GUIDE TO AFRICA
TOP 8 THINGS TO DO IN DURBAN
Durban is South Africa’s third biggest city and often passed over for the ‘cooler’ cosmopolitan Cape Town. But there is a lot more to this enchanting city.
After a major city makeover in 2010 for the Soccer World Cup, Durban is growing in popularity as a tourist destination in South Africa. Durban is also home to the second largest population to people of Indian descent, outside of India. This gives it an unmistakable Asian feel and an atmosphere of the subcontinent with the marketplaces and streets of the Indian area.
If you’re in search of sun, sea, surf and delicious food, Durban is the destination for you. Here are our top 8 things to do in Durban.
The Golden Mile
The Golden Mile is one of Durban’s most popular attractions and is certainly worth the visit. Whether you’re in the mood for jogging, surfing, sun tanning, cycling, or just taking a relaxed stroll, it’s the spot for you. The Golden Mile is actually not a mile at all but rather a 4-mile (6.5km) stretch of gorgeous, golden beaches lapped by the warm water of the Indian Ocean. These stunning beaches are fringed by bustling restaurants, shops, cultural attractions, entertainment hubs and some of Durban’s best accommodation.
Moses Mabhida Stadium
Durbanites are extremely proud of their state-of-the-art arching stadium. The ‘Y’ arch was inspired by the Y shape in the South African National Flag. You can head to the top of the arch in a SkyCar, go up on foot (550 steps!) on an Adventure Walk or, if you are an adrenaline junkie, plunge of the 106m high arch on the giant Big Swing. Whatever option you go for, you are promised fantastic views of Durban!
uShaka Marine World
uShaka Marine World boasts the fifth largest aquarium in the world and a trip to Durban is incomplete without a day at this 40-acre theme park. The park is divided into four sections, including Sea World and Wet’n’Wild. The aquarium is designed around five shipwrecks where you can go scuba diving and enjoy other water-based activities. It also has the biggest collection of sharks in the southern hemisphere. Wet’n’Wild features the largest water slide in the southern hemisphere. You can also explore uShaka Village Walk, which is a replica of an African village with cafes, restaurants and shops.
Gandhi Settlement
This is an often forgotten and overlooked gem of Durban. Just outside the city, in Phoenix Township, you can visit the house of Mahatma Gandhi, where he lived and resisted the Apartheid regime. You can see several exhibitions dedicated to him, his wife, Kasturba, and other leaders of the anti-Apartheid movement.
Go Swimming with Sharks
It is worth taking a 40-minute drive south of Durban to the tiny coastal town of Umkomaas. Umkomaas is the gateway to Aliwal Shoal – this offshore reef system is considered one of the best places in the world to dive with sharks. Sightings are almost guaranteed. You can choose between diving, snorkelling or shark cage diving.
Durban Botanic Gardens
The Durban Botanic Gardens were established by Dr Charles Johnston on the edge of the Berea Ridge in 1849. This makes it Durban’s oldest public institution and the oldest surviving botanical garden in Africa. The 2000-sq metre garden features many living fossil plants – the pre-dinosaur cycads, which extend back 250 million years) face possible extinction in the wild. It is a lovely place to wander. The botanical gardens also host an annual concert series featuring the KwaZulu-Natal Philaharmonic Orchestra and other performers.
Try a Curry
Durban is considered the curry capital of South Africa and sampling some of the local curries is an essential activity to making the most of your time in the city. We recommend Mali’s Indian Restaurant. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming residential setting and simple décor, the food is superb. The focus is on the attentive, friendly and knowledgeable service and serving up delicious dishes made with authentic techniques.
Follow the Inanda Heritage Trail
The Inanda Heritage Trail forms part of the Freedom Route which recognises all of KwaZulu Natal’s important historic areas. The trail begins at the Inanda Township where you will find the Ohlange Institute – this is where Nelson Mandela voted in South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. The Indanda Heritage Trail will take you to some key historic sites which played a pivotal role in shaping South Africa. These sites include the Gandhi Settlement and the Inanda Seminary, one of South Africa’s oldest schools for girls, founded in 1869.
