If you’re attending Africa’s Travel Indaba, your time may be limited but Durban offers a wide range of experiences that are easy to fit in between meetings and networking sessions.
To help you make the most of your stay, here’s my personal list of the top things to do in Durban during Indaba.
Coastal & Ocean Experiences
- Visit uShaka Marine World – situated at the southern end of the Golden Mile, uShaka is a must see of that interested in marine conservation.
- Swim with sharks (cage diving experience) – you may need to arrange for a transfer but 45min south of Durban is one of the best dive spots in the country, Aliwal Shoal.
- Walk or jog along the Golden Mile promenade – there is a Parkrun that is on Saturday mornings at 8am on Durban’s north beach.
- Take a Durban harbour boat cruise – visit either the Durban yacht mole or head to Wilson’s Wharf and join on of the 60 min long boat tours of Africa’s busiest port.
- Try a surfing or bodyboarding session – there are a number of spots along Durban’s beachfront that offer surfing lesson or where you can hire a surfboard for the morning.
Adventure & Unique Experiences
- Enjoy a microlight flight along the Durban coastline – You can often spot sharks, dophins and even whales on these flights (depending on season). Visit Durban Microlights for more info on costs and how to book.
- Take the Big Swing at Moses Mabhida Stadium – this is adventure junkies looking for their daily adrenaline boost; I tried it and loved it! Contact the stadium directly.
- Ride the SkyCar to the top of the stadium arch – unfortunately the Sky Car is closed for maintenance right now.
- Join a Segway tour along the beachfront – this is good fun and is perfect for those that want to cover the entire beachfront without too much effort. Contact Segway Tours for more info.
- Book a helicopter flip over Durban – this is an amazing experience that everyone raves about. You can even book a picnic on top of Durban’s very own table mountain!
Culture, Food & Local Life
- Try a traditional Durban bunny chow – everyone has their favourite, right now House of Curries in Florida Road and Hollywood Bunny Bar are my two go-to’s.
- Explore the Victoria Street Market – I operate a number of walking tours from Victoria and the Indian and Zulu markets. Everyone loves these spots and tours.
- Visit Florida Road – the best spot in Durban for restaurants and nightlife. I was counted over 30 restaurants in the area, so there is definitely something for you.
- Experience a township tour – another popular tour that I offer; visit either iSithumba or KwaMashu on one of my city tours.
- Discover Durban’s Indian cuisine and heritage – this is another great way to explore Durban! Learn about the history of Durban while trying out the local foods on a heritage tour!
Nature & Scenic Escapes
- Visit the Durban Botanic Gardens – It’s hard to express just how much you should visit Durban’s botanical gardens. Apart from being the oldest in Africa, they are also home to the world’s loneliest tree! Book a tour with Vishnu when you get to the gardens, you’ll be amazed!
- Explore the Valley of a Thousand Hills – the area lies about 25 minutes west of Durban is home to the Shongweni Farmers Market (Saturdays only), PheZulu Safari Park and a few other gems which make the area a must-see.
- Visit Phezulu Safari Park for Zulu cultural experiences – not only can you watch a traditional Zulu dance, but you book a game drive and check out crocs and other reptiles. Book a tour with me and you’ll get to see PheZulu and enjoy a city tour.
- See exotic birds at Umgeni River Bird Park – one of my favourite things to do is walk thought the aviaries at the Umgeni bird park and watch these spectacular birds skit about, well worth it for sure.
- Explore the Hawaan reserve in Umhlanga – situated at the end of the promenade, the Hawaan reserve offer an opportunity to explore the walk walks and spot birds and small mammals such as duiker and bushbuck, it’s a wholesome experience!
Safari & Wildlife Experiences
- Take a day safari to Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Game Reserve – as the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, the Hluhluwe Imfolozi is the best destination to enjoy the big 5 of Africa. Book a tour through me and I’ll arrange an open safari vehicle experience.
- Visit Tala Game Reserve for a shorter safari option – Tala is a great deal closer to Durban than Hluhluwe and although the reserve does not house the big 5, you will still get to see a plethora of wildlife in the reserve. Book your spot with me.
- Experience a hippo cruise – just 2 hours north of Durban is the town of St Lucia where hippo roam free! Book a tour to view these ill-tempered giants of the waterways in their natural element.
Make the Most of Your Time in Durban
Durban has much on offer that the challenge isn’t finding something to do, it’s choosing what fits into your schedule. I may be a bit biased (I’m Durban born and never left) but I think Durban is the greatest city in South Africa!
Book a tour with me, it’s the easiest way to experience the highlights of the city in just a few hours, giving you a real feel for Durban without the hassle of planning.