Bayworld

Bayworld was once a treasured destination in Port Elizabeth. It held a special place in the hearts of locals and tourists, known for its engaging exhibits, vibrant marine life, and educational experiences. Families would visit with excitement, children wide-eyed as they watched dolphins leap through the air, or wandered through the museum filled with displays that brought the natural world to life. It was a place that inspired curiosity and created lasting memories. But those days feel like a distant dream. Today, Bayworld is a heartbreaking sight. What once stood as a symbol of pride and learning has been reduced to a decaying, neglected space. The animal enclosures are in a dreadful state. Trash is scattered in and around them, with no effort made to keep the areas clean or safe. In some cases, there are even dead animals left in the enclosures, a truly disturbing sign of how far standards have fallen. It is difficult to understand how such a lack of care has been allowed to continue. The entire facility feels forgotten. Dust clings to every surface, and windows are so dirty they block out the light. Once vibrant and informative displays have remained unchanged for over a decade, making the museum feel more like a time capsule than a living, educational space. Nothing has been updated, improved, or even maintained. The signs of decay are everywhere, from broken fixtures to faded posters and empty exhibit rooms. Visitors who remember Bayworld in its prime can only feel dismay at the contrast. There is no sense of progress or rejuvenation. Instead, the space feels abandoned, not just physically but in spirit. The energy that once made Bayworld a place of joy and discovery has been completely lost. The sadness is made worse by the knowledge of what it used to be. It was a place that held potential to educate and inspire, a place that could have evolved and remained relevant. But that opportunity has been squandered. Bayworld now serves as a grim reminder of what happens when a place is left to deteriorate without vision or care. The community deserves better. The animals deserve better. And the memories of what Bayworld used to be deserve more than this slow and painful decline. Until serious changes are made, it will remain not only a disappointment but a disgrace.

Went to bayworld the place is not too expensive but the ocean part was closed and we could only visit the dinosourus, meuseam and the reptiles. The gift shop was closed and years later it is still saying coming soon . Some of the specimens was dry or broken. Some of the displays was of or lights do not work. Some displayed objects was full of dust The place really needs a revamp or maintenance as you will see the place is not getting maintenance on a regular basis. Some people who work there is bias against some of the visitors as they will tell you no food and or drink allowed but when you walk up the stairs not only will you see the staff member munch on a burger you will also see other visitors eating and drinking. There was also a meuseam tour but we were not given the opportunity to join the tour with the guide

We were welcomed by the friendly staff, they informed us that the aquarium is closed due to construction. The museum is big, has a variety of things to look for. It was the first time I see fashion section in a museum. What was more interesting was a section that contains a list and things that happened first in PE. The snake section is something else, saw the biggest python. It was a nice experience, hope after the constructions the place will be maintained to standard.

Even though we waited a while to be helped and the museum itself could do with some renovations, this is such a gem of a place for kids and history lovers. I took a group of kids here as part of an educational outing and they thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of exhibitions: from dinosaurs and aquatic life to the history and development of film, Port Elizabeth and clothes to the high light of the day which was the live snakes, lizards, tortoises and of course the live snake show where the kids were allowed to touch the snake. The lady that presented the snake show handled the snake with ease and was really good with kids. This is definitely worth the money and the trip.

The museum is good, reptile park was ok. Unfortunately the aquarium was under maintenance and couldn't go there. A lot of the museum things could have been kept more cleaner, it has accumulated a bit of dust over the years especially the ones sealed inside a case.

It was lovely seeing the penguins and seals and was very educational but the place needs work. Part of the aquarium has been closed down. I really hope that the necessary renovations can be done soon to return the aquarium to its former glory. The animals are in good condition but they deserve better. The museum was very interesting and much bigger than I expected, I actually ran out of time and didn't get through everything. It's seen better days but all in all Bayworld was still a really fun experience!

Best time to visit this place is during school days. The place seems a bit old inside but there is soo much great things to learn about the Eastern Cape here.

The animals are not being kept well after. Even plastic in the cages. It honestly so sad. You can see how depressed those poor babies are. The crocodile doesn’t even have water. They. Need. To. Be. Taken. Care. Of. It feels like walking into a graveyard.