Bayworld Oceanarium and Museum Complex

Opening Times

Open from 9:00 to 16:30 every day of the year, except on Christmas Day, 25 December, when we are closed to the public. The daily dolphin and seal presentations are at 11:00 and 15:00.

The Bayworld Oceanarium, which is situated along the Marine Drive or beachfront road in Humewood, is part of the Port Elizabeth Museum complex and is one of the cities' top attractions. With its focal point being the 60m long, 45m wide 'Dolphin Lake', the oceanarium provides an amazing display of the beauty and grace of the Indian Ocean Bottlenose dolphin. The dolphins share their home with a number of seals, penguins and fish in an impressive display of marine life. Daily shows allow visitors to view some of the dolphins and seal's natural behaviours as they play games with their trainers. Helpful and knowledgeable staff are readily available to provide interesting information and facts on all the animals. The Oceanarium is found at the same location as the Port Elizabeth Museum and the Snake Park. The museum, which is the third oldest of its kind in South Africa, is a large and diverse cultural and natural history museum with displays centred on dinosaurs, marine and bird life, Xhosa culture and much more. Major displays include a 15m skeleton of the last Southern Right Whale to be harpooned in Algoa Bay, and a replica of one of Bartholomew Dias' Crosses. The Snake Park is home to a display of various snakes and other reptiles including rare Madagascan ground boas. A visit to Bayworld and the museum is guaranteed to keep young and old entertained. Also part of the museum complex, although not on the same site, is the No 7 Castle Hill Museum which is found in the centre of town and is housed in a Victorian house dating back to 1827. Bayworld is currently being redeveloped in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World cup and therefore some of the displays are closed at certain times.