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SAMREC - Marine Rehabilitation Centre
Easterncape
SAMREC Cape Recife Port Elizabeth - Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release, Educate
To experience something a little different on your Port Elizabeth seaside break, why not pay a visit to SAMREC – the South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre. With recent closures and cuts to some of Port Elizabeth’s key attractions, the introduction of an exciting centre that offers visitors a unique and interesting insight into the amazing and fascinating marine life of Algoa Bay is certainly a welcome addition, for both locals and visitors to Port Elizabeth alike.
The South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre Trust together with funding from the lotto have established a beautiful centre which focuses on the rescue and rehabilitation of all types of marine animal with a main focus on marine birds, specifically the endangered African Penguin. The education centre at SAMREC is open daily from 09:30 to 16:30 and offers visitors a great chance to learn about this important wildlife conservation work and to see first-hand how we can all help to protect our precious marine environment.
A tour of the SAMREC centre includes visits to all areas where you can see recovering penguins, learn about how they are cared for and more and if you arrive at around 14:35 you can even catch these cute little birds being fed!
SAMREC has a 4 pronged approach and their aim has been:
- To maintain an effective coastal network to respond to any reports of strandings.
- To rescue and rehabilitate marine animals in distress and where ever possible to return them to the wild.
- To be on hand to respond to major oil spills and to rehabilitate the affected marine life.
- To provide excellent research facilities for veterinary specialists and scientists.
- To create awareness wherever possible for the need to conserve the coastal areas.
- To educate the public on the importance of caring for our most precious asset and to protect and save it for future generations.
A visit to SAMREC and the penguins really is a fun way to get involved with marine conservation. While driving to SAMREC ask the children (or adults) in the car if they can remember what the name stands for and if they can say the name – if they don’t remember it while driving to SAMREC they will certainly remember it after their visit!
SAMREC Sea School
SAMREC Sea School arranges daily group tours to educate both adult and children visitors about the urgent need for the centre to continue its amazing work and the dangers and perils that face our treasured marine life. Visits by organisations and school outing groups can be arranged with a variety of topics. There is also a well-equipped lecture hall on-site. Bookings are essential for large groups.
Flying Penguin Café
After a fun hike on the beach while exploring rock pools or visiting the Cape Recife lighthouse (which has protected Algoa bay since 1851) end your visit to SAMREC with a bite to eat or a drink at the beautifully decorated Flying Penguin Café.
Delicious filter coffee, cool drinks, and a variety of delicious light meals or teas are available whilst you sit and enjoy overlooking the penguin enclosure.
The Flying Penguin Café is open every day except Monday from 10.30-16.00 and is available for small functions or events.
SAMREC useful information, costs and opening hours
SAMREC is situated in the Eastern Cape's Cape Recife Reserve. It is free to enter the reserve only if you are visiting the SAMREC facility, otherwise you will need to pay a permit fee.
The shows at SAMREC are charged at R25 for adults and R15 for children or pensioners.
Tours run throughout the day. SAMREC is open from 9.30 and the last tour is at 15.30.
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