Three thousand reasons to visit the Two Oceans Aquarium

With more than 3000 marine creatures on view – including sharks, turtles and penguins – the Two Oceans Aquarium is one of the finest aquariums in the world.

Situated in Portswood Square at the V&A Waterfront, the aquarium showcases the unique marine life of the Atlantic and Indian oceans which lie on either side of the Cape of Good Hope.

Exciting and educational

The inviting and often interactive displays offer an educational and entertaining experience that will appeal to young and old alike. The galleries presenting South Africa’s rich aquatic life include:

Oceans of Contrast – Atlantic Ocean Gallery: Allows visitors a peek into the life of the cold Atlantic Ocean. Come face to face with translucent jellyfish, see a tiny, rare Knysna seahorse for the first time and introduce yourself to the giant spider crabs that call the Two Oceans Aquarium home.

Oceans of Contrast – Indian Ocean Gallery: Showcases six exhibits of marine life from the warm Indian Ocean. Look out for the orange-and-white-striped Nemo (the anemonefish) and his buddies and a wealth of other brightly coloured fish found in the Indian Ocean’s coral reefs.

I&J Predator Exhibit: Here you can eyeball ragged-tooth sharks and stingrays. If you have an Open 1 diving qualification you can dive in the predators’ tank. Not for the faint-hearted! Visitors can come along and watch the shark-feeding on Sunday afternoons.

Sappi River Meander: This exciting exhibit traces the journey of a typical Western Cape river from its mouth at the ocean to its origins as a stream high up in the mountains. Here, visitors can also view the colony of penguins up close, as they hang out in their natural habitat.

Kelp Forest Exhibit: One of the aquarium’s biggest drawcards, the enchanting underwater forest is home to shoals of silver fishes shimmering through the sunlight.

Afrisam Children’s Centre: Fun activities are on offer for kids between the ages of four and ten – there are puppet shows, face painting and supervised arts and crafts activities.