For the first time in WAZA Annual Conference history, every institutional member in a host country has united behind a single national bid, bringing the global zoo and aquarium community to Cape Town from 17 to 21 October 2027.
South Africa’s World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) institutional members will collectively host the 82nd WAZA Annual Conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
The conference marks a historic return to the African continent after 28 years and, for the first time in WAZA Annual Conference history, will be hosted through a unified national partnership involving every WAZA institutional member in the host country.
Cango Wildlife and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo will serve as the primary hosts and lead coordinators. They will be joined by Two Oceans Aquarium as the official venue partner, together with uShaka Sea World, operated by the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), and the National Zoological Garden of South Africa, part of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
Together, the five institutions represent expertise across terrestrial and aquatic conservation, animal welfare, biodiversity research, environmental education and public engagement.
A Global Association, A National Welcome
Founded in 1935, WAZA is the global alliance of leading zoos, aquariums, regional associations and national federations committed to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats.
Its network comprises nearly 400 leading institutions and organisations worldwide, with institutional membership subject to defined eligibility requirements and a formal membership process. Members are expected to uphold WAZA’s standards and Code of Ethics across areas including animal welfare, conservation, sustainability, education and research.
The 2027 conference therefore represents an important opportunity for South Africa to welcome the international zoo and aquarium community while showcasing the country’s conservation expertise, biodiversity and institutional leadership.
Although delegates will gather in Cape Town, the conference will draw on the knowledge, experience and perspectives of institutions across South Africa, reflecting the collaborative approach behind the successful national bid.
Voices from the South African Hosts
Cango Wildlife
“Cango Wildlife is elated that WAZA has entrusted Cape Town with its 2027 Annual Conference, and prouder still that, for the first time in WAZA’s history, every member institution in a host country stands together to deliver it. In nature, nothing endures alone: the strongest ecosystems are built not on the dominance of one species, but on the resilience of their connections. That same principle brings us together, with unity, purpose and tenacity. I look forward most to the world seeing what this country already knows: South Africa is not merely a beneficiary of the global conservation effort, but one of its architects.”
Douglas Eriksen
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Cango Wildlife
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
“We are very proud to co-host the 82nd WAZA Annual Conference in our beautiful South Africa. Co-hosting is testament to how we, as a small zoo community, work together and support each other in a tangible way. We are proud to partner with Cango Wildlife, Two Oceans Aquarium, SAAMBR and SANBI, all well-respected facilities. Johannesburg Zoo is managed by passionate staff, and we cannot wait to show the WAZA community the variety of animals and African biodiversity we hold in beautiful surroundings.”
Louise Gordon
Executive Manager, Johannesburg Zoo, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
Two Oceans Aquarium
“The Two Oceans Aquarium, together with Cango Wildlife, Johannesburg Zoo, SANBI and SAAMBR, is deeply honoured to welcome the global WAZA community to our beautiful country. Hosting the 82nd WAZA Annual Conference is an exceptional opportunity to strengthen our shared commitment to conservation, environmental education and research. As a proud member of both WAZA and African Association for Wildlife in Human Care (AAWHC), we look forward to sharing Cape Town, the historic gateway to Southern Africa, and the region’s remarkable biodiversity and extraordinary wildlife.”
Michael Farquhar
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Two Oceans Aquarium
uShaka Sea World (SAAMBR)
“SAAMBR has been a proud and active member of WAZA for many years, participating at every level and helping shape WAZA’s strategies. Hosting the 82nd WAZA Conference with our AAWHC associates is the chance to show off our beautiful, biodiverse country to our friends and colleagues around the world, while continuing to serve our WAZA family.”
Lawrence Oellermann PhD
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), uShaka Sea World (SAAMBR)
National Zoological Garden of South Africa (SANBI)
“SANBI is honoured to co-host the 82nd WAZA Annual Conference. As the organisation responsible for the National Zoological Gardens (NZG), which proudly hosted the WAZA Conference in 2000, SANBI looks forward to welcoming delegates to the iconic Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and strengthening global partnerships for biodiversity conservation.”
Leslie Mudimeli
General Manager, National Zoological Garden of South Africa
A historic first for WAZA
Martín Zordan, Chief Executive Officer of WAZA, said:
“For the first time in WAZA Annual Conference history, every WAZA Institutional Member in one country has come together behind a single national bid. That is more than a hosting model: it is a powerful statement of shared purpose.
After 28 years since the last WAZA Conference was hosted on the African continent, South Africa will welcome our global community not through one institution alone, but through the collective knowledge, experience and ambition of its entire WAZA membership. This reflects WAZA’s continued commitment to ensuring that our events are inclusive, globally representative and hosted across different regions and countries, giving our diverse membership the opportunity to connect, contribute and lead.
“The conference may take place in Cape Town, but its perspective, its expertise and its welcome will come from across South Africa.”
The 82nd WAZA Annual Conference will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 17 to 21 October 2027.
Further information regarding the programme, registration and delegate experiences will be announced in due course.