uShaka Marine World — Attraction in eThekwini Ward 26

Ushaka is a interesting experience. We spent a Saturday enjoying Seaworld. The staff are very unfriendly and not welcoming. The ticket booth cashiers don’t welcome you with a smile and give you no guidance as to how to book, what to do during the day. They just sit there waiting for you to tell them what you want. A disgrace and not difficult for management to address.

The arrival experience at Ushaka can either be through the Ushaka Village, through retail and restaurants , it is close to 750m walk so not for the faint hearted.

The other and much easier way is to avoid the retail village and simply go directly to the main gate which is off the beach therefore simply walk to the beach after parking in the designated parking area and you can access the entrance.

My recommendation of how to spend a day there is , if only visiting Seaworld, then arrive at 9am promptly, shockingly the municipality which manages the site does not allow for any Online Purchases on their website, absolutely disgraceful, but you buy a ticket for Seaworld only, the other option is the water park or a combo ticket. Then immediately head to another booth hidden away past the aquarium to buy tickets for other activities inside Seaworld such as lagoon snorkelling, shark dive in a cage, ocean walking , fish feed which you must do before 10am, Dolphins up close, ray feeding or the back of house tour. All of these tickets are only available for about an hour after you arrive. Nobody tells you this. Another disgrace by the management.The fact that nobody tells you this, nowhere is this advertised, not one employee at the entrance tells you to do this, and this makes so much extra revenue for the park so truly mind boggling.

My recommended route to enjoy the whole day productively is arrive at 9am, buy tickets for the extra activities inside the park, do some of those activities as a lot of them can't be done later in the afternoon, immediately. Then head to the 2 main shows which happen one after another Seal show, 10.30 am and Dolphin show 11.30am, note you will only see dolphins during the show, you cannot see them after that as they are taken to another pool that is not accessible to the public. Sometimes they have a 2nd show in the afternoon but sometimes they do not. Then after the shows, do the aquarium in the shipwreck , it is nice and cool and in the hottest time of the day, then have lunch. There is only one place inside the seaworld to get fast food style food, Gambits and they only serve chicken strips and chips or burger and chips. All the other food outlets are in the Village which is quite a walk from the actual park. Then continue to do your special activities you booked after lunch. The park closes at 5pm. If you booked a combo ticket, I recommend doing Seaworld in the morning between 9am and 1pm and then spending the afternoon in the waterpark which also closes at 5pm. This way you will get to see the shows and do the aquarium in the morning.

The parks are well sign posted. It was generally quite clean. The shows are OK, not vow. The Creatures attraction can be done after the main day has ended as this is located inside the village walk and takes about 30mins. Again this closes at 5pm. Should you want to do shopping, I would recommend finish in the park and head to the retail village which also leads to the parking area.

The sad part of this review is that I visited the park in the early days when it had jst opened and it is very sad to see the quality of the shows are poor, the staff are truly unfriendly, a number of the attractions inside seaworld also lie empty. it should be handed over to a private company to run to get it back to the great complex it once was...

Ushaka Marine World Review: A Splashing Success

Located on the stunning Golden Mile of Durban, South Africa, uShaka Marine World is a world-class aquarium and marine park that promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. With its impressive array of marine life, interactive exhibits, and thrilling rides, uShaka Marine World is a must-visit destination for anyone fascinated by the underwater world.

The aquarium at uShaka Marine World is a marvel of modern design, boasting an impressive 3.8 million liters of water and over 10,000 marine animals from around the world. The moment you step inside, you're transported to an underwater realm teeming with life.

The Shark Tank: Get up close and personal with ragged-tooth sharks, spotted wobbegongs, and other predators in the 1.3 million-liter tank. The Dolphin Arena: Witness the intelligent and playful nature of these marine mammals in daily shows. The Sea Turtle Exhibit: Observe these gentle creatures swimming and feeding in a naturalistic habitat. The Ray Touch Pool: Interact with majestic eagle rays and southern stingrays.

uShaka Marine World's exhibits are carefully designed to educate and entertain:

The Coastal Playground: Explore the intertidal zone, featuring colorful fish, anemones, and coral. The Ocean Exhibition: Discover the mysteries of the deep ocean, including anglerfish and vampire squid. The Marine Life Encounters: Get face-to-face with moray eels, groupers, and other marine creatures.

For thrill-seekers, uShaka Marine World offers:

The Wet 'n Wild Water Park: Enjoy water slides, a wave pool, and lazy river. The Cable Car: Take in breathtaking views of the city and ocean. The Chimp & Zee Rope Adventure: Challenge yourself on the rope course.

uShaka Marine World is committed to marine conservation:

Research and Education: Collaborations with universities and organizations promote marine conservation. Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation: The aquarium provides a safe haven for injured or stranded marine animals. Sustainable Practices: Energy-efficient systems and waste reduction initiatives minimize the park's environmental print.

uShaka Marine World caters to diverse needs:

Dining: Enjoy seafood, fast food, or snacks at various restaurants and cafes. Shopping: Browse marine-themed merchandise, souvenirs, and local handicrafts. Accessibility: Wheelchair-friendly facilities ensure inclusive access.

uShaka Marine World is an exceptional destination for:

Families: Engaging exhibits, interactive experiences, and thrilling rides. Marine enthusiasts: Diverse marine life, cutting-edge exhibits, and conservation efforts. Tourists: Unique cultural experiences, stunning views, and Durban's vibrant atmosphere.

Plan your visit during off-peak hours to avoid crowds. Allocate at least 4-6 hours to explore the aquarium and attractions. Take advantage of guided tours and interactive experiences. Support conservation efforts by purchasing eco-friendly merchandise.

uShaka Marine World is an outstanding aquarium and marine park that exceeds expectations. With its stunning exhibits, thrilling rides, and commitment to conservation, it's an unforgettable experience for visitors from...

I have come here many times and this is the first time I’m reviewing it this place is magical. The aquarium alone is breathtaking and an experience that I’ve never felt in any other aquarium in the world not even the two oceans aquarium in Cape Town can beat the aquarium. The idea the decor the way it’s laid out the interactive activities that are available to do and see really gives you an incredible experience and interaction with the animals. We also went to the dolphin show, which I guess could’ve been better because I do remember being a child and the dolphins doing more tricks but maybe it’s because of animal activists that don’t allow trainers to do what they used to with the animals, having said that it was really beautiful to see how intelligent dolphins are and the things that they can do it was also educational because they added about littering and helping the environment. We also saw the seal show Which was also very entertaining and the people presenting it were pretty good at that too. It’s good to go early to the seal show and the dolphin show as the seal show gets shown in a smaller stadium and it gets really filled up pretty quick so the sooner the better you’ll get a good seat the dolphin show is in the big stadium and there’s ample space to be seated, even though we went during peak time during the festival holiday. I recommend that you give yourself at least three hours to really enjoy the aquarium and also time the shows of the dolphin in the seal. They do have a wet and wild area where you can swim, but due to the fact that we arrived during the festive season and a peak season it was super busy And we did not partake in that. I suggest you wear a comfortable shoes to walk around and have your phones filled with batteries so that you can take lots of videos and photos. They also have an area for shopping where you can eat and also shop till you drop.

what I suggest you do is do go over the weekdays when there are less people visiting the aquarium and also not during holidays that will give you the best experience to actually take some time looking at the aquarium in a quiet environment, but if you don’t have that option then maybe a weekday compared to weekend...