Bayworld Museum & Oceanarium Complex

The Bayworld Oceanarium, Port Elizabeth Museum, Snake Park and Number 7 Castle Hill Museum make up the Bayworld Museum Complex. Bayworld is a major tourist attraction in Port Elizabeth and perfectly situated along Marine Drive on the Humewood beachfront.

Oceanarium

As one of the leading attractions of Nelson Mandela Bay, the Bayworld Oceanariums main activities is research and education aimed at creating a greater awareness of the need for conservation of South Africa’s natural heritage. Their research and education programmes focus on marine life and maritime.

The Oceanarium is an activity for the whole family, full of fun and entertainment. The predator tank has the majestic ragged-tooth sharks on display and the cute seahorses and crafty octopus is a must sea! The Bayworld Oceanarium is home to several species of fish, turtles, fur seals and SA’s second largest captive population of African Blackfooted Penguins. Look out for the penguin and seal presentations and feeding times which are sure to entertain visitors of all ages! So, come and meet some of the marine mammals that call Algoa Bay home.

Port Elizabeth Museum

The Port Elizabeth Museum is the third oldest of its kind in the country and the bid daddy of the Bayworld Complex. It combines culture with natural history with the ground and first floors containing dinosaur, marine, bird and maritime history along with costume and local history halls and even a section on Xhosa beadwork and a curiosity corner. Other diverse exhibits in the fields of natural science, archaeology and geology are also regularly on display.

Visitors can view the 15 metre skeleton of one of the last Southern Right Whales that was harpooned in thee Nelson Mandela Bay as well as a replica of the Dias Cross, a life-size reconstruction of the giant local prehistoric dinosaur known as Algoasaurus and a 5 metre bronze cannon dated 1640 that was recovered from a Portuguese galleon that wrecked near Port Elizabeth.

Snake Park

The Bayworld Snake Park has been in existence since 1919 and allows visitors to observe and learn more about the creatures that tend to inspire either fear or fascination. Here you can discover a vast range of reptiles such as Terrapins, Tortoises, Crocodiles, Lizards and of course the star of the Park, the slithering snakes.

Come find out the interesting facts like which snakes are dangerous, which you might find in your garden, which snake is the longest in the world and which caused the most deaths in Africa!

Number 7 Castle Hill Museum

Number 7 Castle Hill is situated in the city centre however, still falls into the Bayworld Group of attractions. It was declared a National Monument in 1962 and is a local historical, folk museum dating back to 1832.

Irish clergyman, Reverend Francis McCleland, bought the land in November 1827 for £3.30. Today the picturesque Georgian style cottage is the oldest remaining dwelling in Port Elizabeth. The collection of English furniture and domestic objects was mostly donated and reflects nineteenth-century domestic life in Port Elizabeth.

Staff will provide general tours on request, these need to be booked in advance.

Things to do and see

  • Port Elizabeth Museum
  • Dinosaur Hall
  • Marine Hall
  • Maritime History Hall
  • Curiosity Corner
  • The Costume Hall
  • The First People of the Bay Exhibition
  • The Xhosa Gallery
  • Africa’s Lost World Display
  • Bayworld Oceanarium
  • Snake Park
  • 7 Castle Hill Museum
  • Venue Hire
  • School Tours

Admission

Adults, R45

Pensioners & Students, R40

Children 3 to 17yrs, R35

Children Under 3yrs, Free

Ticket Office Closes At 15h45

Seal & Penguin Presentation, 11h00

Snake Presentation, 12h00

Seal & Penguin Presentation with Commentary, 15h00

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