uShaka Marine World

About uShaka Marine World

uShaka Marine World in Durban is a world-class entertainment and tourism destination. At the end of Durban's Golden Mile is the beginning of uShaka Marine World - spanning over 15 hectares of prime beach front, uShaka Marine World is Africa's largest Marine Theme park.

Did you know? A theme park of note, the oceanarium alone is worth the fee and if you're with kids, the amusement park, shopping and beach fun fills a day easily. There is even a shipwreck thrown in for fun. Water rides, frolicking dolphins, seal stadiums and penguin rookeries make this a bird's eye view of the western Indian Ocean. Despite uShaka Marine World being a touristy thing to do, you would be hard pressed to beat it.

uShaka Marine World incorporates fresh and sea water, lush vegetation, natural materials and the re-creation of a wreck of a 1940's cargo ship. With the 5th largest aquarium in the world by volume of water, the park is tatesfully themed with a focus on family entertainment. No matter what the occassion, you will always find something to do a uShaka Marine World.

Enjoy fun at Sea World, have a memorable meal at any one of the many restaurants (including the amazing Shark Restaurant, situated in the themed shipwreck with a window into a shark tank), go shopping in over 11,250m² of retail space featureing clothing boutiques, outdoor gear, ats and crafts as well as indigenous and tourist-focused goods, information and services.

Located in the centre of uShaka Marine World you can experience the salt water aquarium with indoor and outdoor displays and exhibits, a 1200 seater dolphin stadium where you'll be entertained by the world-famous Dolphins, the seal stadium and penguin rookery. In addition, Sea World offers edutainment tours behind the scenes and special interactive activities such as snorkelling through reefs and grottos and scuba dives.

Durban is famous for its beaches and that's exactly what you'll find at uShaka Marine world. Bell's Beach, adjacent to uShaka Marine World, has been set aside for adventure seekers and offers perfect all-year non-stop fun. Activities include windsurfing, beach volleyball, and beach rugby, surfing, jet skiing, kite surfing, paddle boat rides, dolphin viewing charters and national and international beach sports events.

Then there is Wet 'n Wild World. A fresh water entertainment wonderland, Wet 'n Wild World offers exhilarating fun and safe entertainment for the whole family. It features separate swimming pools for kids and adults, relaxing river rides and high speed chutes for the adrenaline junkies. This is the place where the wild at heart are set free to experience adrenaline pumping action while the rest of us can merely sunbathe on sandy beaches, grass or decks.

There is a mini-super tube (for "kids" of all ages), the play area with water cannons and water mushrooms will keep kids busy for hours and ensure your visit to Wet 'n Wild World is fun-filled. And a "must-experience" is the tunnel ride - a roller-coaster enclosed ride not for the claustrophobic. Speeding round the curves at a gut- wrenching four metres per second in the dark makes for a thrilling experience and you'll definitely come back for more.

Sea World also incorporates the research facilities of the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) which manages and protects scientific and environmental credibility of Sea World and SAAMBR as a whole. These research facilities also offer classrooms for lectures to school and other groups on marine and other coastal matters as well as a research and reference library.

Some of the Highlights at uShaka Marine World include...

Rocky Touch Pool

Have you ever touched a starfish? Have you ever felt the skin of a sea cucumber? No? Then this is the place to do it - gently of course - with the help of a specially trained guide.

The Open Ocean

Gazing through an enormous window 8m long by 3m high you'll feel as though you are actually standing underwater with the many fish associated with the open ocean such as tuna, pompano, dorado and rays.

Dangers of the Deep

Get ready to meet some of the most feared creatures of the deep? Sharks, sea snakes, devil fire fish and stone fish occupy this area where from the surface you might even be able to touch a shark as it swims past a purpose-built balcony at feeding time.

Coral Gardens

Bright yellows and reds, oranges and blues - nature manages to put so much beauty into a coral reef, and of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on earth that has been recreated for you within Sea World.

The Deep Zone

The deep zone is a window into the lives of some of the weirdest and most spectacular animals inhabiting a world hundreds of metres below the surface of the ocean, often in total darkness.

Penguins

The African penguin is an endangered species. However, our breeding colony will provide you with a special opportunity to see these rare birds as they 'fly' through the water and waddle on land.

Getting to uShaka Marine World

To reach uShaka Marine World from central Durban, join Point Road from West Street or Victoria Embankment and travel south. Continue on Point Road, turn left into Southampton and again into Albert Terrace.