predator tank • 16 comments • The highlight of the Two Oceans Aquarium, in Cape Town, is the 'predator tank'. Not only does the tank feature great white sharks, turtles, rays, and a variety of large fish, but you can also dive in the tank and swim with sharks! Because you need to be PADI certified to dive, we couldn't do it. There was no dive scheduled the day we went either, but it also meant the viewing area was less congested. The tank features a glass-domed hallway which allows you to view the animals as they swim right over your head!
two oceans • 24 comments • Cape Town sits mere kilometres away from the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans (at the Cape of Good Hope). This gives the Two Ocean Aquarium a wide range of local marine wildlife for exhibits. We love wandering around these sorts of places for hours, and it always helps when a museum is as well designed as this aquarium was. We spent the most time looking at the soleidae, that have the ability to camoflage themselves on the ocean floor. They reminded us of this TED talk (that you should definitely watch if you have a few minutes). Oh, the wonders of nature.
the walk to tortuga bay • 9 comments • The walk from Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay takes approximately 45 minutes. It was a ridiculously hot day, so it was a very long 45 minutes. Tortuga Bay is a popular tourist attraction on Santa Cruz Island, known for it's scenic views and diverse wildlife. The walk was visually stimulating - lots of different plants and, of course, some sort of reptiles. On our way, we stumbled upon an interpretive centre. We ran into the air conditioned building to escape the heat. They had a few aquariums on display and some history about the area. Some people were jogging down the path and we discussed how envious of them we were for having such an picturesque trail to run along and how we used to have to dodge goose poo when we went out. As much as we were enjoying the stroll, it seemed like there was no end in sight to this winding road. We finally heard the waves crashing and ran toward the beach...
