School group visits to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town offer heavily discounted educational entrance fees, costing R97.00 per learner during standard months and R105.00 per learner during peak season (August, September, and October). These subsidised rates apply to registered groups of 15 or more learners and include general access to all marine exhibits along with a curriculum-aligned lesson or puppet show hosted by qualified educators in the Discovery Centres.
Two Oceans Aquarium School Group Ticket Prices & Rates
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation offers subsidised admission for educational field trips. Pricing varies based on the school calendar season, with peak pricing applying during the busy third school term.
| Visitor Category | Standard Season (Nov – Jul) | High Season (Aug, Sep & Oct) | Notes |
| Learner / Child (Ages 4+) | R97.00 | R105.00 | Minimum group size of 15 learners required |
| Educator / Facilitator | R97.00 | R105.00 | Up to 2 adult facilitators per 10 learners |
| Additional Adults / Chaperones | Standard rate minus 10% | Standard rate minus 10% | Applies to extra parents/staff beyond the 2:10 ratio |
| Children Under 4 | Free | Free | Advance notice required when booking |
Note: School rates apply strictly to scheduled, pre-booked educational visits through the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation and are not available for walk-in school groups.
Chaperone and Teacher Ratios
To ensure student safety and proper supervision:
- Schools qualify for the subsidised educator rate (R97 to R105) for up to two adult facilitators for every 10 learners.
- Any accompanying adults or parents beyond this ratio must pay the standard adult gate entrance fee discounted by 10%.
- Teachers and chaperones are expected to supervise learners actively at all times during both the classroom lesson and self-guided exhibit tours.
What Is Included in a School Excursion?
A booked school visit provides learners with a structured learning experience combining theoretical instruction with real-world marine observation.
1. Hands-On Discovery Centre Lessons
Qualified marine sciences educators conduct grade-specific lessons inside dedicated Discovery Centre classrooms. These classrooms are equipped with audiovisual aids, microscope stations, and touch pools containing living marine invertebrates such as sea stars, sea anemones, and sea urchins.
2. Early Childhood Development (ECD) Puppet Shows
For pre-primary and Foundation Phase learners (Grades R to 3), interactive puppet shows introduce essential ocean concepts, marine animal anatomy, and anti-pollution habits through storytelling and music.
3. Self-Guided Aquarium Exploration
Following the formal lesson, school groups are free to explore the full public aquarium displays. Key highlights include:
- The I&J Ocean Exhibit: A massive circular tank featuring stingrays, turtles, and large ocean fish viewed through a 10-metre tunnel.
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit: Home to ragged-tooth sharks and other apex predators.
- Kelp Forest Exhibit: One of the few living kelp forest displays in the world.
- Penguin Exhibit: Showcasing African penguins and Northern rockhopper penguins.
Educational Programmes & Curriculum Alignment
All educational offerings at the Two Oceans Aquarium Ocean Campus are aligned with South Africa’s CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) curriculum across Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Geography, and Social Sciences.
Foundation Phase (Grades R – 3)
- Interactive Puppet Shows: Stories such as I Love Turtles, Keep the Beach Clean, I Live Smart, and My Wild Pets teach young learners the difference between wild animals and domestic pets, plastic pollution awareness, and habitat care.
- Rock Pool Exploration: Direct interaction with intertidal marine invertebrates to develop sensory and observation skills.
- Shark Discovery: Dispel common myths about sharks while covering anatomy, senses, and marine food webs.
Intermediate Phase (Grades 4 – 6)
- Grade 4: Living vs. non-living things, animal structures, senses and adaptations, seaweed varieties, and marine habitats.
- Grade 5: Plant and animal interdependence, vertebrate and invertebrate classifications, internal/external skeletons, and marine food chains.
- Grade 6: Biodiversity, ecosystem balance, and the impact of marine pollution and resource depletion.
Senior Phase (Grades 7 – 9)
- Natural Sciences: Biosphere concepts, energy flow, marine food webs, classification keys, and animal adaptations.
