Bayworld – A Fun-filled Day in Port Elizabeth

The Oceanarium was constructed over a 10 year period, starting with
the
impressive 900 000 liter main fish tank, which was built in 1959. The
tank
was only
re-established as a fish tank in 1968, after housing dolphins for a few
years, while the dolphin lake was being completed. The tank now houses
a
large number of fish, sharks and turtles.

Bayworld has a landscaped seal pool enclosure, with a waterfall
and
swimming hole, home to Cape Fur seals and Sub Antarctic seals,
including a
few breeding pairs.

Port Elizabeth Museum is a three storey building, located next to
the
Bayworld Oceanarium. It is a combination of natural and cultural
history,
with the library, workshop and administration offices on the lower
floor.
The Bayworld Museum has a variety of exhibits, such as Xhosa beadwork,
Dinosaurs, Maritime history, marine, birds, costumes and a curiosity
corner.
Hanging from the ceiling, is the skeleton of the last locally
harpooned
Southern Right Whale, with a staggering length of 15 meters. Exhibits
that
are not to be missed include the 1640 bronze cannon recovered from a
shipwreck
near Port Elizabeth and the life-size reconstruction of a pre-historic
dinosaur.

The Bayworld snake park was closed in 2005, in anticipation for a
redevelopment project. A section of the park has been closed for this
reason. The re-opened section of the snake park is home to snakes,
crocodiles, geckos, tortoises, terrapins and lizards, and is still
worth the
visit, due to the vast selection of snakes.

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