JOIN IN THE TWO OCEANS AQUARIUM'S 30TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

By Two Oceans Aquarium

The site of the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town during its initial construction in 1995.

START The Two Oceans Aquarium turns the big three-oh this November and they want you to share in their celebrations of the Aquarium’s 30^th Birthday legacy. On 13 November 2025, come and visit, buy your entrance ticket to join in the festivities.

Snap that perfect selfie at the legacy photo wall with one of the Aquarium mascots, grab a limited edition 30^th birthday coffee at the I&J Ocean Exhibit Snack Stop, and stand a chance to win a penguin plushie during the penguin feed. You might even catch a glimpse of the Aquarium divers at work as they mark the birthday with a banner dive during the I&J Ocean Exhibit feeding time.

With so much on the go, this is the perfect time to visit the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Two of the Two Oceans Aquarium mascots, Samantha the Penguin and Silver the Shark, ‘break ground’ for the beginning of the new construction of the I&J Ocean Exhibit in 2014.

Watch a puppet show

The Children’s Play Centre has daily puppet shows at 10h30, 13h30, and 15h30. With a charismatic cast of characters, like Sally the Seal and Exo the Crab, these puppet shows are educational and fun.

Birthday crafts for the little ones

Take a moment to pause with your little ones at the Children’s Play Centre where they can enjoy a variety of ocean-themed arts and crafts, as well as a fun, birthday-inspired activity sheet.

Penguin keepers at the Two Oceans Aquarium feed the African penguins during a scheduled feeding time.

Feeding time fun

Join your favourite animals at daily feeding times!

• Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit: Saturdays at 12h00

• I&J Ocean Exhibit: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12h00

• Kelp Forest Exhibit: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 12h00

• Penguin Exhibit: Every day at 11h30 and 14h30

Silver the Shark, a favourite Two Oceans Aquarium mascot, takes part in one of the Trash Bash events.

Trash Bash beach cleanup

If you miss out on the festivities on 13 November, don’t worry! The Two Oceans Aquarium is teaming up with Save A Fishie for a 30^th birthday Trash Bash on 15 November 2025 at Lagoon Beach. Join the Trash Bash team in protecting and preserving our ocean for future generations.

“Not only is Trash Bash a way to make a positive impact on our ocean, but it is also an opportunity to get out into nature and breathe some fresh air with your loved ones,” said Phumza Jongihlathi, Community Relationship Coordinator at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

The Kelp Forest Exhibit at the Two Oceans Aquarium is an incredible example of the iconic kelp forests found along South Africa’s coastline

Two Oceans Aquarium 30^th birthday

The Two Oceans Aquarium opened its doors in 1995 and has been committed to sharing the message of ocean wellness for 30 years since.

It has welcomed more than 10 million people through its doors and has become a firm favourite with locals, and international travellers alike.

“The Two Oceans Aquarium has established itself as a worthy counterpart within the international aquarium and tourism industries and continues to offer a fun and educational visit to those who enter its mesmerising underwater world.” Said Devon Bowen, Brand Manager for the Two Oceans Aquarium.

The Aquarium has become a thought leader in the fields of marine conservation, education, and research, with the establishment of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation (NPO) in 2019 taking these important pillars to new heights. The future looks bright as the Aquarium strives to continue making an impact in the tourism, conservation, and education industries.

From its humble beginnings on the Cape Town docks to its position today as a global leader in marine conservation, the Two Oceans Aquarium has never stopped growing, innovating, and inspiring. As it enters its next chapter, the Aquarium remains a place where science meets storytelling, and where every visitor, student, and diver is reminded that the ocean’s future is in all our hands.

The current Two Oceans Aquarium in 2025 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

Happy birthday to this marvellous landmark and icon!