Why Durban Should be Your Next Holiday Destination

Although the title of this blog post is quite a mouthful, “Why Durban Should be Your Next Holiday Destination“, fact is that for South African’s, the city of Durban is the perfect city to visit in South Africa.

Now being a Durbanite (a resident of Durban), I could easily be accused of being biased, but let me back up my statement with some hard-hitting facts!

Durban is Easy to Get To

South Africa is a big ol’ country and driving anywhere takes a bit of time, fortunately the King Shaka International Airport makes life so much easier. Flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town depart multiple times a day.

From Cape Town the flight is only 2 hours and from Johannesburg it’s even closer at around 1 hour.

Of course you don’t have to fly, there are busses available as well that run daily. Intercape and the Greyhound are two that regular ply their trade between Cape Town and Johannesburg to Durban. I should point out that they are long trips, around 12 hours from Johannesburg and 20-odd hours from Cape Town.

There is also the train that you could also take that runs overnight. It’s called the Shosholoza Meyl and it is an overnight train. Unfortunately the train is shut down currently, but there are plans to have the train running again asap.

Finally, you could drive from either Cape Town or Johannesburg, but again they are long drives. The National roads (N1, N2 and N3) are in great condition and travel through some beautiful part s fo the country.

So really you have no excuse not to make your way to Durban, South Africa’s most popular adventure city!

Durban is Affordable to Visit

Having travelled to Europe and the USA myself (and other counntries), getting to South Africa in the first place is a long hard slog and air flights are not cheap these days; but this is where Durban shines!

Durban is still the most affordable holiday destination for both locals and international travellers. There are loads of budget friendly hotels and B&B’s as well as quite a few backpacking sites in and around the city of Durban.

And while I personally am not a huge fan of AirBnB, there are of course many of those around as well, just maybe try to find one that gives back to the community in same way (I’ll not sermonize here).

For those that have a more refined taste, there are amazing luxury options as well. The Oyster Box in Umhlanga (a suburb of Durban) is the first 5-star resort in KwaZulu-Natal and cannot be faulted in any way at all! Another option, and my personal favourite is the Beverly Hills Hotel – but there are many others to choose from.

The Delicious Food

I’m a big guy, I live to eat, not eat to live, and I can categorically state that Durban has some of the best restaurants and foods in the country!

Thanks to the Indian influence in Durban, we have some of the best curries you can find anywhere, and the grand-daddy of them all is the humble “bunny chow”. A mouth-watering curry served in a quartered loaf of bread; it’s the ultimate lunch time meal (and dinner time and after-party time).

A white dinner plate on a round wood table. The plate holds four small loafs of bread that have a curry sauce poured over the bread. — Delicious bunny chows waiting to be enjoyed

Florida road in Durban is the perfect destination to seek out amazing meals, from best-in-country steak restaurants to smaller diners and local take-away’s.

My fav’s; House of Curries, SPICE in Westbrook, Dukkah, 9th Ave Bistro and Butcher Boys.

Thinking about a vacation to Durban? I offer a range of safari tours, tours into Lesotho, tours to the Rorkes Drift and cultural tours. Just get in touch.

Great Weather

Durban has a sub-tropical climate. What does this mean for you? Pretty much blue skies most of the year round.

In summer temperatures are in the mid-30’s (celcius) but be warned, the humidity is pretty high as well. Imagine beach days, lazy days in hammocks as a cooling breeze cools you down (along with cocktails).

A setting sun filters through and African acacia tree creating a warm yellow light — The setting sun filters through an acacia at the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve

Winters are usually chilly in the morning but warm up to around 22 degrees celcius or so. So cool mornings and evenings and warm around midday. I can count one on hand the amount of times I’ve resorted to a jacket of some sorts and long pants. The rest of the time, shorts and a t-shirt.

It does rain quite a bit from around October or so until end March – it’s our rainy season. But not every day and often it’s an afternoon rain storm and then sunny skies again.

Durban’s Beaches!

Durban has the best beaches in South Africa – there, I said it.

