SECTION 4: CITY GUIDES | < BACK | NEXT >

4.2 DURBAN

Durban is a colourful city with a rich mixture of cultural flavours, with a bustling metropolis rimmed by a palm-lined beachfront and the Indian Ocean, Miami-style art-deco buildings, gaudily-decorated rickshaws, dense jungle-like foliage and mangrove swamps. The city enjoys year-round subtropical temperatures, a beautiful coastline, warm sea, and fascinating historical heritage making it a mecca for holidaymakers. Durban's main tourist strip is the Golden Mile, an eight-kilometre stretch along with beachfront with restaurants, hotels and promenades. Durban is a key gateway to Africa and is also the principal and busiest port city on the continent. The city of Durban is renowned for its long beachfront promenade and frenzied CBD, full of diversity and alive with activity. Durban Restaurant Guide: http://www.dining-out.co.za/Durban-Restaurants.asp What’s on in Durban: http://eventful.com/durban/events

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS:

SHOPPING

Victoria Street Market
There are around 180 stalls selling basketwork and brassware, crafts and  exotic spices imported from India. Hours: 6:00 am to 5:00 pm 031-306-4021

Essenwood Craft Market on a Saturday
The region’s foremost craft, art, treasures and collectables market takes place every Saturday morning under the trees a stone’s throw away from Musgrave Centre. www.essenwoodmarket.com

Shongweni Farmer's Market is on Saturdays from 06h30 - 10h00. Set your alarm clock to bag the best fresh produce. ( 031-777-1554  www.shongwenimarket.co.za.

Woza Moya at Hillcrest Aids Centre sells beaded dolls and crafts that change lives. ( 031-765-5866 www.hillaids.org.za.

Gateway Mall - Situated in the Umhlanga Ridge New Town Centre and boasting a record number of more than 280 stores the Gateway shopping mall is an experience on it’s own. ( 031 514 0500 http://www.gatewayworld.co.za

Musgrave Centre - ( 031201 5129 www.musgravecentre.com

The Pavilion is KwaZulu-Natal's largest and most popular shopping destinations offering a unique mix of 230 stores, entertainment outlets and banking facilities. ( 031265 0558 www.thepav.co.za

OUTDOOR
 
Visit uShaka Marine World in Durban  5th largest aquarium in the world with a water slides amusement park, ( 031  328000 www.ushakamarineworld.co.za

Botanic Gardens have a herbarium, an orchid house, a garden for the blind and a renowned cycad collection. The gardens are popular for picnics and sunset classical music concerts.
( 031 309 1170, www.durbanbotanicgardens.org.za.

Japanese Gardens
Located on Tinsley Drive in Durban North, an outing to the Japanese Gardens is a pleasant afternoon excursion. ( 031 563 1333 for more information.

Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve squawks, hoots and twitters with more than 200 bird species. A small entry fee grants access to 13 km of nature walks, 10 km of mountain-bike trails and pleasant picnic sites. Gate times are 06h00 - 18h00. ( 031 469 2807, www.kznwildlife.com.

Mitchell Park Zoo
A year round display of bold and contrasting colours surrounds the main walk from the tea garden to the entrance. An extensive collection of exotic birds, tropical fish, small animals and reptiles are housed in a pleasing setting. ( 031 303 2275

EXPLORE

Tour the Indian and informal District of the City
The Indian district is around Grey and Victoria Streets. The Tourist Board organises a two and a half hour “Oriental Walkabout” of this area, which includes a visit to the Victoria St Market and the muthi market. You can book by phoning ( 031 304 4934.

Sharks Board visit:
The Sharks Board welcomes and encourages visitors to its complex in Umhlanga Rocks where they can view a 25 minute audio visual presentation on the day to day work done by the Sharks Board as well as the important role sharks and other animals play in the marine ecosystem. This is followed by a 20 minute dissection of a shark. ( 031 566 0400, web www.shark.co.za.

Take a trip on the Umgeni Steam Railway (Inchanga Choo Choo)
Trips to Inchanga are on the first and last Sunday of each month twice daily 08h45 and 12h30. Trains leave from Kloof Station (Stokers Arms). ( 031-303 3003 www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za

Visit the Fitzsimons Snake Park.
Home to South African and exotic species. Snake feeding on weekends after every venomous snake demonstrations daily: 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, 15:30. ( 073 156 9606. 031 5636395

Lunch at Pot & Kettle in Valley of 1000 Hills.
Take a leisurely drive to the Valley of a Thousand Hills and stop of for brunch or lunch at the Pot & Kettle.
( 031 777 1312 www.restaurants.co.za/potandkettle

Visit the Phezulu Safari Park
A replica of a typical Zulu village with beehive shaped huts. Here a visitor can gain insight into the lifestyle of the Zulu's and see their living quarters and utensils. A typical Zulu dance is performed at the arena for visitors. A traditional lunch is also available. Hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm daily. Show times: 10:00 - 11:30am, 1:30 - 3:30pm. ( 031 777 1000 www.phezulusafaripark.co.za

Summerveld Race Horse Training Centre- 700m above sea level
The Training Centre at Summerveld is situated about 36 km from Durban at Shongweni, which is about 5 km off the N3 to Pietermaritzburg. A Clubhouse on the property serves breakfast six days a week (Sundays Excluded) for guests. Meals are available between 06:00 and 09:00 for an early morning breakfast. http://www.goldcircle.co.za/Racing/TrainingCentres/KwazuluNatal/summerveld.shtml

Robson Brewery near Shongweni. The brewery runs a tour most Saturday afternoons’ (except public holidays) between 12noon and 1pm, though numbers are limited so please book ahead to avoid disappointment.
( 031-769 2061 http://www.shongwenibrewery.com

Makaranga Garden Lodge in Kloof, a bronze statue of Pan dances at the edge of a sloping lawn that leads down to 12 hectares of lush gardens and lily-decked ponds.  ( 031 764 6616 www.makaranga.com.

