Cape Town - For the second consecutive year, Cape Town’s Two Oceans Aquarium has been rated among the top 25 globally by users of the internet travel website TripAdvisor.
The aquarium was ranked the 16th best in the world in this year’s TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards, down from seventh last year.
It was the only aquarium in Africa to make the cut.
“We are extremely proud,” said aquarium marketing manager Alichia Nortje.
“The aquarium family consists of more than 200 passionate staff and volunteers all working towards making our aquarium the best it can be.
“We would not have been able to achieve this without the dedication, passion and support from everyone who forms part of this team,” she said.
Last year about 400 000 people visited the aquarium, which opened in 1995 at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
Enver Duminy, head of Cape Town Tourism, said the aquarium was a major drawcard for the city.
“Being one of the top 25 aquariums in the world is a reflection of the high standards maintained by this attraction,” he added.
The TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice awards are based on reviews posted by visitors on the group’s website over the preceding 12 months.
Users are free to give good or bad feedback after creating a free account.
In a statement, TripAdvisor said winners were determined using “an algorithm that takes into account the quantity and quality of reviews”.
Awards exist for the world’s best hotels, zoos, islands and beaches.
The aquarium has garnered 1 967 reviews.
Of these, 889 gave it five out of five stars, and 769 four out of five stars.
It has also received 29 poor (one-star) reviews, and eight terrible (zero-star) reviews.
Many reviewers praised both its attractions and how child-friendly it is.
“This has to be the best attraction for kids, especially when the weather is bad and you don’t know what to do with them.
“They can spend hours looking at the fish and there are added puppet shows and kids activities to keep them busy,” wrote one reviewer from Cape Town.
“The best thing was the sharks and the giant turtles,” posted a visitor from Finland. “Our little daughter loved this place.”
Other visitors, however, complained it was too small.
One traveller from Hanoi, Vietnam, said while it was worth a visit, it lacked “open pools with big sea animals”.
Weekend Argus