Bayworld

On Friday we decided to go to BayWorld. When our children were young, we made many happy family memories watching the dolphin show at the oceanarium and visiting the aquarium. There is also a museum and snake park as part of the complex.

We started at the museum. The first hall dealt with fossils and dinosaurs. I was struck by a mold cast from a fossil of a pterodactyl. It was no larger than my hand and must have flown about much like a bird.

Somehow I had been led to believe that they were giant flying creatures. Just shows you - you can't believe everything you are shown in the media.
There were also some large skulls which testified to the size of other common dinosaurs, as well as some life-sized reconstructions.

There was also  a hall of maritime history.

Before proper harbours or docks, people were landed in Port Elizabeth in landing baskets.

This will be how 4 000 British settlers landed in Port Eizabeth in 1820 as part of Britain's attempt to solve the unemployment problem after the war.

Recovered and restored portion of shipwrecked Sacremento

A similar type of ship to the Sacremento

Captain Hermanus Hofmeyjer grounded his ship, the Amsterdam, on the beach 2km from the mouth of the Zwartkops River in an effort to save his crew and passengers.
Of the 223 on board, only three drowned.

There were stories about other shipwrecks along the coast that were very interesting.
One of them is about the sinking of the SS Mendi.
http://www.navy.mil.za/newnavy/mendi_history/mendi_hist.htm

We realized that time was running out and the feeding of the seals would soon take place.
We were told a little about the seals but there was no seal show because the staff had the afternoon off.

After the seals it was the penguins' turn.

We were very disappointed in the aquarium. It was about a quarter of the size we remembered - there was a notice saying the shark tank was structurally damaged and the general impression was of a run down has-been. There were some fish and sea creatures but not much more exciting than a good pet shop might have, although some were bigger.

Unfortunately the whole complex gave an air of being run-down, badly maintained and short-staffed.
We were interested to read an article in the Weekend Post on the Saturday all about BayWorld and plans to improve it.
http://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2018/01/06/bayworld-revamp-cards-2/