Beachfront

The Durban beachfront is a cultural experience. Here you will find holidaying families, young surfer brats (grommets), Indian ladies elegantly walking the sand in flowing silken saris, traditional healers collecting bottles of seawater to use as muti (medicine) and young girls strutting their stuff in the skimpiest of bikinis. Somehow it all works in one, pretty weird, decidedly heterogeneous whole.

Golden mile

The Golden Mile or Golden 6km is a popular self guided walking tour. It received its name from the Portuguese explorers who referred to the sea sand along the coast in this area as the 'Sands of Gold'.

This walking tour normally commences at Natal Command, which is located at the corner of Argyle and Snell Parade. You need to walk in a southerly direction along Snell Parade, which later becomes Marine Parade.
Durban Harbour - Durban harbour is the largest harbour in Africa and the ninth largest in the world. The harbour never sleeps- the port handles 32 million tons of cargo (two thirds of all income earned by all South African ports. It is a city in itself, with 15 kilometres of quayage, grain silos and an offshore oil terminal. All this provides employment for nearly 6000 people.

Durban Botanical Gardens

Durban’s Botanical Gardens on the eastern slopes of the Berea ridge that began as a site for growing experimental tropical crops, today offer a herbarium, an orchid house, a Cycad collection, a garden for the blind and a charity tea garden. 07h30 - 17h15 winters (16 April - 15 Sept)
07h30 - 17h45 summer (16 Sept - 15 April) Information Centre: Hours 9h00 - 16h30.
70 St Thomas Road, Durban.
Tel: 031 201-1303

Crocodile and Snake Park

A number of crocodile parks provide opportunities for safe, close up encounters with these magnificent reptiles and an insight into their habitat and behaviour. The Fitzsimmons Snake Park on the beachfront houses some of South Africa's most dangerous snakes, including green and black mambas, Gabon adders and puff adders. Open from Monday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00.
240 Lower Marine Parade, Durban.

Shakaland Zulu Experience

Drive to Zululand passing the rolling hills of sugar cane fields and forest plantations. Visit Shakaland, a Zulu kraal, near Eshowe, in the Nkwalini valley. Cultural programme of Zulu traditions: beer brewing, spear making, hut building, pottery, weaving, traditional dress, Zulu etiquette and the layout and social structure of a kraal. Singing and tribal dancing. Typical Zulu meal served in an open rondavel overlooking Goedetru dam.
Strelitzia Tours, 58 Chelsea Drive, Durban North.
Tel: 031 5732252

Hluhluwe- Imfolozi Game Reserve

Two of Africa's oldest game reserves (1895) and the linking Corridor Reserve makes up 96 000 ha Park where the 'Big 5" and others, like the elusive Cheetah, as well as an abundance of birdlife is to be seen. Visitors pay R70 per person.
Tel: 021 872 3210

Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields

Drive to Zululand, passing the rolling hills of sugar cane fields and forest plantations. Short stop at Babanango. Visit the sites of the battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879. At Isandlwana, audio-visual presentation followed by site visit. Rorkes Drift including the restored hospital building and an audio presentation. Lunch and site visit at Fugitive's Drift. Return to Durban via Tugela Ferry and Greytown.
Tel: 083 2897904

Banana Express

Drive South of Durban along the beautiful Hibiscus coast. In Port Shepstone board a vintage train for a journey through spectacular coastal scenery, indigenous forests and rolling green hills dotted with traditional huts. Barbeque lunch in the Station Master's gardens at Paddock. Visit the magnificent Oribi Gorge view sites. Bookings can be made the Regional Tourism Centre located in the Shelly Centre in Shelly Beach.
Tel: (039) 315 7065

Splashy Fen Music Festival

Established in 1990, Splashy Fen is the longest-running music festival in the country and each year brings thousands of people together for what has become the ‘ultimate outdoor experience’. Happening over the Easter long weekend near Underberg in the Central Drakensberg (approx 220km from Durban), this five-day event offers a line-up of over 80 of the country’s hottest acts, all the outdoor activities one could wish for, as well as arts and crafts, a wide selection of food outlets, a crèche and children’s entertainment programme, camping facilities and a tent hotel. Splashy Fen has something for everyone; in fact there's nothing else in South Africa quite like it! For more information, visit www.splashyfen.co.za or call 031 563 0824.

