uShaka Sea World, KwaZulu-Natal

Durban's uShaka Sea World

© South African Tourism

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One of the biggest aquariums in the world, uShaka Sea World not only has all the traditional elements of an aquarium – including a seal pool and penguin rookery – but it also boasts a number of interactive activities that will thrill marine enthusiasts and children looking to get a little closer to their favourite fish.

The Snorkel Lagoon, for example, allows visitors to swim amongst a huge variety of marine life (nothing too big or dangerous though) while the Rocky Touch Pool gives folk an opportunity to touch a starfish or feel the skin of a sea cucumber.

This Durban aquarium features both indoor and outdoor seawater exhibits, many of them specially themed. There's the Open Ocean, where fish such as tuna, dorado and various rays can be seen, while Rocky Reefs focuses on the brightly-coloured – and rare – denizens of KwaZulu-Natal's coastline.

Dangers of the Deep is a particular favourite with its selection of sharks, sea snakes, devil fire fish and stonefish. Here more adventurous souls can even brush the skin of a shark as it passes by the surface during feeding time.

The Deep Zone is fascinating, collecting together as it does some of the weirdest and most spectacular animals of the dark depths – animals usually well hidden from human eyes below hundreds of metres of water.

The vivid and vibrant colours of the Coral Gardens, where the richest and most diverse ecosystem on Earth has been recreated, will enthral children.

And no visit to uShaka Sea World would be complete without a show at the 1 200-seater Dolphin Area, boasting water-level windows that provide views of the mammals both above and below the water.