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Things to see & do in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Durban is a vibrant modern city of 4.5 million people, the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and the second largest in South Africa after Jo’burg.
It stretches from the Umhlanga Rocks district in the north to the Aliwal Shoal in the south and stretches ten kms inland to the Valley of a Thousand Hills. The city is still growing fast and its port is one of the ten largest in the world.
Durban’s beautiful, sandy beaches offer safe swimming in temperate waters and sub-tropical weather with sunshine guaranteed virtually all year round. In recent years the beachfront has been extensively restored with clean streets leading into the heart of the city, reliable and regular public transport, high quality shopping malls, theatre and entertainment.
Our KwaZulu-Natal Vacations
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South Africa and Swaziland safari
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Zululand conservation project
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£1295 to £5295
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Kwa-Zulu Natal tailor made tour, South Africa
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Kwa Zulu Natal self drive South Africa vacation
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KwaZulu Natal discovery tour, South Africa
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The city’s cosmopolitan population is made of Zulus - the largest African contingent - Afrikaners, Portuguese, Italian, Greek and Germans. It is also home to the largest Indian population outside the Indian subcontinent.
This has led to an eclectic fusion of cultures and architectural styles blending skyscrapers with traditional rickshaws, bunny chows and Indian markets.
Durban and its suburbs are hilly, with very few flat areas. The city has a wide spread of architectural influences from the neo-Baroque City Hall, the golden-domed Jumma Musjid mosque in Grey Street, art deco buildings along the sea-front, Victorian townhouses and glass-fronted modern skyscrapers. The Edwardian City Hall built in 1910 is modelled on the city hall in Belfast and houses the Natural Science Museum, the main library and the Durban Art Gallery. Nearby is Durban’s old railway station, now known as Tourist Junction, from where tours of the city depart.
This has led to an eclectic fusion of cultures and architectural styles blending skyscrapers with traditional rickshaws, bunny chows and Indian markets.
Durban and its suburbs are hilly, with very few flat areas. The city has a wide spread of architectural influences from the neo-Baroque City Hall, the golden-domed Jumma Musjid mosque in Grey Street, art deco buildings along the sea-front, Victorian townhouses and glass-fronted modern skyscrapers. The Edwardian City Hall built in 1910 is modelled on the city hall in Belfast and houses the Natural Science Museum, the main library and the Durban Art Gallery. Nearby is Durban’s old railway station, now known as Tourist Junction, from where tours of the city depart.
PODCAST
Mark Mgobhozi, Durban
"Durban is a tropical city with beautiful beaches that are very safe and family-friendly." [2:53]
Our top KwaZulu-Natal Vacation
South Africa and Swaziland safari
Lodge safari all encompassing South Africa & Swaziland
From
US $2615
17 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 22 Jul, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 16 Sep, 7 Oct, 2 Dec, 16 Dec, 23 Dec
2024: 13 Jan, 3 Feb, 17 Feb, 24 Feb, 2 Mar, 9 Mar, 23 Mar, 6 Apr, 27 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 25 May, 22 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 21 Dec
2023: 22 Jul, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 16 Sep, 7 Oct, 2 Dec, 16 Dec, 23 Dec
2024: 13 Jan, 3 Feb, 17 Feb, 24 Feb, 2 Mar, 9 Mar, 23 Mar, 6 Apr, 27 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 25 May, 22 Jun, 6 Jul, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 21 Dec
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Top highlights in Durban
Golden Mile
Looking out over the balmy waters of the Indian Ocean, Durban’s ‘Golden Mile’ (actually 6kms) stretches along the beachfront punctuated by activity parks, pools, fountains, walkways, gardens and market stalls.South Beach, on the Golden Mile, is ideal for swimming, especially for children as it is protected from wind and waves by a breakwater. All of Durban’s beaches are shark-netted.
Victoria Market
The city’s distinctive Asian atmosphere is most evident in the bustling Victoria Market, first opened in the 1870s. Its exotic mix of saris, food and spices, incense and Indian music mixed with African curios are sold from more than 170 stalls with a fish market in the basement.Umhlanga Rocks
Umhlanga, the buzzing residential, commercial and resort suburb in north Durban, developed originally from a nearby seaside town and its wide, sandy beaches are now lined with exclusive hotels and apartment blocks.
The area is distinctive for its famous lighthouse while its Gateway Shopping Centre is one of the biggest shopping malls in the country.
Umlazi Township
South Africa’s second largest township after Soweto has a population of more than 750,000 and is developing fast with investment in schools, infrastructure and housing. Visitors to Durban can enjoy guided tours of the area and Umlazi has accommodation ranging from b&b to guesthouses as well as top class restaurants and typical township cuisine.Ndumo Game Reserve
Ndumo Game Reserve near the Tembe Elephant Park on the Mozambique border is best known for its bird life with the highest bird count in South Africa (around 430 species). Its habitats include pans with yellow fever trees, thick bush wetlands and reedbeds as well as acacia savannah and sand forest. The reserve is home to black and white rhino, hippopotamus nyala, bushbuck, impala, red duiker, suni, and a very large population of crocodiles.Best time to go to Durban
Durban has a subtropical climate with sunshine for at least 320 days a year. Temperatures range between 11°C and 23°C during the winter months of June, July and August but can reach 28°C with high humidity during the summer months of December, January and February.
More about KwaZulu-Natal
With hot, humid summers and dry, mild winters, KwaZulu-Natal offers warmth and sunshine most of the year.
Perfect for South Africa second-timers or for travelers who prefer something a little wilder and more remote, KwaZulu-Natal seduces with swathes of white-sand Indian Ocean beaches, extraordinary wildlife and a unique Zulu heritage.
Our favourite things to see and do in KwaZulu-Natal include hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains, spotting the Big 5 on safari in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, picking up exquisite pottery along the Midlands Meander, visiting the Zulu battlefields and snorkelling, hippo-spotting and some seriously chilled beach time in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Forget Kruger, head east into KwaZulu-Natal for a wildlife extravaganza that goes beyond the Big Five.
The beaches of KwaZulu-Natal stretch along 600km of coastline with beaches to match the very best on the planet.
Few places in Africa combine Big Five safaris with beach time quite as well – or as conveniently – as KwaZulu-Natal.
From vast Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, credited with saving the white rhino from extinction to conservation-focussed private reserves, safaris in KwaZulu-Natal are second-to-none.
KwaZulu-Natal self drive vacations open up big game parks and battlefields, Zulu culture and an idyllic protected coral coastline.
From endangered wildlife monitoring to community construction projects, KwaZulu Natal volunteering vacations offer a unique way to experience this vibrant South African region.
The Battlefields Region of KwaZulu-Natal is a landscape of rolling hills and grasslands over which were fought a total of 63 battles that shaped the history of South Africa.
Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal is the oldest nature reserve in Africa.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu Natal is the largest protected wetland in Southern Africa and was South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The food and drink of KwaZulu-Natal is a reflection of the diversity of cultures that have inhabited the city over the years.
Read insider tips and KwaZulu-Natal travel advice from our South Africa vacation experts and our travelers – from how to get the most out of your safari to discovering authentic Zulu culture.
Responsible tourism in KwaZulu-Natal is being managed by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal who have developed guidelines for environmental protection, as well as socio-cultural and economic policies for tourism businesses.
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