Aquariums in South Africa by Toureagle
South Africa is the meeting-point for two oceans with completely different temperatures and ecosystems: the the chilly Atlantic and tropical Indian Oceans. This mixing and meeting of the oceans means that the South African coastline throngs with a fascinating variety of marine species, which are featured in South Africa's world-class aquariums.
South Africa's aquariums are not just made up of walls of fish tanks. The aquariums are among the best in the world, and showcase spectacular marine life in innovative and educational displays. They also give visitors the opportunity to closely observe the aquarium's fishy inhabitants, by allowing them to dive in or near the tanks. Not only focused on fish, the aquariums display the magnificent and, in many cases endangered marine mammals and sea birds of South Africa.
Where two oceans meet
The aquarium best situated to show off the unique diversity of life at the meeting of the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans is Cape Town's Two Oceans Aquarium, located at the V&A Waterfront. The Aquarium boasts more than 8000 live specimens, representing approximately 300 species of fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and birds, and plants.
This amazing underwater world is presented in six creatively designed galleries. The Indian Ocean gallery features colourful tropical fish from the warm Indian ocean, and you can walk through a 3m wide cylindrical exhibit to really experience the jewel-like colours of the fishes. In contrast, the Atlantic Ocean Gallery displays that ocean's resident species, including endangered Knysna seahorses and weird giant spider crabs. Another gallery houses the captivating Cape fur seals, which are not trained to do traditional sea shows, but are shown in their natural state, and visitors can view them from above and below water. A river exhibit and kelp forest display educate visitors about these fragile habitats and the animals that live in them.
A definite must-see is the predator display, with its massive ragged-tooth sharks, which you can view close-up through an enormous acryclic panel. If you have a scuba qualification, you might like to have an even closer view of these amazing creatures, as you can dive with the sharks and other predatory fish, or amongst the fish of the fascinating kelp forest tank.
Meet the dolphins
If you'd like to meet the friendly and intelligent bottle nosed dolphins that frolic off South Africa's coastline, the best place to go is the Bayworld Aquarium and Oceanarium in Port Elizabeth. Bayworld's main attraction is its huge dolphin lake where a playful group of dolphins entertain audiences several times a day. The dolphin lake is among the largest in the world, and the oceanarium is home to a significant dolphin research centre.
There's also a spectacular tropical fish tank and a large tank full of large fish, sharks, rays and turtles, as well as a breeding colony of penguins and other sea birds. A large seal pool provides the habitat for a small colony of Cape fur seals and a huge stranded elephant seal.
Dive into Sea World
uShaka Sea World, on Durban's Golden Mile, is the fifth largest aquarium in the world and offers interactive and exciting ways of viewing the ocean's amazing animal life. Many of the aquarium's displays are underground and viewed through the portholes of a replica 1920s shipwreck.
For a really unique view of diverse aquatic species, try out the snorkel lagoon where you can float gently over a lagoon filled with marine life and maritime relics such as a 16th century ship's cannon, before you enter the shipwreck, where you can face up to some sharp-toothed predators, who are fortunately safely behind glass. You can also dive in the exhibit of magnificent reef fish found off the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
One of the highlights of Sea World's tank exhibits is the Dangers of the Deep tank, occupied by sharks, sea snakes, devil fire fish and stone fish "?" try to head here at feeding time, and you might even be able to touch a shark as it swims past the feeding balcony. Don't miss the beautiful fish of the Coral Gardens, or the Deep Zone, which displays some of the weird animals inhabiting the dark world at the bottom of the ocean.
You can meet bottle nosed dolphin Gambit and his friends at the entertaining shows in the 1200 seater dolphin stadium. Specially designed viewing windows enable vistors to see the dolphins both above and below the water, where you can appreciate their beauty and strength up close. Don't forget to also visit the seal stadium, where the intelligent and agile seals entertain visitors. The African penguin is an endangered species, and the aquarium's breeding colony is a great place to see these rare birds.
There's the adjoining uShaka Wet 'n Wild waterpark, with super tubes and tunnel rides, so you can end off your exciting marine experience with a splash.
About the Author: Toureagle is a revolutionary travel search portal offering an in depth road trip planner that enables travellers to choose their accommodation and research tours themselves on the site, including exploring the main attractions of South Africa. Many activities are available on the trips such as aquariums in South Africa.
Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory
Explore South Africa's underwater animal life
South Africa is the meeting-point for two oceans with completely different temperatures and ecosystems: the the chilly Atlantic and tropical Indian Oceans. This mixing and meeting of the oceans means that the South African coastline throngs with a fascinating variety of marine species, which are featured in South Africa's world-class aquariums.
South Africa's aquariums are not just made up of walls of fish tanks. The aquariums are among the best in the world, and showcase spectacular marine life in innovative and educational displays. They also give visitors the opportunity to closely observe the aquarium's fishy inhabitants, by allowing them to dive in or near the tanks. Not only focused on fish, the aquariums display the magnificent and, in many cases endangered marine mammals and sea birds of South Africa.
Where two oceans meet
The aquarium best situated to show off the unique diversity of life at the meeting of the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans is Cape Town's Two Oceans Aquarium, located at the V&A Waterfront. The Aquarium boasts more than 8000 live specimens, representing approximately 300 species of fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and birds, and plants.
This amazing underwater world is presented in six creatively designed galleries. The Indian Ocean gallery features colourful tropical fish from the warm Indian ocean, and you can walk through a 3m wide cylindrical exhibit to really experience the jewel-like colours of the fishes. In contrast, the Atlantic Ocean Gallery displays that ocean's resident species, including endangered Knysna seahorses and weird giant spider crabs. Another gallery houses the captivating Cape fur seals, which are not trained to do traditional sea shows, but are shown in their natural state, and visitors can view them from above and below water. A river exhibit and kelp forest display educate visitors about these fragile habitats and the animals that live in them.
A definite must-see is the predator display, with its massive ragged-tooth sharks, which you can view close-up through an enormous acryclic panel. If you have a scuba qualification, you might like to have an even closer view of these amazing creatures, as you can dive with the sharks and other predatory fish, or amongst the fish of the fascinating kelp forest tank.
Meet the dolphins
If you'd like to meet the friendly and intelligent bottle nosed dolphins that frolic off South Africa's coastline, the best place to go is the Bayworld Aquarium and Oceanarium in Port Elizabeth. Bayworld's main attraction is its huge dolphin lake where a playful group of dolphins entertain audiences several times a day. The dolphin lake is among the largest in the world, and the oceanarium is home to a significant dolphin research centre.
There's also a spectacular tropical fish tank and a large tank full of large fish, sharks, rays and turtles, as well as a breeding colony of penguins and other sea birds. A large seal pool provides the habitat for a small colony of Cape fur seals and a huge stranded elephant seal.
Dive into Sea World
uShaka Sea World, on Durban's Golden Mile, is the fifth largest aquarium in the world and offers interactive and exciting ways of viewing the ocean's amazing animal life. Many of the aquarium's displays are underground and viewed through the portholes of a replica 1920s shipwreck.
For a really unique view of diverse aquatic species, try out the snorkel lagoon where you can float gently over a lagoon filled with marine life and maritime relics such as a 16th century ship's cannon, before you enter the shipwreck, where you can face up to some sharp-toothed predators, who are fortunately safely behind glass. You can also dive in the exhibit of magnificent reef fish found off the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
One of the highlights of Sea World's tank exhibits is the Dangers of the Deep tank, occupied by sharks, sea snakes, devil fire fish and stone fish "?" try to head here at feeding time, and you might even be able to touch a shark as it swims past the feeding balcony. Don't miss the beautiful fish of the Coral Gardens, or the Deep Zone, which displays some of the weird animals inhabiting the dark world at the bottom of the ocean.
You can meet bottle nosed dolphin Gambit and his friends at the entertaining shows in the 1200 seater dolphin stadium. Specially designed viewing windows enable vistors to see the dolphins both above and below the water, where you can appreciate their beauty and strength up close. Don't forget to also visit the seal stadium, where the intelligent and agile seals entertain visitors. The African penguin is an endangered species, and the aquarium's breeding colony is a great place to see these rare birds.
There's the adjoining uShaka Wet 'n Wild waterpark, with super tubes and tunnel rides, so you can end off your exciting marine experience with a splash.
About the Author: Toureagle is a revolutionary travel search portal offering an in depth road trip planner that enables travellers to choose their accommodation and research tours themselves on the site, including exploring the main attractions of South Africa. Many activities are available on the trips such as aquariums in South Africa.
Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory