The city of Durban is one of South Africa’s largest and also among its most beautiful. If you’re planning a holiday in the nation, Durban is simply unmissable for its breathtaking scenery, rich nature and relaxed vibe.
Durban
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Combining old with new, the city retains some of its colonial buildings, which sit side by side with modern skyscrapers, while hawkers sell traditional Zulu crafts just a few paces from the contemporary casino complex along the beachfront. This eclectic combination works surprisingly well and there really is something for everyone visiting Durban as part of a tour of South Africa. Read our guide to find out more.
Beaches
Among the most popular draws for tourists visiting the area are the beautiful beaches found along the Golden Mile. This stretch of sand boasts a number of beaches separated by piers that are lined with a pathway dividing the sand from the hotels and craft stalls.
Families, single travellers and older people will find somewhere suitable, and surfers will be in their element at spots like the Bay of Plenty.
Entertainment
The Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World – a complex comprising a casino, uShaka Marine World, shops and restaurant – is located close to the beaches; find out if Lady Luck is on your side at the casino, but if you’re not feeling lucky you might want to call in at the aquarium instead, where you can also take in a seal show and admire dolphins.
If you want to see dolphins in their natural habitat, book a place on a boat charter out sea, where your guide will take you to the spots where bottlenose dolphins and whale-sharks are most often seen.
You might also be interested in learning more about the city’s industry, in which case you can head out of town to the Kwa-Zulu Natal region for a guided tour of a jewellery factory, or find out more about sugar production at the South African Sugar Terminal Tour Centre.
Eating out
The food served in Durban combines Zulu flavours with Indian and Mediterranean influences and there are restaurants, pubs and hotels to choose from when picking a place for a meal out.
A particularly popular spot is Florida Road in the suburb of Morningside, where you’ll find numerous eateries such as steakhouses and fine dining establishments, including 9th Avenue Bistro. Here, you can tuck into homemade linguine, prawn and chorizo-stuffed calamari or fresh line-caught fish.
In Umhlazi you should call in at Max’s Lifestyle Tavern for a traditional barbecue, while the Britannia Hotel serves up some great bunny chows – half a loaf of bread filled with curry that was made popular during the apartheid period.
Nature
Durban and its surroundings are home to a wealth of natural attractions, including game and nature reserves. Among the most well-known is perhaps the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, which was the first Natural World Heritage Site to be named in South Africa.
Forests and lakes make up much of the terrain here, which provides habitats for a wide array of creatures. Some of the species to be found throughout the 328,000-hectare park include humpback whales, crocodiles and elephants.
Another must for nature enthusiasts is Umgeni River Bird Park, where you can admire lots of species during the Free Flight Bird Show, which includes owls, kookaburras, vultures and many others.
Safaris are popular pastimes among visitors to South Africa and there are numerous game parks you can call in at in the area around Durban. At Africa’s oldest game reserve, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, you can expect to see all of the Big Five – rhinos, elephants, leopards, lions and buffalo.
