uShaka Marine World is a 16-hectare theme park that sits on Durban’s Golden Mile. It is a typical theme park, offering excitement, entertainment, and fun. If you’re in Durban and the kids are nagging you for some kid-friendly entertainment, this is the spot to take them!
uShaka has extensive daytime operations. These include Sea World, uShaka Beach, Kids’ World, Chimp & Zee Rope Adventure Park, and Wet ‘n Wild. Nighttime activities include the Village Walk.
Adjacent to the water they have two amphitheaters, dolphin shows, seal shows, the penguin rookery, the aquarium (which is the largest in the southern hemisphere,) and the cargo shipwreck.
If you decide to go,
- as is expected, there may be covid restrictions on certain activities;
- there is an entrance fee that allows you access to sea world and the wet and wild experience.
- be aware that even at 9 in the morning, there may be lines. This is a popular place, particularly on weekends and during South Africa’s school holidays.
- You can’t take your own refreshments, but you can buy them once you are inside.

There is so much to do for families. Don’t be surprised if you run out of time and don’t do everything you were planning to do. They have:
- uShaka Wet ‘n Wild is huge. It has lots of thrilling and exciting rides like the mamba tunnel slide, the body tornado, the super tube, and the torpedo.
- uShaka Kids World has a splish splash sprinkler island, a jungle gym, a 65 foot/ 20m long sandbox (called crabby beach), a mascot show, a movie lounge, the “Black Skull Cave” where Black Skull hid his treasures, face painting, water cannons, an amphitheater, a Lego area, a painting area, a kids’ spa, a photo hut, a bead creation area, a scavenger hunt. Most of these activities are for bigger kids, but they also have a soft play area for little ones under 3, and a private area for breastfeeding moms.
- uShaka Village walk is your source of retail therapy.
- uShaka Dangerous Creatures is a great spot for animal lovers. They have exotic animals and a reptile exhibit with the world’s most venomous creatures.

But there’s more! You can also:
- Go snorkelling in the lagoon.
- Feed the fish. You can literally get into the water to feed the fish!
- Walk on the ocean floor like real divers.
- Go shark diving—not for the faint-hearted.
- Go seal or penguin viewing.
- Take in a dolphin show.
- Go zip-lining above the rocky reef
If you are into history, go see the Nelson Mandela capture site. It’s approximately 90 minutes outside of Durban.