Durban is South Africa’s playground and it always has been. Every single year South African’s flock to golden beaches under sunny blue skies, frolicking in the warm Indian Ocean.
It’s not just the locals though, Durban is slowly but surely becoming a popular and sought after destination off the beaten track thanks to the rich history of the city, it’s vibrant communities and the never ending list of things to do.
So, in this blog post, I’m listing 10 of my favourite things to do while visiting Durban in 2024.
Top 10 Things to Do While Visiting Durban in 2024
- Learn to surf, swim with sharks or go whale spotting.
- Visit uShaka Marine World, Umgeni Bird Park or crocodiles and reptiles.
- Check out the museums of Durban and surrounds.
- Explore nature reserves.
- Indulge in fabulous feasts.
- Visit the Zulu and Indian markets.
- Experience the wildlife on a safari trip.
- Shop locally-made markets.
- Tour the architecture of Durban.
- Embrace the mountains.
- A note about safety.
Learn to surf, swim with sharks or go whale spotting
Great weather, golden beaches and the warm Indian Ocean are the ingredients for the best seaside vacation ever! With Durban being a coastal city, it should come as no surprise that there are many, many options for things to do that involve the ocean. Here’s our suggestions on what you can do.
- Learn to Surf: Definitely one of the most popular things to do in Durban. Book yourself a few lessons with Xpression offers a great deal on lessons and they’re situated in the perfect beginners beach with manageable waves. Another option is Living the Dream Surf School – booking essential.
- Swim with Sharks: Yup, it’s not a typo, you can swim with sharks! Swimming with sharks does mean a drive down the south coast to Umkomaas (45min from Durban) but it’s the best place to close to these amazing creatures. Check out Durban Shark Diving or Shark Cage Diving KZN for more info.
- Whale Watching: This is an amazing experience I have personally enjoyed many times! Every year between May and November some 7000 Hump Back whales and Southern Right Whales move within eyesight of Durban. Book yourself a spot on a whaling tour and spot these massive gentle giants as they head on past. Check out Whale and Dolphin Tours and Isle of Capri for times and costs.
Visit uShaka Marine World, Umgeni Bird Park or chill out with crocs
Want to stay in the city but at the same time appreciate the animals we share this big ol’ blur marble with? Then here’s some options to get a bit of sun and marvel at natures abundence.
- uShaka Marine World: you can easily spend a day at uShaka Marine World from experiencing the immersive aquarium to splashing about is the Wet ‘N Wild Park or even just shopping or enjoying a coffee and muffin at one of the many restaurants. For those feeling brave, try a shark dive to get those endorphins pumping!
- Umgeni Bird Park: named after the nearby river, the Umgeni Bird Park is a fascinating site to visit and home to a bewildering plethora of bird species, some indigenous and some exotic. Plan ahead so that you get to watch one of their informative shows.
- Crocodile and Reptile Experience: want to do something totally out of the ordinary? How about enjoying your lunch surrounded by crocs! That’s one of the things you can try at PheZulu Safari Park in the Valley of a 1000 Hills, some 35 minutes from Durban. Another option is Crocodile Creek on the North Coast (30 minutes from Durban). A popular destination is also Croc World on the South Coast that has a reptile centre, bird park and children’s playground.
We offer a guided tour that includes a morning spent at Tala Game Reserve and the afternoon at PheZulu Safari Park. Check out the Valley of a 1000 Hills tour page for more information.
Museums of Durban
I am a huge fan of visiting museums, and not just on rainy days! Museums off the best opportunities t really get to know a city and often they are affordable, with some museums costing nothing at all. Here’s some museums we think are perfect for visitors to Durban to enjoy.
- Durban natural Science Museum: founded in 1887, the science museum has long been a favourite destination for school children and visitors alike. It’s situated at the city hall making it easy to get to and the best part, it’s free entry for everyone.
- The Bergthiel Museum: situated in Westville (10 minutes from Durban) this museum gives insight into the lives of the early settlers to Durban and in 1983 was declared a monument. Easy to get to and once again offers free entry.
- MOTH Museum of Militaria: Not far from the city center lies the Old Fort, and situated within the grounds is this amazing little museum. Crammed into just two rooms are loads of memorabilia, artefacts, images and books all relating to the various conflicts Durban and South Africa have been a part of. It’s a great museum but you must call ahead as it is a private museum.
- 1860 Heritage Museum: Durban is often referred to having a melting pot of cultures, well I don’t know much about that, but I do know that the 1860 Museum offers visitors the best possible insight into the arrival of the 1860 Indians and their subsequent lives in South Africa.
- There are many more museums to visit in the Durban and surrounding areas, more than we could do justice here. For more info you can check out Museum Explorer website.
Explore a Nature Reserve
South African’s love the outdoors so there are loads of reserves around the country to enjoy. Here in Durban it’s no different, with nature reserves surrounding Durban. Here are just three of our favourites.
