Two Oceans Aquarium sits at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, taking its name from its unique location where the cold Atlantic Ocean and warmer Indian Ocean currents converge along the Cape coastline. Opened on 13 November 1995, the aquarium has grown into one of Cape Town’s most popular attractions, drawing around 500,000 visitors a year to explore the marine life of both oceans under one roof.
The aquarium’s largest exhibit is the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit, a two-million-liter tank home to ragged-tooth sharks, giant yellowtail, and rays, viewable through a large window or an accessible spiral viewing ramp. Other highlights include the swaying Kelp Forest tank and the I&J Ocean Exhibit. Beyond exhibits, the aquarium runs active conservation work through the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, including a Turtle Conservation Centre that rescues and rehabilitates endangered sea turtles found stranded along the Western Cape coast.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
- Opened: November 13, 1995
- Size: Largest exhibit is the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit, holding about 2,000,000 liters (530,000 US gallons)
- Species: Over 300 species, about 8,000 animals
- Annual visitors: About 500,000
- Operator: V&A Waterfront Holdings (Pty) Limited
- Famous for: Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit and sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation program
The Ride Experience
Visitors move through galleries that mirror the Cape’s marine geography, from the swirling kelp fronds of the Kelp Forest tank to the ragged-tooth sharks and rays cruising the two-million-liter Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit, the aquarium’s largest. The Diversity Gallery highlights species from both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, while a dedicated penguin habitat is home to African black-footed penguins and northern rockhopper penguins. The I&J Ocean Exhibit rounds things out with rays and sea turtles sharing open water displays.
Conservation and Rescue Work
Since launching in 2020, the aquarium’s Turtle Conservation Centre has rescued, treated, and released stranded sea turtles found along the Western Cape coast, reporting roughly an 85% release rate for the animals it takes in. The center works with a volunteer Turtle Rescue Network of over 2,000 members stretching from Lambert’s Bay to Gqeberha, coordinating transport of injured turtles for treatment of issues like flipper injuries, plastic ingestion, and hypothermia before returning healthy animals to the ocean.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Two Oceans Aquarium FAQs
Where is Two Oceans Aquarium located?
It’s located at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, at the point where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean currents meet along the coastline.
When did Two Oceans Aquarium open?
It opened on November 13, 1995.
What is the aquarium’s largest exhibit?
The Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit is the largest, holding about two million liters of water and home to ragged-tooth sharks and other predators.
Get More from Two Oceans Aquarium
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Two Oceans Aquarium, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Jim.henderson / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.