uShaka Marine World

uShaka opened in 2004 at the harbour end of the Durban beachfront and is among the largest aquariums in Africa by water volume. The conceit is a wrecked 1940s cargo ship: the aquarium is built below and inside a full-scale mock vessel, so the tanks are viewed through what are presented as the ship's holds and passages, with a restaurant whose windows look directly into the main tank. The collection covers the Indian Ocean - ragged-tooth sharks, rays, reef fish - with dolphin, seal and penguin presentations through the day. Wet 'n Wild, the water park, is a separate ticket on the same site with slides and pools, and Village Walk is a shopping and restaurant strip between them. It is a full day if you do both, and considerably less if you only want the aquarium.

What you actually see

• The mock wreck - an aquarium built inside a full-scale 1940s cargo ship replica.
• The main tank - viewed from a restaurant with windows into the water.
• Indian Ocean species - ragged-tooth sharks, rays and reef fish.
• The water park - slides and pools on a separate ticket next door.

When to go

All year; weekdays outside school holidays. A full day for both parks.

Honest expectations

Tickets are separate for the aquarium and water park and add up. Holiday crowds are heavy and queues long. Parts of the complex have looked worn in recent years. Animal presentations divide opinion on welfare grounds.

Nearby

The Golden Mile promenade runs north; the harbour is west.