位于斯瓦科普蒙德(Swakopmund)海滨街的纳米比亚国家水族馆(National Marine Aquarium)虽然规模无法与国际大都市的巨型水族馆相比,但它却是这个沙漠国家唯一的一扇通向大西洋冷水生态系统的窗口。这里展示了贝格拉寒流带来的丰富物种,对于想要在漫长的沙漠自驾途中寻找一处阴凉避暑地,或者是带着孩子了解本地海洋生态的旅行者来说,是一个性价比极高的中转站。
水族馆坐落在斯特兰德街(Strand Street)南端,紧邻大西洋岸边。目前的开放时间是周二至周日的上午 10 点到下午 4 点,周一全天闭馆。根据最新的运营安排,最后入场时间通常比闭馆提前半小时。如果你选择在公众假期前往,建议提前咨询当地酒店确认是否临时休息。如果你住在斯瓦科普蒙德镇中心的宾馆,顺着海边走廊步行大约 10 到 15 分钟就能走到,完全不需要特意打车。
价格是这里的一大优势。目前非纳米比亚籍成年游客的票价大约在 30 到 50 纳元之间,换算成人民币不到 20 元,这在动辄几百元门票的非洲景点中简直是一股清流。对于持有纳米比亚居留证或 SADC 国家护照的人员,价格会更便宜,通常只需 10 到 20 纳元。即便加上拍照许可费用(如果有变动),整趟行程的成本也远低于吃一顿快餐的开销。
馆内最核心的设施是一个巨大的环绕式水槽,中间穿插了一条全透明的步行隧道。当你走进去时,体型庞大的沙虎鲨(Ragged-tooth sharks)会在你头顶几厘米处缓缓滑过。这种鲨鱼长相凶猛,露出参差不齐的牙齿,但实际上性格相对温顺。除了鲨鱼,水槽里还生活着巨大的绿海龟(Green Sea Turtles)和各种在大西洋寒流中繁衍的鱼类。由于水温常年保持在寒冷状态,这里的生物生长速度相对缓慢,但也因此长得格外厚实健壮。
如果你能把参观时间定在下午三点,那是整个水族馆最热闹的时刻。潜水员会携带装满鲜鱼的网兜潜入大水槽进行现场投喂。看着平日里慵懒的鲨鱼和鳐鱼在潜水员周围盘旋争抢食物,是视觉冲击力最强的画面。对于孩子们来说,这是一个近距离观察海洋生物进食习性的绝佳机会。投喂过程大约持续 15 到 20 分钟,建议提前 5 分钟在隧道出口处的阶梯位置占个好座儿。
主水槽外围分布着数十个小型展示缸,专门介绍纳米比亚近海的特有物种。你会看到被誉为纳米比亚国鱼的加尔杰恩鱼(Galjoen),这种鱼在当地钓鱼爱好者中极负盛名。此外还有色彩斑斓的各种海葵、寄居蟹以及大西洋特有的贝类。展板上的说明虽然以英文为主,但配图清晰,即便英文不好也能大致分辨出物种类别。室内温度由于空调和水体的影响,明显比室外燥热的阳光下舒服得多。
走出水族馆大门,左手边就是斯瓦科普蒙德著名的长堤步道。你可以沿着海岸线向北散步,海风带着咸湿的味道扑面而来,能瞬间吹散沙漠里的燥气。步道沿途有很多长椅,坐在这里看大西洋的巨浪拍打防波堤是一件很治愈的事。走累了,附近 500 米内就有好几家评价不错的小咖啡馆,点一份本地特产的生蚝(Namibian Oysters),价格比国内便宜得多,且鲜美异常。
整个场馆面积不大,如果只是走马观花,30 分钟就能转完。但如果算上观看 15 点开始的投喂表演以及仔细阅读展板信息,建议预留 60 到 90 分钟左右。考虑到门票很便宜,这里非常适合作为两个大型户外活动之间的空档填充项目。
场内允许拍照,但为了保护海洋生物的视力,严禁使用闪光灯。由于隧道内光线较暗,建议带上一部感光度较好的手机或相机。此外,不要拍打水族箱的玻璃,那会严重干扰鱼类的正常生理活动。
馆内不提供餐饮服务,只有一个非常袖珍的礼品柜台,出售一些海洋主题的明信片和小工艺品。如果你打算用餐,走出水族馆向码头(The Jetty)方向步行,那里有著名的海鲜餐厅,或者回到市中心寻找德国风格的面包店,步行距离均在 1 公里以内。
这里是斯瓦科普蒙德最受亲子游群体欢迎的地方之一。由于场馆完全封闭且环境安静,小孩子可以近距离观察平时在科普书上才看到的生物。隧道的高度设计得也刚好能让幼儿平视鱼群,是纳米比亚行程中为数不多的室内儿童友好型景点。
Nadjah Human It has fewer sea animals as what I recall 20 years back. I would like to see more of our ocean diversity and plant life elaborated more. I would also suggest input on how the community can help keep the ocean and it's beaches clean/ have field trip cleaning trips for schools to help educate the children, and some kind of beach safari trip crew to educate tourists/schools of the beach life and its eco~system. Just my thought, and this can also be done to help the up keep of the Aquarium Building, surroundings, and its future purpose goals.
Estian van Zyl This is a lovely little aquarium. Take the kids for a quick lesson on the marine life around Namibia and to see some beautiful fish species. The aquarium isn't large and it will take approximately 30-45 mins to walk through but the entrance fee is very inexpensive and i would 100% recommend everyone to visit.
Brian S. For the price, it was worth it. It is small and could be a bit better but you get what you pay for. My kids really enjoyed it but if you have older kids it may not be that great.
Ivy Gathu The experience was short lived but if you have never been to an aquarium you will be fascinated by the huge fish. It was worth every coin, entrance fee is very reasonable.
schminga I’m really disappointed. The aquariums do not offer enough space for that many fishes. There is nothing but water and stones in them. Have we forgotten how divers the ocean is? In the big tank you’ll find the fishes bumping into each other and in another one, a lonely and suicidal ray that keeps trying to climb up the glass. My advice: upgrade this place ASAP! This is animal cruelty! But mostly: get species that are about to extinct and help them to propagate. Once they do, set them free. That’s the only reason why humans should capture wild animals. Also hang up information sheets about the drastic extinction to make sure people learn something when they leave. If you visit this aquarium now, especially children will have an understanding of sea animals that is completely wrong!