Ushaka Marine World

Ushaka Marine World Incorporates fresh and sea water, natural materials, the re-creation of a wreck of a 1940's cargo ship, with the 5th largest aquarium in the world by volume of water, coupled with indigenous African imagery, lush vegetation and maritime images of the Port of Durban, plus a water slides amusement park, uShaka is a complete 'Marine World'.
To reach Ushaka Marine World from central Durban, join Point Road from West Street or Victoria Embankment and travel south. Continue on Point Road, turn left into Southampton and again into Albert Terrace.

Tel: 031 3288000

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.

The Point

Located at the entrance to the busiest port in Africa, the Durban Point Waterfront is one of South Africa's most significant and exciting property development and investment projects. Destined to become one of Durban's most prestigious addresses, and a key tourist attraction, the Durban Point Waterfront is rapidly transforming from a previously run down precinct into a multi billion Rand property showcase.

Tel: 031 337 3460
Email: colin@durbanpoint.co.za

Surfing

Durban is home to the most promising surfers and consistent waves in the country. Regular swells and favourable wind directions are in abundance as well as a variety of reef, point and beach breaks. Competition is definitely fierce and localism may be an issue if you’re inexperienced surfer hitting the main breaks. Durban consistently churns out great surfers and leads the pack when it comes to grommet tournaments around the country. What Durban lacks in power it gains in the quality of its waves. Water temperatures are warm all year round and weather is generally hot and humid. Breaks to visit: New Pier (ultra crowded and competitive), Cave Rock, North Beach, Dairy Beach and Baggies.

Durban's Grey Street

Grey Street is home to Durban’s Indian district and is the best place to enjoy spicy local food. Here, you will find the Juma Musjid Mosque and its gilt-domed minarets, the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere. Wander around the area and the bazaars and buy some of the incredible spices and textiles from local Indian vendors.

Greater St Lucia Wetland Park

Formerly known as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, the Park was renamed on 1 November 2007 to better reflect its unique African identity - and to avoid confusion with the Caribbean island country St Lucia. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of the jewels of South Africa's coastline, with a unique mosaic of ecosystems - swamps, lakes, beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, woodlands, coastal forests and grasslands - supporting an astounding diversity of animal, bird and marine life. Located on the north-eastern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, stretching from Kozi Bay in the north to Cape St Lucia in the south, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was the first site in South Africa to be inscribed on the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority
Address: 6 McKenzie St, St Lucia
Tel: 035 5901633

UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park

The uKhahlamba – Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage Site, has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. Managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife the Park is only 2 hours from Durban and four from Gauteng.

The UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park has an average altitude of 3000m - the highest range south of Kilimanjaro - and spans 150kms over 243 000 ha of land.

Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep-sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of the world heritage site. The uKhahlamba – Drakensberg Park's diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally threatened species, especially birds and plants.

This spectacular natural site also contains many caves and rock-shelters with the largest and most concentrated group of paintings in Africa south of the Sahara, made by the San people over a period of 4,000 years. The rock paintings are outstanding in quality and diversity of subject and in their depiction of animals and human beings. They represent the spiritual life of the San people who no longer live in this region.

African Assegai Tours CC
Tel: 016 9337291

Sugar Terminal

The vast sugar terminals at Maydon Wharf, on the west side of the bay, are among the biggest in the world, and are capable of storing over half a million tons of sugar and handling and moving up to 800 tons per hour. Come and tour this great monument to Durban's past as a trading port and witness its continuing prosperity. There are eight tours a day from 8:30a to 3:15p. The tour is fascinating and educational, it teaches about sugar production and refinement.

