Tower of Terror is a famous steel roller coaster located in Gold Reef City, a theme park in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. It opened in December 2001, and what makes it especially distinctive is its vertical elevator-style lift that carries the train up before plunging straight down a 90° drop — including into an old mine shaft — which creates a dramatic and intense experience for riders. The ride reaches a top speed of about 95 km/h (59 mph) and features a roughly 50 m drop, but no loops or inversions. It has been known for very high g-forces on the descent, making it memorable for thrill-seekers.

In terms of its place within Africa, Tower of Terror is notable among coasters on the continent for its speed. According to roller coaster speed rankings in Africa, it holds the number-one spot for fastest operating coaster, at around 59 mph (95 km/h), ahead of other rides like the Golden Loop and Anaconda at the same park.

That said, while it’s the fastest in Africa, Tower of Terror’s speed isn’t close to the fastest coasters globally — some rides in other parts of the world exceed speeds of 150 km/h or more. On its own continent, however, it’s recognized as the top in its category.

According to the internet