- Tala Game Reserve: around 45 min west of Durban lies Tala Game Reserve. This private reserve is home to a number of different antelope species and the birding is second to none. There is a fantastic picnic site with pool for those hot summer days, and you can self-drive or book a game drive. Apart from the animals, you can also mountain bike, go fishing and enjoy a host of other activities. This is a private reserve so there is an entry fee.
- Drakensberg Mountains: it’s bit of a drive but the Drakensberg Mountains are one of the mos popular destinations to visit for a bit of nature. Either enjoy one of the many day trails out there or perhaps even head to the Bushman paintings; either which way it’s impossible to not enjoy a day out in the ‘Berg!
- uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve: uMhlanga is about 15 minutes from Durban and at the northern section alongside the beaches lies the uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve. This spot is popular over weekends thanks to it’s trails that run through the coastal forests and especially for birding enthusiasts.
- Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve: situated south’ish (about 20 minutes) from central Durban is Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, some 250ha of great walking trails, scenic biking routes and loads of birds and antelope in the reserve. Entrance is free and over weekends it can get quite busy.
Looking for a tour to Tala Game Reserve or perhaps some time spent in the mountains? We offer two tours that may interest you.
Indulge in Fabulous Feasts
Who amongst us would not love to spend their days indulging in tasty treats, fine dining or even decedent deserts while on a vacation (yes please). The list of fantastic and amazing food experiences in Durban is as long as my arm – here’s some of my personal favourites.
- House of Curries: no one should allowed to leave Durban without enjoying the humble “bunny chow”. Now there are loads of spots throughout the Durban area that offer great bunny chows, but House of Curries in Florida Road offers a range of tasty options.
- SPICE Restaurant: head north of the city past Umhlanga and your’ll come across SPICE restaurant in Westbrook. Family owned, this restaurant offers a Durban version of fine dining that is not to be missed! Booking is definitely essential as place fills up quickly thanks to fresh ingredients and wonderful comfort food.
- Pot and Kettle: west of the city is the Valley of a 1000 Hills with dramatic views disappearing all the way into tomorrow. Perched on the edge of one of the view points is Pot and Kettle. This is my go-to when my significant other and I want to chill out and enjoy delicious food with the inspiring views – oh and on some weekends there’s a live band as well!
- The Oyster Box: the first 5-star resort in Durban and home to a curry bar that would make you weep with joy, this spot is iconic in Durban and honestly, you’d think you died and landed in heaven with their afternoon teas. Book now, don’t even think about it, just book.
- Robsons Real Beer: is there much better than a chilled beer at the end of a hot Durban day? Based on the popularity of the Robsons Real Beer site, there clearly isn’t. Craft beers, delicious familiar bar cuisine, it’s no wonder it’s one of my favourite spots to unwind.
There are of course, many many other fantastic restaurants around Durban, these are just the tip of the iceberg and my personal favourites.
Zulu and Indian Markets
Durban is considered to be the most “African” of the South African cities so it’s no real surprise that the city is home to traditional Zulu markets and of course the well-known Victoria Market.
First time visitors to the Warwick Market can be really overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle, the noise and some of the sights – it’s why we strongly recommend going with a guide.
The markets are made up of 5 separate markets, the Muthi Market, the Bead market, the Station Market, the Cows Head Market and the Early Mornign Market. You can easily walk the markets in around an hour, our tours usually take a little longer because we are stopping a lot to explain everything you see.
The Victoria Market is often referred to as the “Indian Market” or the “Victoria Spice Market”. Rebuilt in the 1970’s after a devastating fire, the market is a popular destination for those wanting to buy spices, curios, artwork and beaded work as well as other day to day items.
Experience Wildlife In and Around Durban
Durban is best placed to experience the amazing wildlife of Africa. Just west of Durban lies Tala Game Reserve, north of Durban is Zululand, home to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve and many private 5-star reserves, and even in the itself you can find a plethora of wildlife.
Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve: the grand-daddy of the African reserves, the Hluhluwe Imfolozi is one of the best destinations for a big-5 experience in Durban. Visitors can easily get to the reserve and enjoy a day trip or extend their visit over a few days. Open and closed vehicle safaris are available as well as game walks. Check out our safari page for more information on our safari tours.
Tala Game Reserve: just an hours drive west of Durban, Tala Game Reserve is home to a number of different species of antelope as well as giraffe, hippo and rhino. This private reserve offers open vehicle game drives as well as mountain bike trails, walks, birding and more. We offer a tour to Tala that includes an afternoon spent at PheZulu.
GwaHumbe Game Reserve: around 90min west of Durban is this great small reserve situated amongst the sugar cane carpeted hills of the Tala Valley. Open game drives are available and they serve amazing lunches here. If you’re after a little pampering and and some game viewing this may be the answer. There’s hippo, giraffe, plenty antelope species and of course birds to view.