Address: 25 Leuchars Road, Maydone Wharf, Durban.
Tel: 031 365 8100

Kranzkloof/PheZulu Tribal Village

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Oribi Gorge

Oribi Gorge is situated along the spectacular forest-cloaked ravine of the Mzimkulwana river just west of Port Shepstone which itself is 120 km south of Durban. Oribi Gorge is the eastern gorge of two gorges that cuts through the Oribi Flats (flat sugarcane farmlands), southern KwaZulu-Natal, and South Africa. The western gorge was formed by the UMzimkhulu River. At the base of the cliffs of both gorges there are rocks over 1000 million years old while the cliffs themselves are formed from sandstone deposited about 365 million years ago. Below the gorges is a large surface mine producing cement.

South Coast

Popularly known as the Golf Coast, thanks to a comprehensive selection of 11 fine courses, our 120km stretch of inviting Indian Ocean, expansive golden Beaches and unique variant of sub- tropical bush could just as easily (and accurately) be afforded a number of perfectly-appropriate titles. Hiker's Heaven... Diver's Discovery... Birder's Beauty... Surfer's Secrets...Angler's Abundance... Beachcomber's Bliss... Adventurer's Adrenalin...Collector's Cornucopia... Whale-watcher's Wonder and even Stargazer's Surprise, perfectly describe how visitors are spoilt for choice along the scenic, relaxed route between Durban metro's cosmopolitan Buzz and the Zulu Kingdom's southernmost reaches. Which is not to say we have no Buzz - come nightfall our resort towns hold their own with any South Coast pleasure- palace in the world?

Umgeni Valley / Zulu Kraal

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Umhlanga Rocks

Visitors from around the world flock to the holiday resort village of Umhlanga to relax and have fun on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Situated on the east coast of South Africa just north of the vibrant Port City of Durban on the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The golden sandy beaches stretch northwards for more than 200 kilometres, all the way to the spectacular Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, A World Heritage Site. Inland from Umhlanga, endless fields of sugarcane give way to the tumbling area of the 1000 Hills, the massive Inanda Dam and mystical hidden valleys of Zululand.

Umhlanga Tourism Information Centre
Address: Lighthouse Mall, Chartwell Drive, Umhlanga.
Tel: 031 561 4257
E-mail: info@umhlanga-rocks.com
Website: www.umhlanga-rocks.comUUmhaTourism Information Centre

Umnini Craft Centre and Market

Umnini Craft Village is a large complex located on both sides of the N2 Highway south of Amanzimtoti.
The village houses a number of kiosks offering traditional Zulu crafts from the area such as beadwork, woven grass items, pottery and woodwork.
The traditional crafts of the South Coast region are distinctly different from those of the North Coast region.

Valley of 1000 Hills

The Valley of 1000 Hills Route is one of KwaZulu Natal's best kept secrets. The Valley of a 1000 Hills forms around the majestic valley created by the Mngeni River and its tributaries. Many artists and crafters have been attracted to the beauty and tranquillity of this area which is dotted with cosy guest lodges, friendly pubs and tea gardens with sweeping views over the hills and dams.

The main attractions on the 1000 Hills Experience are the dramatic landscape and Zulu culture which is well interpreted at three cultural villages. The 1000 Hills Choo Choo offers steam train trips from Kloof station to Cato Ridge on weekends and the more adventurous can view the stunning scenery from the skies. Micro light flips are organised from Cato Ridge Airfield. There are also boat cruises on Shongweni, Nagle and Inanda Dams and visitors can spend a day on a guided fishing trip or escorted 4 wheel drives through the Valley Floor.

Wild Coast Sun & Casino

This magnificent coastal resort only an hour's drive south of Durban is an intimate, fun, home-from-home gaming destination that takes care of the whole family.
The appealing diversity of this award-winning destination and myriad of holiday opportunities at the Wild Coast Sun and Casino have contributed to its transition from a formerly heavily casino-reliant operation to an African destination with its own distinctive attraction.
The resort has emerged as one of the preferred golfing destinations in South Africa. The course is currently rated 7th best in the country by an authoritative golfing magazine. Ecotourism has been encouraged by the resort's scrupulous gold award-winning environment programme. Among the wide variety of activities that draw the Wild Coast Sun's broader market are watersports - controlled in the responsible manner appropriate to the resort's ecological concerns – as well as golf, fishing, and gaming.

Tel: (039) 3059111