Festive Fishy Fun? The Two Oceans Aquarium will be welcoming visitors for boatloads of safe, fishy fun during the 2021 festive season. From the reopened play area for kids with crafts and puppet shows, extended opening hours, a new interactive exhibit, afternoon discounts, various experiences on offer, and membership to the Aquarium, there is bound to be something for everyone to enjoy.
Extended hours
From 20 December 2021 until 07 January 2022, the Aquarium will be open for longer. Welcoming visitors from 09h00 and closing only at 19h00, the Aquarium’s extended opening hours are perfect for those who would like to linger a little longer; would like to miss the festive traffic on the way out of town, or just want to enjoy a cool early evening, admiring the underwater world of the Aquarium. The Aquarium’s “After 3 Special” with discounted rates effective from 15h00 onsite at the Aquarium’s Ticket Office, fits in perfectly with the extended hours and is even more reason to explore the Aquarium until later in the evening.
I&J Children’s Play Centre
The I&J Children’s Play Centre has always been a favourite with parents and their little ones and will be open for the 2021 festive season. The Centre will have acceptable interactives and arts and crafts according to Covid regulations. Allowances have been made to accommodate more children at one time and still offer a safe space for the little ones to experience the Aquarium and learn about the South African marine life and environment.
New! Behind-the-Scenes tours
Ever wondered about the inner workings of the Two Oceans Aquarium? Perhaps you have questions about how the life support systems work, or how, and what, the animals are fed?
It really is the season of good news as the Aquarium is now offering daily Behind-the-Scenes Tours for visitors over the age of eight.
In the company of one of our Curatorial staff members, you will have the privilege of going behind the scenes and winding your way through areas where very few members of the public ever go. These guided tours take visitors behind the “staff-only” access doors and into the areas where pumps are humming, food for the animals is being prepared, divers are kitting up and much, much more.
You will meet some of the staff as they care for their charges; feeding, cleaning and monitoring is all in a day’s work for them. And then you will of course also see the animals and exhibits from a brand-new point of view. All the while, our experts will share fascinating information about how we make the Aquarium magic happen.
WHAT & WHEN:
• Guided tours take place at 10h00 and 13h00 daily.
• Guided tours last 60 to 75 minutes from start to finish.
• Your experience includes all-day access to the front-of-house areas of the Aquarium.
• Capacity: A maximum of eight persons can join a tour.
• Price: R590 per adult (aged 18+) and R470 per child (aged 8-17).
• The Behind-the-Scenes Tour is not suitable for children under the age of eight.
• Tours must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Subject to availability.
• Terms and conditions apply. (https://www.aquarium.co.za/content/page/behind-the-scenes-tour)
Penguin Experiences
Struggling to find a gift for someone who has absolutely everything? Or perhaps you are just looking for a truly unique experience to enjoy? An interactive Penguin Experience is a wonderful way of meeting the Two Oceans Aquarium’s charismatic rockhopper penguins, and creating memories to last a lifetime. Meet these adorable birds face-to-beak, and learn more about their species and behaviours from one of the Aquarium’s knowledgeable staff. These experiences are suitable for adults and children over the age of eight years, and are truly exclusive as only two people are permitted at a time. Bookings are essential with slots available from Tuesday to Sunday.
Diving
The Two Oceans Aquarium has recently joined the international diving fraternity by opening the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School, a certified PADI Dive Resort. The Aquarium’s exhibits provide all-weather and perfect diving conditions for adventure seekers wanting to take the plunge into the underwater world. The Aquarium is now a one-stop dive centre, offering a range of dive qualifications from the most basic Discover Scuba Diving experience all the way to the Advanced Open Water Diver course and beyond. The Aquarium has the facilities and equipment for training and magnificent exhibits for divers (from the age of 10, in reasonably good health) to learn and try out their newly acquired skills. https://www.aquarium.co.za/content/page/diving
As part of the Aquarium’s inhouse Adventure Dive experiences, qualified divers can dive in the I&J Ocean Exhibit with the rays and turtles, the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit with the ragged-tooth sharks, or the Kelp Forest Exhibit amongst the swaying fronds of the giant kelp plants and large fishes (depending on the diver’s qualification.) Bookings for Adventure Dives are required and can be done by visiting https://shop.aquarium.co.za/adventure-diving. Please note that certain terms and conditions apply in line with world-wide recognised diving practices.
Shark Alley
New interactive Shark Alley Exhibit
The Aquarium has a brand-new adventure on offer. In October 2021, in partnership with the Save Our Seas Foundation, the Aquarium opened the Shark Alley Exhibit. Shark Alley curves around the outer walls of the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit and complements the viewing of live sharks with informative signage and interactive exhibits that convey fascinating shark facts. The interactive exhibits provide hands-on learning experiences, encouraging visitors of all ages to delve into various aspects of shark biology and conservation. At the same time, seeing live sharks inspires awe and admiration for these animals that have inhabited our planet’s oceans for the past 400 million years.
Covid protocols are in place with all visitors required to wear masks that cover their noses and mouths at all times, hand sanitiser is freely available throughout the Aquarium, and Covid marshals will be on duty. Social distancing is encouraged and allowed access numbers to the Aquarium are monitored and controlled according to government regulations.
WHAT: Festive Fishy Fun
WHERE: Two Oceans Aquarium, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town 8001
TICKETS: can be purchased online HERE or at the Aquarium’s Ticket Office
INFO: Visit | See the Cape Town Green COASTAL Map
OTHER USEFUL INFO: Membership
With a Two Oceans Aquarium annual membership, you can visit the fish as often as you wish during the year of your membership. Not only that, there are also various discounts for members, like 25% discount on a Penguin Experience and Behind-the-Scenes Tours. Other benefits include events specially organised and aimed at Aquarium members and special rates for au pairs, students and pensioners. Memberships are valid from the day that they are activated on-site, so they also make amazing festive gifts for individuals and families.
Foundation donations as festive gifts
The Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation is the Aquarium’s NPO/PBO partner and focuses on conservation, education and research. The Foundation relies on donations and sponsorships to continue its good work which includes turtle rescue, rehab and release, as well as seal rescues and disentanglements. All donations to the Aquarium Foundation are tax deductible and make wonderfully heartfelt festive gifts for those who are conservation orientated.
