the other. Finally you are winched up the lift hill and back to the revolving platform. When climbing out of your boat, never forget to stumble on the revolving platform, much to amusement of Robert . Walk back up and over the bridge and back round for another go!

The Congo River Rapids is always one to visit when at Alton Towers and it is now a timeless classic and is much loved by all on TTF, Lets hope there are many more years left in the Congo River Rapid’s fairy tale of adventure.

Robert’s Ride Rating - ****

Lauzi: Please watch your use of commas

Well if your lucky on this ride, you could get absolutley soaked but then again, the only wetness your may feel is on your bum from the water on the seats.

This ride is really fun and very amusing for families. Travelling fast down a torrenting river offers sight seeing, a splish, spalsh and a meetup with the Runaway Train riders if you are lucky!

On ride photo is great and its a relaxing journey to the very end.
Although this is a bit boring on some days, on a hot summers day it is a god send

Love it, although please get me more soaked next time!

Congo River Rapids to me was a very enjoyable ride!... The way that the boat constantly turns and dips down into the water to create splashes is a great feature, the way the track turns and twists so your constantly going at different speeds is also a plus as this creates a great adrenaline rush. The waterfalls near the end are also a great feature as it garantees to get people wet even though you dont actually go under them. The on ride photograph section isnt ruined by the way your boat jerks in the water as you enter a soft calm section but as soon as your photograph is taken the bumpy-ness begins again.

I would give this ride a 8/10 as after a while, it can seem to get boring of just sittin there.

This definitely wasn't the best ride in the park but it was still a very good water ride. Usually in rapids, there is one big splash that gets you a bit wet and the rest is dull, but this didn't happen. Everyone on our boat got wet and it was a really laugh! The ride photography was great and the queues weren't too bad. It wasn't a scary ride like Oblivion, a fast ride like Rita, an old ride like Corkscrew or a well themed ride like Nemesis or air, it was just fun! If you have children then they'll enjoy this ride!

Good points
Fun
Not too long queues
Wet

Bad points
Isn't very exhilarating
Is just like most other rapids

A tough ride to give an honest and full review on - I say this because its difficult for the rapids to satisfy all year round, while giving a constant ride. For example, it cant drench you, because that would mean no one would ride it in the colder months, but then again it cant splash up no water, because no one ride in the summer, although some people may argue that you dont get wet anyway. Its easier in florida for their wet rides, becuase of the hot weather, so they simply soak you! we cant do that in Britain, otherwise you might as well close the rapids for half of the season.

In terms of the ride, i like it and its great to go on with family or bunch of friends as its such a good laugh. I like the layout and think the design of integrating the ride with the mine train and also the bridges is excellent.

However, what i would change, is to replace the centre with a small storage whell, where bags can be put and covered with plastic top, as often i cant enjoy ride as much as i would like, because i am concious of camera in my bag getting wet etc.

The Congo River Rapids really is a great familly ride for all ages to enjoy. If you are there as a largish group, it is also bound to deliver some laughs. Alot of people slate it for not getting you wet, even tho it is afterall a water ride. But all my experiences of this attraction has resulted in me getting a bit of a soaking. It has a great layout and interacts with it fellow Katanga Canyon ride, The Runaway Minetrain. It's always fun waving at the riders of the RMT as it zooms past near the tunnel section.

Good Points;

- Superb for all ages.
- Good laugh with friends.
- Nice to ride on a hot day.
- Good Layout.

Bad Points;

- Sometimes doesn't do its job, get you wet.
- Yellow boats can be rather uncomfortable.

8/10

The Congo River Rapids is most definately a good ride when it wants to be. It can get you soaked, it can be fast and it can be very fun. However the ride fails to get me wet most of the time and also doesnt seem to do very much at all but as long as you have a large group with you then chances are that you will have an enjoyable ride. The on-ride photo for the rapids is very good though as you can get it with up to 7 of your friends and family and because the ride slows down you get the chance to do a funny pose!

The ride is one of the older rides in the park being originally built as the Grand Canyon Rapids in the 1980's and has been re-themed once into the Congo River Rapids. I still believe the ride needs something else done to it, whether they add some more themeing to it now or if they go for a completely new theme. But before they think about that then Alton need to make sure all the current effects work! Also the yellow boats that are currently used are by no means comfy and they look boring. They are just plain yellow and Alton haven't even bothered to put either the rides name or the parks name on them.

Overall, the Congo River Rapids are still definately worth a go as long as the queue isn't too long and you have about 4 or more in your group. Watch out though as in the summer, the queues may get very long!

Well these Rapids have got to be among the best in England. They are by far the longest and for me, I can go on them so many times without getting bored.

You start off on a revolving platform and when seated on the very spacious boats, you will whiz of down the river. I wouldn't say that the rapids are a thrill ride but a relaxing ride for all the family, and they are great on a hot day. Although on a hot day, queues can reach anything up to a few hours. My favourite part of the ride is the waterfalls at the end as they are a lot of fun.

Overall:

8/10
A brilliant water ride, but The Flume just beats it as The Flume is a lot more interesting and a lot more fun overall.


Amy X



Williscroft - editied for S&G

Good ride still after all these years

But i wish they would go back to something like the original seats on the boats as these are awful, not a lot of room and terrible to get into for those of us who are very tall, trust me!!

Fantastic and also the theming around Katanga adds to the ride. I love the tunnel and the best parts are the first bend of the ride and of course the waterfalls (when working). Like others have said, it does the job well and is still one of the best family attractions at the resort. 8/10