Apologies for interrupting your reading! I wanted you to know that Durban Safaris and Tours offers an amazing range of safari tours, cultural and history tours, one day tours and multi-day tours. We also offer a range of cruise ship excursions designed to help you get the most out of your stop in Durban. If you are planning a trip to Durban, then get in touch with us and we’ll happily help put together an itinerary that offers the best of your stay.
Shop locally-made markets
I’m a sucker for any farmers market and will happily spend hours enjoying the hand-made goodies or indulging in great artisanal foods. It’s perfect for me then that Durban has a great culture of outdoor markets than you can enjoy!
Shongweni Farmers Market
Shongweni Farmers Market is the big one here. It’s been around since at least 2010 and has grown to the be the biggest and most popular farmers market around South Africa. The market is hosted every Saturday from 6am to 1pm and you can expect over a hundred stall (at least) to explore. Often there are lives bands playing and plenty for the kids to do – and the food, oh the food!!
Golden Hours Market
The Golden Hours market is a great little market to explore in Durban North on a Sunday. My favorite is to get a delicious breakfast roll and wolf it down with great coffee while listening to the local musicians do their thing, and then it’s time to shop.
Essenwood Market
Situated in the trendy Musgrave area, Essenwood market gives locals their locally-made goods fix every Saturday morning. The market gets cracking around 8am and is done around 1pm – great coffee, art and local musicians make this a great spot to enjoy a bit of Durban’s outdoor culture.
Tour the Architecture of Durban
Durban’s heyday was around the 1920’s or so when the city began to rapidly expand. The 1920’s was also a great time for art-deco styling and so many of the buildings designed and built from the 20’s onwards were created in this style.
There is a tour that you can take (contact us and we’ll put you in touch with the right people) that takes you around some of the best examples of the art-deco architectural style in Durban.
If you feel like exploring yourself, here are some of the buildings that are considered to be fine examples of the style;
- Alder Court; 7 Woodburn Place, Durban.
- Aboobaker Mansions in town.
- Berea Court; 399 Brea Road.
- Victoria Mansions in Margaret Mcandi Avenue.
- The Cenotaph in the city hall gardens.
The Art-Deco Society has made a great downloadable pamphlet that’ll help you get around.
Embrace the Drakensberg Mountains
Sure, it’s a bit of a drive to get to, around 2,5 hours, but it’s so worth it if you are visiting Durban. At 182 million years old, they are considered to be one of the oldest mountains in the world (or more correctly, the Drakensberg Group) and were home to the original inhabitants of Southern Africa, the Bushman People.
The Drakensberg (or uKhahlamba in Zulu) is a popular destination for South Africans all year round. There is loads to do for the entire family from rustic camping to glamping, there’s fishing to horse-riding, hiking to climbing, skiing and mountain-biking, the list is a long one.
There are definitely a few things you should do though;
- Sani Pass into Lesotho: it’s well known throughout South Africa, a 4×4 only pass carving it’s way from the KwaZulu-Natal side of the Drakensberg into Lesotho. It can be done in a day, we even offer the trip as one of our day tours, but it’s a better idea to turn it into an overnight stay.
- Bushman Paintings: I’m often quite awed by the fact that a group of people existed in the Drakensberg Mountains and more so that they left evidence of their lives as paintings on the walks of caves! Today you cn visit those very caves, either by yourself or you can book a spot on one of our day tours to the Bushman paitings.
- Hiking: even if you are not the hiking type, heading our in the pure air of the mountains is something special to enjoy! Start off with one of the easier trails; there’s plenty to see including baboon, eland, vultures, wildlife flowers and much, much more!
A Note About Safety in Durban
It’s a sad fact of life that Durban does not have a great reputation when it comes to exploring the city, far too often I’ve had guests tell me about the negative things they have heard about Durban.
Here’s the thing, every city in the world has it’s issues, and Durban is no different – we have crime. Thing is, most of the crime tends to happen in places most visitors wouldn’t be found in; in the townships around Durban for example.
And yes, things like pick-pockets do happen in the city, but in 14 years of taking guests on walking tours through the streets of Durban, I have yet to have experienced the violent crime that every one speaks of.
Now I don’t want to dismiss anyone’s fears, there is crime, but it’s no where near as bad as some claim. If you’re planning to explore that city then there are a couple of things you should consider.
- Be aware of your surroundings. This means walk around with your head up, looking around. Criminals tend to target those that look like they are lost or scared, people looking down at their feet or focused on a map or book or device. The city is a beauty one so keep your head up and look confident and enjoy your trip.
- Avoid exploring by yourself. It’s best to explore in a group, sometimes it’s even more fun. If you are a solo traveller, contact a local backpackers, you’ll usually find someone willing to travel with you.
- Travel light. This means ditch the big heavy camera at the hotel, forgo the gold rings, diamond necklaces, heavy watches etc -travel lightly, keep you valuables in your pocket or in the hotel safe.
- Keep loved ones informed. Let you family, partners or anyone else of that matter, informed of your plans. Want to head to the local market, let everyone know what time you expect to get back.
