Two Oceans Aquarium (South Africa)

The Two Oceans Aquarium is situated just off the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront on dock road. This was in walking distance from our hotel of just 5 minutes (see review on table bay hotel).
I noticed that there were parking spaces located close to the aquarium and if you used the spaces behind the aquarium you could claim back your money at the ticket office.

****Admission Costs****
Adults R60.00 // £5.00
Children (4-17) R28.00 // £2.00
Under 4 Free
Pensioners R45.00 // £4.00
Students R50.00 // £4.00

If you are in a group fo 10 or more then there is a 10% discount.
This is really good value for money because you get your hand stamped so you can reenter the aquarium as many times as you like so is really handy to have.

****Opening Times****
Daily 0930 - 1800, 365 days a year.

****Facilities****
Baby Changing facilities are available and in addition there are also babycarriers subject to availability for use free of charge.

For Physically Challenged people there were a number of wheelchairs available for use free of charge and the complete aquarium can be accessed by wheelchair users.

Aquarium shop is available for use by visitors and is located in the foyer and is open 9-6 daily, this contained an array of gifts ranging from soft toys, t-shirts, postcards, photo frames, trinkets, etc.

For convenience there is also a restaurant in the Aquarium called the Bayfront Blu Restaurant, I did not venture into the restaurant but it looked similar in set up to a fast food restaurant, the opening hours are as follows:-

Monday 9am-6pm
Tues - Sat 9am-11.30pm
Sun 9am-9.30pm

It took us about 2 and a half hours to make our way around the Aquarium and during our visit there was a school group in tow but they were very well behaved not like I am used to over here in the UK.

The aquarium has so many attractions contained inside.
As you enter the Aquarium there is a huge aquarium with a wide range of saltwater fish which I found comical as there was one fish that just swam in the same place constantly round and round in a circle, I made Mark get a clip of that as it made me giggle, watching it later it still tickled me.

Moving on through the Aquarium you see rare species of tropical fish including the dangerous puffer fish this is called Diversity Hall and has a wide array o marine life from both the warm indian ocean and the cold atlantic ocean, view jelly fish and corals as well as endangered seahorses anad spider crabs see pics!!

This eventually leads onto a touch pool which allows you to handle the fish and other items found on the sea bed there is a Two Oceans representative on hand to give you plenty of useful information as well, I was too scared to touch anything in the pool but the kids seemed to love it!!

Next you walk down a ramp which leads you onto the Holcim Activity Centre this is great for children as there was a school group there during our visit we were able to see how useful this is to the Children there was again another representative from Two Oceans working with the children to create drawings and you were able to look through the glass at the 4 cape seals swimming in natural surroundings and come face to face with them at the glass.

The Sappi "River Meandei" Exhibit
As you walk through the natural river exhibit you see a beachside area which has a colony of African Penguins which are endangered and rock hopper penguins watch them swim in and out of the water as well as feeding and preening. Dodging in and out of the waterside are African black oyster catchers, definately a great sight and you are located so close you can almost touch the penguins, see pics!!!

As you walk along the decking you can view the freshwater fish that is set up as a natural river. There is some seating area as you walk around.

Finally you hit the I & J predator exhibition which contains over 2.2 million litres of water where you have the ragged tooth sharks swimming overhead, turtles this is by far the best end to the experience with plenty of sights to see.

****Feeding Times****
Fish Fed 3.30pm daily
Penguins Fed 12pm and 3pm daily
Seals Fed 2.30pm
Fish Fed 11.30am and Sundays 12.30pm

Overall a great experience with value for money doesn't look much from the outside but inside is a real treasure.

www.aquarium.co.za for more details