Durban is ranked third among the large cities in South Africa. It is a bustling city and is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal Province. In this guide, we explore the best places to visit in Durban. We showcase the city’s top attractions that promise unforgettable memories.
Located on South Africa’s east coast, it has an important port and is the largest port in Africa. In terms of merchant navy volume, it faces stiff competition from Egypt and Morocco.
There is mixed ethnicity comprising the native Zulu, the English who remained back after the end of colonization, and Indians.
Durban’s beaches are highly popular and attract many tourists from the Middle East, India, and East African countries including, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and finally Lesotho, a small country located within the country of South Africa.
It’s an enclave that is surrounded by South Africa on all four sides! It’s an amazing geography.
In this blog post, you will come to know all the tourist attractions in the city of Durban and its surroundings.
To mention alluringly, the key places of interest in Durban include:
- Moses Mabhida Stadium (refer the title image of this post)
- uShaka Marine World
- Drakensberg Mountains
- Umhlanga Rocks
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park
- Golden Mile marina
- Umgeni River Bird Park
- A sprawling botanical garden
- Victoria Street Market
- Valley of Thousand Hills
- Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve
- A few museums
How to reach Durban?
Well, you don’t have to reach out for Durban; it extends its arm gleefully to all the national, and international tourists. It has splendid international flight connectivity.
Durban is sitting comfortably, on the coast of the Indian Ocean
The best months to visit Durban.
Two slots of three months each are highly recommended.
- December, January, and February
- June, July, and August
Different ways of touring Durban:
If only, you are aware of various city tours, you can save quality time and valuable money.
Some tourists would take a city bus tour that shows the majority of important tourist landmarks. They will then allocate one day for street food and shopping before leaving the second night after arrival.
- Durban city tour
This is the most-availed tour in Durban. You won’t miss out much.
- Walking Tour
This is not for senior citizens. Others can join a walking tour. You get a great chance to interact with co-tourists.
- Promenade Walk
Take a guided walk on the Golden Mile Promenade. The Indian Ocean sparkles in the morning. To avoid the hot sun, opt for an evening walk on the esplanade.
- Helicopter Tour
The one-hour tour in a chopper is a not-to-be-missed Durban tour. The Valley of Thousand Hills and the Golden Mile marina are worth seeing aerially.
- Hot air balloon tour
This is another aerial tour of Durban city, and its seascape. You can enjoy an hour of riding in a balloon that is lifted by blowing hot air.
- Victoria Street Market Walking Tour.
You require a local guide to interact with Zulu vendors.
- Phezulu Safari
Obviously, it is a chance to watch the famous wildlife of South Africa. You also get a chance to speak to the Zulus, and learn about their way of life.
Discover 15 amazing best places to visit in Durban!
Top places to visit in Durban and things to do on your own or with a local guide.
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Golden Mile Marina
Whether you decide to explore the city of Durban on your own or join any one of the organized local sightseeing tours, the Golden Mile Marina will be the first place to see.
With the backdrop of Durban’s skyscrapers, the beach looks appealing.
A promenade runs parallel to the beach that is full of pedestrians in the evening.
Piers are constructed to divide the beach area into various segments.
Swimmers throng the Indian Ocean, which is not always swimmer-friendly.
However, surfers can expect ideal waves throughout the year. A few beaches are marked especially for surfers. They include:
- Bay of Plenty-what a nice name for a beach. Here, a roller skating rink is set up and is addressed as “Skate Park”.
- North Beach
- Dairy Beach
- Snake Park Beach
Restaurants and pubs line the promenade. Nightclubs open after 9 pm.
Angling is available in a separate lagoon called Blue Lagoon.
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Moses Mabhida Stadium
Though cricket is a very popular sport in South Africa, and Durban is one of the venues that hosts international cricket matches, I never heard of Moses Mobhida Stadium.
Soccer is not the only game that is played in this stadium in which, about 55,000 spectators can sit at a time and watch soccer tournaments.
I read the capacity can be temporarily increased by another 20,000 seats.
Swinging adventure:
You climb up to the top of the stadium. There is a swinging adventure waiting for you.
After you are harnessed safely, you leave the high platform on which you were standing and go swinging over the stadium.
I know it is not for all with various phobias.
It is almost like ‘bungee jumping’.
It is rightly addressed as the ‘big rush urban adrenaline’.
The Golden Mile Promenade is not very far off from Moses Mabhida Stadium. The distance between the two top places to visit in Durban is only 5 km!
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uShaka Marine Park
Obviously, an aquarium can be expected in a marine world. It will engage all the age groups.
By the way, this aquarium in Durban is a pride of South Africa as it is ranked number 5 in the list of 10 largest aquariums in the world.
I reckon you will need to allocate two hours to enjoy the sea world fully without skipping any enclosure.
After all, you have to watch as many as 300 species of undersea creatures!
In addition, I am going to lure you with one more fact. The aquarium is developed as a shipwreck theme.
I am really curious how that will look!
