uShaka Marine World wins theme park 'Oscar' for creativity

Durban's showcase, uShaka Marine World, has just won the equivalent of an Oscar in the theme-park industry. And it has put the R737-million venue in the premier league of international attractions.

"There was great excitement just to be nominated for the award. Now, we are really going to be shouting about this," bragged Kagiso Ntanga, the Public Relations manager of the nine-month-old attraction at Durban's waterfront.

The award - for outstanding achievement in creative design and theming - was presented by the Themed Entertainment Association at a glittering event in Disney in Los Angeles, California, at the weekend.

The chief executive of uShaka, Russell Stevens and councillor Nomusa Dube, speaker of the eThekwini Municipality, accepted the award on behalf of the people of Durban. They will arrive back in Durban today with their trophy.

The award-winning designs are: the Phantom Ship; the Village Walk retail area; the Wet 'n Wild water park and Seaworld.