Spend a few hours at the KZNSA Gallery
This superb gallery has taken up residence in the lush surrounds of Bulwer Park with its interplay of interior and exterior space makes this a perfect - and not to mention, highly popular - spot to soak up a little cafe culture.
( 031 277 1705 www.nsagallery.co.za/

African Blown Glass in Assagay
Furnace blown hand made glassware and stained glass. ( 031 7681154 Email: gvbglass@lantic.net

HISTORIC, MUSEUMS & CULTURE
Durban Natural Science Museum. Hosts a number of informative and educational displays of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. The museum also has an Egyptian mummy. It will provide hours of entertainment for children and adults alike. There is also a coffee shop in the museum. 1st Floor, City Hall, Smith Street, Durban.
( 031 3112256

The BAT Centre of contemporary culture, ( 031 332 0451, web www.batcentre.co.za.

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple of Understanding for People of any faith - or none at all - are welcome to meditate, pray or simply look around. There's no entrance fee, but remember to leave your shoes at the door. A restaurant/take-away underneath serves delicious vegetarian food. ( 031 4033328.

Friends of Classical Music  ( 031-202-7823, www.friendsofmusic.co.za.

Visit the Bayside Gallery
This is a private gallery found in the Bat Centre (Bartel Arts Trust Centre) near the Maritime Museum. They specialize in contemporary South African art and crafts. ( 031 368 5547 http://www.batcentre.co.za

ADVENTURE & SEA

Swim/ surf in the sea.
Nothing beats a swim in the sea, especially the temperate Indian Ocean. Durban’s beaches have shark nets so there is no need to check for fins!  http://www.wavescape.co.za/wavescape-ocean-watch/durban.html

Swim in the pool at the top of the Royal Hotel
Go for a swim in the pool at the top of the Royal Hotel - it’s free, and the view is fantastic.
 ( 031 333 6000 http://www.theroyal.co.za

Scuba diving Club ( 031-368-1199http://www.duc.co.za/
Sky Diving ( 072 214 6040 http://www.skydivedurban.co.za

Horse riding on the beach.
Join Horseback Beach Adventures for an adventure of your life! Enjoy a thrilling walk, trot or gallop across the sand, splashing through the waves. On longer rides, all can enjoy the bareback ride into the ocean at our halfway picnic site, weather permitting! ( 084 467 0752 http://sites.google.com/site/horsebackbeachadventures2/

Deep sea fishing.
Enjoy a relaxed day on the ocean, and the excitement of reeling in a fish. Then go home to braai your fresh fish as the sun sets.  ( 082 961 4313  http://www.fishingchartersdurban.co.za

COOL SPOTS
 
Wilson’s Wharf with its incomparable harbour views, is Durban's trendiest fusion of fun food, top shows and crafts, blended with the rustic interface of a boating marina and working slipways. www.wilsonswharf.co.za

Have brunch at Beanbag Bohemia
Guy Wood opened Bean Bag Bohemia in 1995 as a Café Bar and Restaurant. It comprises a two storey National Monument building, built in 1885, and an open courtyard area with alfresco dining. ( 031 309 6019 http://www.beanbagbohemia.co.za

Neo Café Everyone loves a bargain meal, and South Africans love Portuguese-Mozambique food Neo is in the heart of  North Beach, but in a strip that looks like something out of South Central Los Angeles, without the rap music. Contact: ( 031-332-2299.

Play with your food
Billy Budd and his surfer buddies originally took over this wharf side spot among the mangroves as their private club, but now anyone daring enough to venture into Durban's docklands will be rewarded at Bud's on the Bay ( 031-466-6100, web www.budsonthebay.co.za.

Japer Palace leaves nothing to be desired. To experience the best of India out of India. ( 031 563 0287 http://www.jaipurpalace.co.za

Heritage Theatre in Hillcrest is locals' favourite place to enjoy dinner and a show. ( 031-765-4197, web www.heritagetheatre.co.za.

NIGHTLIFE

Joe Cools ( 031-332-9697) on North Beach remaining one of the city's favourite drinking and partying spots.

Florida and Windermere Roads in Morningside are popular for their numerous restaurants, bars and clubs.

Billy the B.U.M.S.
This world-class cocktail bar and restaurant (504 Windermere Road, Morningside, Durban) provides imaginative dining, complete with barmen who can spin bottles in the best Tom Cruise Cocktail style!
( 031 303 1988 www.billythebums.co.za

ENTERTAINMENT

Suncoast Casino
7 000 m² casino, with both smoking & non-smoking facilities, 1250 slot machines and 50 game tables (Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, Punto Banco and Dice 031 328 3000 www.suncoastcasino.co.za

GETTING AROUND

Car hire

Africa-Car-Hire.com ( 078 669 4444
Europcar ( 031-469-1229
Tempest Car Hire ( 031-469-0660
Sixt ( 031-469-1732
Avis ( 031-408-9900

Durban has a one-way road system, which can prove bewildering. The city has also embarked on a street-renaming project. Fortunately, former names are visible, crossed out below new ones on street signs. If an address doesn't appear on your map or GPS, ask for the old name.

Metered taxis

Zippy Cabs ( 031-202 7067
Mozzie Cabs ( 031-303-5787
Eagle Taxis ( 031-337-8333

Public transport

The Durban People Mover buses operate daily with buses running through the city every 15 minutes,
( 031-309-5942, web www.durbanpeoplemover.co.za.

Safaris: ( 021 7801391 www.e-gnu.com

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