Cloward H2O, an expert in aquatic design, is looking back at the work it completed for uShaka Marine World in Durban, South Africa, almost two decades ago. The firm was the aquatic specialist for this large-scale project, a 16-hectare theme park with eight different attractions: uShaka Sea World, uShaka Wet ‘n Wild, uShaka Sea Animal Encounters Island, uShaka Beach, uShaka Village Walk, uShaka Kids World, uShaka Dangerous Creatures and Chimp & Zee.
The company provided aquatics expertise for the aquatic complex, encompassing the uShaka Sea World aquarium and the uShaka Wet ‘n Wild water park.
uShaka Sea World
With more than six million gallons of water, uShaka Sea World Aquarium is the largest in the southern hemisphere and features a unique themed entrance with a realistic 1940s cargo ship shipwrecked beside the snorkelling lagoon. Guests enter through a “labyrinth of shipwrecks” and can discover 350 species of fish and other sea life.
The aquarium also holds one of the biggest variety of sharks in the world including bull and ragged-tooth sharks, and its penguin exhibit is home to more than 63 African penguins. Visitors can enjoy interactive activities at this attraction, for example, snorkelling, touch pools and a rocky reef exhibit.
Other highlights include the Open Ocean and Dangers of the Deep exhibits, as well as the Coral Gardens and the Deep Zone.
uShaka Sea World houses the research facilities of the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), and the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR).
uShaka Wet ‘n Wild World
At Wet ‘n Wild, guests can enjoy separate swimming pools for kids and adults, relaxing river rides and high-speed chutes for the adrenaline junkies. The attraction is also home to the highest slide in Africa, which is 72m long, six stories high and at a 30-degree inclination.
For younger guests, there is a mini-super tube and a play area with a water cannon and water mushrooms. Meanwhile, older guests can experience the Open-body ride – sometimes referred to as the washing machine. This is a high-water volume ride that accelerates riders through bends at a rate of about 4-5 meters per second.
Other rides include the Tunnel – a roller-coaster enclosed ride speeding round the curves at four meters per second – as well as the Kamikaze speed slide, Stuka Speed slide, Five Lane Racer, and the Fast River ride, or relax into the Family Rafter.
The freshwater entertainment venue operates year-round.
Last month, Cloward H2O celebrated the final planning approval of DSRT Surf Resort. This will be the world’s first fully-integrated inland surfing resort and is expected to open in 2023. The project will add a new surfing and outdoor attraction to the Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert.
