Durban: The Zulu Jewel in the South African Crown

Durban is perhaps South Africa’s most visited destination. Located on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean, Durban is a thriving metropolis perhaps most known for its long stretches of sand. Beaches aren’t the only Durban tourist attractions; the city was also once the centre of the Zulu nation, Africa’s most powerful pre-colonisation civilisation. The colonial era too left a major mark on Durban, a fact that is visible in the city’s rich architectural heritage. During the times of the British Empire, Durban played host to a large number of Indians, one of whom was Mahatma Gandhi. Today, the city is Africa's busiest container port and a thriving tourist hotspot.

Places to Visit in Durban

Durban is home to a plethora of tourist attractions from both the colonial and the modern day eras. Some of the more prolific Durban tourist sights include:

• Berea (a long ridge overlooking the harbour)
• City Hall (a colonial era masterpiece)
• Florida Road (the most thriving street in Durban that is home to some of the country’s best book shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels, malls, shops, etc.)
• Durban Botanical Gardens
• Mahatma Gandhi Settlement
• The Golden Mile (a long stretch of sand that is as inviting as any can get)

Durban: Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine

Durban is generally safe for tourists, but it is advisable that certain areas be avoided after dark. Needless to stay, usual precautions such as keeping valuables out of sight, etc., need to be taken. Further, while visiting game areas, one should (and rightly so) follow the guide’s instructions and not feed anything to wild animals. Unlike many of its African peers, Durban is a fairly developed metropolis and has a decent skyline. The city is vibrant and has a very good nightlife as it is home to a multitude of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, bars, discos, etc.

Durban is also home to many casinos and some of the best malls and resorts in the country. Durban has an amazing coastline and experiences very pleasant weather all year around. The city is a surfer’s paradise. English is widely spoken in Durban along with Afrikaans and Zulu. The local currency is South African rands (ZAR). The local cuisine is rich and draws heavily from Indian cuisines. Durban has a large number of medium-scale eateries for all types of cuisines, and is also home to some of the continent’s best and most prolific restaurants.

Best time to visit Durban

The best time to visit Durban is from September to April.

Best way to reach Durban

• By Air: Durban is one of the region’s most important travel hubs, and is connected to most major destinations in the world via regular flights.
• By Rail: Durban is one of the more important railway stations in South Africa, and is the terminating or originating point for many trains in the country.
• By Road: Durban is well connected to all national and regional destinations and popular attractions. Further, Durban is also one of the centres of South Africa’s road transport system and as such offers comfortable transport options for almost all of the nearby South Africa attractions.

Accommodation

The Durban accommodation scene is very active and wide enough to cater to all budgets and needs. Durban is home of some of the finest hotels in the continent. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Durban vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Durban tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does.