Some of the best beaches can be found along the “Golden Mile”. In the early mornings the surfers can be found between the piers enjoying waves while later in the day people can be found up and down the mile enjoying getting a bit of vitamin D and healthy exercise in the waves.

Here’s some options you can enjoy at the beaches;

Go swimming (only where there are lifeguards please),
Learn to surf or hire a board if you already know how,
Go sailing, or enjoy a cruise in the harbour and along the coast,
Swim with the Open Water Club,
Snorkel along the breakwater and Vetch’s pier,
Cycle, run, skateboard or bike ride the Golden Mile,
Book a tour with the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board and learn more about how Durban’s beaches are protected from sharks,
I could go on and on but space is short….

A view from teh rocky showline of a coastal town over crashing waves — A common scene along KwaZulu Natala’s coastline

It’s not just the beaches along the Golden Mile, there are beaches both north and south of Durban, some quite remote and secluded, some a bit more popular. Oh, and there’s a nudist beach as well.

Regardless of what you do on the beaches, remember sunscreen and a hat – don’t take chances with the sun!

Exploring the City of Durban

Durban has much to offer you, from cultural experiences, to museums, food, you name it we likely have it. Some activities may have a charge but the most don’t.

It is always a good idea to call ahead though to ensure the attractions are open.

Must See Attractions in Durban

There is quite a great deal to see and experience when visiting the city if Durban. Here are some must-see attractions (in no particular order).

uShaka Marine World – advertised as one of the top-10 aquriums world wide, this an amazing undersea world to explore! You can enjoy the aquarium itself, catch the shows, swim in the tanks or even spend the day at the Wet ‘n Wild in the resort.
Umgeni Bird Park – one of the favourites! Enjoy strolling through the large displays as birds of all sizes and colours swoop around. This is well worth a bit of your time when visiting Durban.
Warwick Markets – 9 bustling markets are located just off the city centre and they make for an absolutely fascinating insight into the traditional lives of the Zulu and Indian peoples. You must however book and go with a guide, the markets are just too big and easy to get lost in!
Durban Botanic Gardens – please, please, please visit them! They are the oldest surviving in Africa and home to one of the worlds last remaining Woods cycad. Do a tour with the resident guide Vishnu (tell him I sent you). You wont be sorry.
Visit Phoenix Settlement – situated in KwaMashu, a large sprawling township (the original as well) 25 min west of Durban, Phoenix Settlement was established by Mahatma Gandhi and remains a thought-provoking site to visit.

There are more sites to visit, but this short list will keep you busy for a day or two at least.

Museums

There are a number of museums you can visit, and most of them are free to the public. Some of the museums worth visiting are;

Durban Natural Science Museum: as the name suggest, home to the science museum with it’s fascinating display of birds, insects, plants and so much more.
KwaMuhle Museum: in the dark days of Apartheid, black South Africans were required to register their presence in the city – this museum is great to learn about the “dompass” system.
Old Fort Museum: for a very short while, a group of people called the “Boers” arriving and ran up a flag of their own. The British objected and a very short-lived war broke out. The Old Fort is a military museum and well worth the visit.
Old Court Museum: the oldest public building in Durban, the museum displays the early days and often has other displays on offer.
Phansi Museum: Celebrates all the is Zulu and is one of my favourite sites to visit.
Durban Maritime Museum: records the early history of Durban’s harbour and bay, not in great condition thanks to flooding a few years ago – the city is working on it though.

Of all the museums listed above, the Phansi Museum are Maritime museums are the only ones that charge entrance fees (as of the published date anyway).

Art Galleries

Although Durban does not boast quite as many art galleries as in the past, there are still a few around that you can visit. Again, most of free of charge and a couple of them even offer a coffee shop!

It’s always best to contact the galleries before making a special trip as they may be in-between shows.

Theatres

Going to the theatre is something I personally love doing, the pageantry of it all, the excitement, what is there not to love!

Check out the websites for up-to-date info on current shows, times and of course, costs.

The Mountains, Wildlife and More

Here is where Durban really shines, the fact that Durban is conveniently placed near the mountains, game reserves, ocean experiences and of course cultural and historical sites.

