The Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town
The aquarium’s atmosphere is calming, and the impressive exhibits showcase the diverse marine life in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The beautifully designed displays, mimicking the animals’ natural habitat, make you feel as if you are deep underneath the sea, peeking at the fish through oversized windows. It’s somewhat hard to believe the exhibits are all above ground.
Penguins, sharks, and Finding Nemo
Showcasing animals and plants from two oceans means seeing an impressive and beautiful variety of marine life. You will see significant, majestic ragged-tooth sharks in the “Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit.” And yes, a big part of the aquarium is dedicated to penguins. Still, you will also find a vast array of other fascinating animals. You’ll even see some of our favourite Disney characters from Finding Nemo, like Nemo (also known as clownfish) and Crush (the sea turtle).
Featured exhibits at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town
If you’re visiting the aquarium for the very first time and usually enjoy spending time learning more about the animals, I recommend this as a half-day outing. Alternatively, allow yourself at least two hours to enjoy strolling through the Two Oceans Aquarium to enjoy the experience in total.
There are lots to see at the aquarium, and I’ll touch on the four main exhibits you absolutely can not miss.
The Penguin Exhibit – birds in tuxedos parading around like they own the Two Oceans Aquarium is too cute to skip. The exhibit’s design brings the penguins close to you. You can almost touch them. Although trying to do so is not recommended – they bite! The Penguin Exhibit also includes some freshwater fish, platannas, a mole snake, and a leopard toad.
Kelp Forest Exhibit – This Kelp Forest Exhibit is the only above-ground kelp forest in Africa. Impressive! Watching the tall kelp plants’ hypnotic sway is mesmerizing, leaving one with a sense of calm and tranquillity.
I&J Ocean Exhibit – The short-tail stingray is one of my favourite marine animals living in this exhibit. The impressive 10-meter transparent tunnel and massive viewing window transport you deep into the ocean. You can also see sea turtles, musselcrackers, and other giant fish in this exhibit.
The Save Our Seas Foundation – If you are a shark-lover like me, you’ll want to spend extra time in front of this exhibit admiring the ragged-tooth sharks living in this tank. Qualified scuba divers can also book a diving experience to swim with the sharks without being in a cage.
Operating times and tickets
The aquarium is open from 09h30 to 18h00, Monday to Friday and from 09h00 to 18h00 on weekends and public holidays. Buy tickets at the door or on their website. You also have the option to buy an aquarium membership. A membership gives you exclusive benefits and unlimited access to the aquarium, allowing you to visit the fishies as often as you wish in the year of your membership.
Some notes:
- Popular attraction. The Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town is a popular attraction. It can get quite busy on weekends, especially during school holidays. For a less crowded experience, try and visit on a weekday or as soon as they open up.
- Become a member. A membership gives you unlimited access to the aquarium in the year of your membership. Additional benefits include discounts at the gift shop, invitations to exhibition previews and special events, fast-track access, and more.
- Diving adventure. You can choose to dive in the I&J Ocean Exhibit or the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit. You need to be a qualified scuba diver, but you can also do a course at the aquarium if you are not qualified.