ushaka marine world
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Corporate BrochureTRANSCRIPT
WRITTEN BY DONNIE RUST
eThekweni, Durban City the major focal point of South Africa’s east coast has been labelled South Africa’s Playground and for good reason. Offered up to the Indian Ocean by the Drakensburg Mountain range the city swelters in a subtropical belt that gives it the lush, tropical vegetation that seems always on the very verge of overflowing.
THE SPIRIT OF Durban
Nothing embraces this
more than Ushaka
Marine World and I
caught up with Chief Executive
officer, Shawn Thompson
regarding the resorts latest
developments and the plans for
the future.
“The most recent
development has been a change
in the managerial positioning,”
Shawn reveals, “Not the style
or the players. Ushaka Marine
World’s management was
previously outsourced on a ten
year contract which has finally
run out. Durban City has always
owned the park, but now the
team of staff work for a city
owned entity.”
Ushaka Marine World has
become one of the must see
attractions in South Africa,
bringing millions of tourists
through its gates every year from
around the world. For the last ten
years the popularity of the site
has grown in leaps and bounds.
So the adage of ‘if it’s not broke
don’t fix it’ applies. But Shawn,
typically, is coolly confident.
“There are pros and cons to
every kind of change,” Shawn
reveals, “The only real concern
is the network of international
linkages that we’ve established
over the last decade. I want to
make sure that we keep these
as solid as possible and to help
this, the City has guaranteed
us that we will
remain a commercial
operation.”
In essence this
means that as long
as they can keep the
tourists flooding
through the doors that they can
control their own decisions as far
as spending and developments
are concerned. It has been a
triumph to keep the standards
of the resort as high as they
can be and to not just become
another pen in the pocket of city
bureaucrats.
“It does mean the emphasis
is now on us,” Shawn says, “Of
course we’re starting on a good
USHAKA MARINE WORLD
The destination of choice for international surfers seeking out the six footer swells that frequently stir up the bath-warm waters of the seas and for holiday makers wanting to enjoy the “fun-fun-fun” approach Durban takes to anything and everything that is a celebration of the natural heritage of the country.
“We’re launching a new Seaworld experience called Animal Encounter Island which is all about interaction.”
Endeavour Magazine | 31
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note because with the management being brought in house, its saved
a bill of R8 million rand per year. I have also been asked to provide a
five and a fifteen year plan to present to the City’s officials regarding
the resort’s direction and further development. The City sees us as a
vital strategic tourist asset.”
One of the main approaches is by introducing new tourist
attractions while at the same maintaining the current ones because
the attractions here are not just rides but living animals that require a
special kind of attention.
Already boasting a restaurant styled as a sunken ship where you
can enjoy a gourmet meal while watching sharks swim passed, grinning
as if they know something you don’t, water rides that have you sliding
alongside and under the open top aquariums, bridge walks that give
you the chance to see the wonderous sea life including all the natural
beauty of the South African coast. High intelligent dolphins and seals,
birds, fish, amphibians- they are all there in the resort. With the sound
of the Indian Ocean only a stone’s throw away and the endlessly blue
sky overhead it’s difficult to spend any time at Ushaka Marine World
and actually have an answer for “How could I make this better?”
That’s where Shawn comes into it.
“There’s a lot that we’re planning and not all of it I’m able to speak
about,” he reveals coyly, “But what I can tell you is that we’re launching
a new Seaworld experience called Animal Encounter Island which is
all about interaction.”
“Additionally to the current snorkelling and shark dive we offer.
Here he could have a shark encounter, with nurse sharks so they’re
safe,” he adds, “We are also planning an adventure trail that will include
ziplines over the top of the resort. Further down the line a major new
Seaworld exhibit around the R20 million mark will be added and this
will an entirely new concept.”
As far as rides are concerned:
“We’ve already invested R2million in the Body Tornado for our
Wet and Wild rides and a new generation ride which I can’t reveal too
much will be added in the coming years”.
There are a lot of significant ideas that are fitting into Shawn’s
plans for the resort but at the same time he has a meticulous attention
to detail. For a visitor, a guest, to be truly impressed they have to be
given nothing to dislike. So, not only are the habitats for the animals
cleaned and maintained on a daily basis but the cleaners work
tirelessly to get into every nook and cranny throughout the resort.
Entertainment also forms a vital part of the guest experience and
uShaka is becoming known for its fun vibe and support for live music
– especially at the popular Wahooz venue on Durban’s magnificent
promenade. “Everything counts,” Shawn concludes.
28 | Endeavour Magazine
USHAKA MARINE WORLD
0027 31 328 8000
USHAKAMARINEWORLD.CO.ZA
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