Introduction to Durban
South Africa’s second largest city is first and foremost a beach lover’s paradise. With an average of 320 days of glorious sunshine every year and more than 6km of shimmering golden sands known as the ‘Golden Mile,’ it’s one of the top beach destinations in the country. Water sports enthusiasts come from all over to surf, dive and snorkel in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, while families, couples and round the world backpackers can be found soaking up the rays on beaches like Addington and South Beach. All the beaches along the Golden Mile are perfectly safe for swimming, and though the waters are home to a number of species of shark, shark nets run the entire length of the ‘Mile’ and are checked daily.
Away from the surf, the city itself is a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis and is home to one of the largest populations of Indian descent in Africa. Pay a trip to Victoria Street Market and you’ll find members of the local Indian community selling everything from fine Indian silks to herbs and spices, while the street vendors outside the main market buildings might persuade you to take home a monkey head or two!
Elsewhere in the city centre, the City Hall is well worth a visit if you fancy taking a break from the beach. This attractive building was built in 1910 and is modelled on the City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It houses the Natural Science Museum and also the eThekeini Art Gallery of contemporary South African art. For a bite to eat after a morning spent indoors, head to the Wilson’s Wharf waterfront area. This trendy eating spot boasts some of the best restaurants in the city and offers stunning views of the harbour and marina.
If you’d like to spend a leisurely afternoon doing nothing more taxing than strolling about and enjoying a cold drink and an ice cream, then make your way to the Botanical Gardens. The Orchid House is particularly enchanting and a must if you are a fan of these delicate, exotic plants.
Finally, anyone visiting Durban with small people in tow should definitely pay a visit to Ushaku Marine World which is situated at the end of the Golden Mile. With 15 hectares of beach front restaurants, water slides and a Sea World, it’s the biggest marine theme park in Africa and will easily keep the most energetic of kids occupied for a whole afternoon.