- Social Sciences / Geography: Marine resource management, overfishing, sustainable seafood practices (SASSI), and coastal conservation ecotourism.
FET Phase (Grades 10 – 12) & Marine Sciences
- Life Sciences: Invertebrate phyla deep-dives (Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata), biogeochemical cycles, and population dynamics.
- Marine Sciences FET Subject: Practical, laboratory-based modules supporting high schools offering Marine Sciences as a matric subject.
- Tourism Studies: Sustainable tourism practices, eco-destinations, and Western Cape marine heritage attractions.
How to Book a School Visit
Because classroom slots in the Discovery Centres fill up rapidly—particularly for Term 3 (August to October)—advance booking is mandatory.
Step 1: Check Availability & Select Lesson Topic
Step 2: Submit a Booking Request via Email ([email protected])
Step 3: Receive Official Confirmation & Pro-Forma Invoice
Step 4: Settle Payment via EFT or Credit Card Prior to Arrival
Step 5: Arrive at the V&A Waterfront for Scheduled Time Slot
Booking Guidelines
- Group Size: A minimum of 15 learners is required to secure the discounted school rate.
- Booking Horizon: Book at least 3 to 6 weeks in advance for standard term dates, and up to 3 months in advance for high season visits (August–October).
- Payment Terms: Full payment or proof of payment (EFT) must be cleared prior to entry. Purchase orders are accepted for government/public schools following prior arrangement.
Practical Planning & Logistics for Teachers
Arrival & Bus Parking
- Drop-Off Zone: Dedicated bus drop-off points are situated near the Two Oceans Aquarium entrance at the V&A Waterfront (Dock Road).
- Bus Parking: Designated coach parking bays are available within walking distance inside the V&A Waterfront precinct.
Bag Storage & Lunch Facilities
- Packed Lunches: Learner bags and packed lunches can be stored in assigned crates during classroom lessons.
- Lunch Areas: Eating is not permitted inside the exhibit halls or classrooms. Groups can eat packed meals in outdoor public amphitheatre areas around the V&A Waterfront basin or at nearby grassy lawns.
Visitor Rules & Supervision
- Learners must remain accompanied by assigned teachers or chaperones throughout the visit.
- Running, tapping on aquarium glass, and flash photography in restricted animal exhibits are strictly prohibited.
- Teachers must review general aquarium etiquette with learners prior to disembarking the bus.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do school group tickets cost at Two Oceans Aquarium?
School group tickets cost R97.00 per learner during standard months (November through July) and R105.00 per learnerduring the high season (August, September, and October). These rates apply to scheduled educational visits for groups of 15 or more learners.
How many teachers or adult chaperones receive the discounted school rate?
Schools qualify for the discounted school rate (R97.00 to R105.00) for up to two adult facilitators per 10 learners. Any additional teachers, parents, or adult chaperones exceeding this 2:10 ratio receive a 10% discount off the standard adult general admission ticket.
What is the minimum group size required for school rates?
A minimum group size of 15 learners is required to qualify for the subsidised educational entrance fee. Smaller groups will be charged standard general admission rates unless prior arrangements have been made with the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.
Do school visit tickets include general access to the aquarium exhibits?
Yes. Every booked school visit includes full admission to all public exhibits and galleries (including the I&J Ocean Exhibit, Shark Exhibit, and Kelp Forest) in addition to the scheduled, curriculum-based Discovery Centre lesson or puppet show.
How far in advance should teachers book a school excursion?
It is recommended to book at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance during standard term months and 2 to 3 months in advancefor the peak third term (August to October). Classroom capacity in the Discovery Centres is limited and slots fill up quickly.
Are Two Oceans Aquarium school lessons aligned with the CAPS curriculum?
Yes. All educational modules developed by the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation are explicitly aligned with the South African CAPS curriculum across Foundation, Intermediate, Senior, and FET phases for Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, and Marine Sciences.