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

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