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Bayworld is the place to be this holiday season with a brand new exhibition opening on Friday, 18 December 2009. This magnificent temporary exhibition, entitled Africa’s Lost World, features life size animatronic dinosaurs of which many previously inhabited Southern Africa.

The exhibition is the brainchild and artwork of Bayworld taxidermist, Marvin Carstens, who previously owned Africa’s Prehistoric World in Theescombe. Many of the animals are animated and portray realistic movements and vocalization. Marvin was forced to close his display in 2006 after a heavy storm flooded and destroyed the Park on a smallholding on the Kragga Kamma Road. The dinosaurs remained on the premises while repair work slowly progressed. Subsequently, Marvin was employed as taxidermist and model maker at Bayworld.

“I am delighted that Bayworld has taken up the opportunity to display these magnificent animals within their facility,” Marvin said, “They are perfectly suited to the museum and promises to provide a fantastic insight into Africa’s prehistory.”

With the departure of the two Bayworld dolphins in July, an opportunity arose to put together an exhibit which would act as a drawcard to the facility. Due to the universal popularity and appeal of dinosaurs, the choice was obvious. After two months of hard and hectic work, the first phase of the exhibition came together and promises to tickle the imagination of young and old.

“While locals and visitors still mourn the absence of our beloved dolphins, the arrival of these beautifully crafted ancient life forms, in full size, movement and sound, serves to excite interest in our earliest African origins,” explains Director, Sylvia van Zyl, “This first phase of rediscovering the prehistoric animals of Africa will lead us to asking questions about the earliest life forms in Algoa Bay. Port Elizabeth is fortunate in having Marvin Carstens as a passionate artist and dinosaur enthusiast. We are proud to display his work and hope to soon exhibit re-creations of a local nature.”

The dinosaurs featured in the lower section of the Snake Park include the four metre tall, 14 metre long, seven ton Carcharodontosaurus saharicus – a carnivorous dinosaur resembling the North American Tyrannosaurus Rex; the spiked, small-brained Paranthodon africanus who roamed the Grahamstown area; the crested carnivorous Dracovenator regentii whose name means dragon hunter; the Heterodontosaurus with its unusual tooth design and dextrous five fingered hand; the agile three metre long Syntarsus rhodesiensis which resembles a flightless bird and was first discovered by Dr Mike Raath, former Director of the Port Elizabeth Museum; and a mammal like reptile called Cynognathus speculated to be one of the first ancestral mammals.

Daily guided tours of the exhibit will take place at 12:15. Entry to Bayworld, which includes access to the Oceanarium, Museum, Snake Park and Dinosaur exhibit is R40 for adults, R25 for children (three to 17 years) and R35 for pensioners and students with valid identifications documents. Children under the age of three enter for free. Daily activities, including a variety of tours, animal presentations as well as animal feeding sessions will also take place throughout the holiday period.

The newly opened onsite Bella Bay Café offers a scrumptious selection of breakfasts, light lunches and decadent cakes. A delicious homemade three course Sunday lunch is available at R75 per person, while children under 12 half price – booking is essential. The stylishly decorated shop also offers an interesting variety of curio for sale.

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