uShaka Marine World sits near the southern point of Durban, nestled between the city’s sandy Indian Ocean beaches and its bustling harbour. The 16-hectare theme park features eight themed areas, which each boast their own enticing attractions, from high-flying water slides and African village-style restaurants to exotic reptiles and an inviting beach.

Get your thrills at Wet ‘n Wild, which boasts enthralling water slides, including The Body Tornado and Mamba Tunnel, along with a free-fall slide, lazy river, adults-only pool and daily DJ performances. Alternatively, meet seals and dolphins, feed fish and rays, dive with a shark or watch dolphin shows at SeaWorld, the largest aquarium in Africa.

Need a break? Head to uShaka Beach to relax on the sand, then try your hand at kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Families can head to Kids World for child-friendly spa treatments or Chimp & Zee for high-ropes courses and zip-lining, while nature lovers should check out the snakes and lizards at Dangerous Creatures.

Getting there

uShaka Marine World is about 10 minutes’ drive from the centre of Durban or 40 minutes from King Shaka International Airport. There’s ample parking on site or you can catch the train to Point Station and walk 15 minutes.