The Mountains

Head west for around 2 hours and you arrive at the base of the beautiful Drakensberg / uKhahlambi Mountains. Declared a World Heritage site in 2000, the ‘Berg (the local name) has been a popular destination for locals looking to escape for weekend retreats (romantic or not).

Activites that you can enjoy in the mountains are;

Hiking: loads of day trips as well as longer multi-day hikes including the ever-popular 5-day Giants Cap trail.
Golfing: there a couple of great golf course in the area, they are not links quality but are backdrop of the mountains more than makes up for it.
Horse-Riding: I don’t think there are too many other places in the world that offer horse trails in such scenic hills, and there is the chance for spotting baboon, eland and other natural species.
Fishing: it’s all about the trout! Introduced as a sport fish back in the 1800’s, trout has become a source of great many war stories (it’s was that big I tell you!) and many a Durban lad (and girl) have spent hours along the pristine burbling mountain rivers targeting this hard fighting species.
Cycling: quite farming roads abound through the mountains and about around 2000 meters plus, they can test the legs. A popular test of cycling strength is mountain biking to the top of Sani Pass.

There is more to do in the area, you just got to ask!

Game Parks

Let’s be honest here, 90% of all visitors to South Africa come for the wildlife – and in Durban, you’re surrounded by options.

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa. At 960km2, the park boasts the big 5, a number of camps in the park, a restaurant and the option of open vehicle safaris. There is also a 3/5 day walking trail you can book. I personally love this park and I get such a kick out of guests seeing the big 5 for the first time.
Tala Game Reserve is a small reserve just 60 min west of Durban. No big 5 but enough antelope and other species to keep everyone busy for 2 hours or so.
Nambiti is a private reserve 4 hours from Durban and is conveniently near the battlefields meaning you can tag a safari on the end of your Rorkes Drift tour!
St Lucia is a small town 2, hours north of Durban and there you can experience the thrill of seeing hippo and crocodile up close. St Lucia is situated inside the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, another World Heritage site in KwaZulu Natal.
Manyoni is another private reserve that boasts the big 5. This is one f the those lovely upmarket reserves where inbetween game drives, you’re being pampered to within an inch of your life!
Ocean experiences abound as well. Head south of Durban for amazing whale watching experiences as well as snorkelling with sharks (yes, you read right, snorkelling).

Two lion stand in the middle of a road — Two hippo enjoy a little gym time

Thinking about a vacation to Durban? I offer a range of safari tours, tours into Lesotho, tours to the Rorkes Drift and cultural tours. Just get in touch.

Getting Around Durban

Unfortunately getting around Durban is not as easy as elsewhere, the public transport system isn’t great at all. But, there are ways and means.

Hire a Car: this is the easiest way. There are a number of great options from Budget, to Avis and my personal favourite, Sixt Sani. Driving on South African roads can be a bit scary to begin with, we drive right hand vehicles on the left side of the road to begin with. But a few hours in of driving and you’ll get the hang of it. You can hire everything from small sedans to get around in, right up to 4×4’s fully kitted-out for serious camping.
The Buses: Durban has three bus systems that run through the city. They are affordable and pretty reliable. They do not run outside the city though, so use them to get around the city of Durban itself, but you’ll have to consider other options when planning to leave the city.
Taxis, Uber and Bolt: like most cities around the world, getting around via taxi, Uber and Bolt is reliable and safe. Incidentally, when I mention “taxi” I really mean “a metered cab”.
Transfers & Tours: the last and I think the best way to get around is to just book a transfer service or better yet a tour and let someone else take care of the transport.

The Warmest Place to Be…

Durban Tourism’s catch phrase for Durban has always been “the warmest place to be” and to be honest these used to annoy me – Durban is hot, not warm, or it’s cold. It’s never really “warm”.

A small family stand and watch two young elephant drinking from a water source in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve — Guests are welcomed to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve by the sight of two young elephant drinking nearby

Guests are welcomed to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve by the sight of two young elephant drinking nearby

But one day after yet another tour in a local Zulu village, I suddenly realised what the catch phrase actually meant; it wasn’t about the weather, rather, it was about the amazing warm and friendly people, and so yes, Durban is the warmest place to be!