Water theme park
The other engaging Durban attraction in uShaka Sea World is the water theme park. You can get all the popular slides, and splashes.
The water-based adventure is called uShaka’s Wet n’ Wild.
It offers the following thrills for both the daredevils and the tepid tourists.
- Speed Slide
- Tube slides with several turns
- A fast slide, in which, you end up in a tornado pool.
- Free Fall Slide
- A vertical slide in which you slide through 60-foot tube.
- Inflatables
After you enjoy the aquarium and water park, you can hit the Indian Ocean which is located at the end of the uShaka Marine World.
If you want to dry yourself, take a stroll on the pier leading into the ocean from the beach.
If you want, you can skip the uShaka Beach and opt for a walk through a traditional African fishing village.
Don’t worry. It won’t be a drab adventure. There are several restaurants that serve drinks and also, souvenir shops.
A few restrictions are in force when it comes to drinking alcohol in Durban.
Encounter with Dangerous Creatures:
uShaka continues to evolve and surprise the tourists to its Sea World.
In the Dangerous Creatures zone, you can see an anaconda, a false water cobra, scary-looking spiders, large lizards, and more.
All these attractions inside uShaka are not free.
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Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World
As it is named, it is a world of entertainment. There are comfortable rooms to stay. Numerous restaurants, bars, shops, and even a cinema theater are within the complex. You consider it a beach resort, buddy!
For your information, the entertainment world is located at the end of the Golden Mile Marina.
Similar to the Golden Mile Promenade, the Suncoast is one of the biggest attractions in Durban.
How do you like it? Isn’t it more inviting than to stay in any other hotel in Durban?
Ah, regarding the different gambling games, the easiest one is the slot machines. You don’t have to know anything to play at the slotting machines.
I read that there are as many as 1800 slotting machines! Since all of them are in one place, even Las Vegas cannot match the size of Durban.
Roulette is another easy game to lose money, as the winning is purely dependent on luck.
The card games that the pros play include:
- Poker
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
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Kings Park Stadium
Yes, I have heard about it. This is where, most of the cricket matches are held. It has another name, “Kingsmead”.
The photo of the stadium is deceptively small. In fact, it can seat up to 60k viewers!
Kingsmead is at the heart of Durban city center.
Rugby, car races, and cricket are other sports you can watch in the stadium. At times, music concerts are held here, but I think it is not frequent.
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View the sharks from close quarters from a cage.
Sharks! Does the very word instill instant fear in us-right? Who can forget the movie, ‘Jaws’ that kept all the ocean swimmers, indoors for a long period?
In the Indian Ocean off the coast of Durban, several species of sharks were identified.
The exact location is Aliwal School, near Durban.
From the safety of a metal cage, you can spot the mighty beasts, go all around you, and at the same time, not bother you.
Here, take a look at the video.
Ha, ha, for a change, humans are kept in a cage, and the wildlife is roaming freely around you.
The metal cage is suspended from a boat that will go to some distance in the ocean where the sharks come for a swim.
You will go submarine in the cage for 30 minutes! Wearing a snorkel, you can breathe easily. There is ample oxygen above the water’s surface.
Before you go Shark Cage Diving Tour, try to find the pictures of the following species of sharks so that you can shout at them when you see them around the metal cage.
- Spinner Sharks
- Zambezi Sharks
- Tiger Sharks
I looked up at their photos. They all look the same to me. Even otherwise, I don’t think I can see myself in a cage.
Nevertheless, the sharks hit this part of the Indian Ocean only from June to October.
I think, Shark Cage Diving is one of the ultimate adventures. It is once in a lifetime experience. Hence, don’t miss it, mate!
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Beaches in Durban
Facing the usually ferocious Indian Ocean, the beaches in Durban see quite many local tourists and international visitors too.
Invariably, the waves offer conducive conditions for surfing right through the year.
Make a note of these beaches.
- North Beach
- Golden Mile Beach
- uShaka Beach
- South Beach
- Addington Beach
- Tiger Rocks Beach
- Unhlanga Beach
- Ansteys Bouch-it is located near the bluff and hence a picturesque beach.
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Visit the Valley of Thousand Hills
I think it is not a hill station near Durban but just a scenic spot with attractive meadows, verdant hills, rivers, and gorges.
I think I get the picture. It is a typical South African attraction with mesmerizing views and a soothing breeze.
There are two rivers flowing through the hills, and valley. Umgeni River and Msunduzi (both are Zulu name).
In the high monsoon season, the rivers get full, and offer a lot of rapids that are suitable for Whitewater River Rafting.
A river that originates from the heights of mountains, and flows through a valley means, you can expect to see noisy waterfalls amidst the dense vegetation.
Can you visualize my description?
An animal safari in South Africa is an inevitable adventure that is loved only by wildlife enthusiasts. They get to see the famous African animals.
I think, on certain nights, the native Zulus enthrall the tourist with the dance wearing traditional dresses.
I read somewhere, there is a zipline adventure in the Valley of a 1000 hills.
Finally, don’t start counting the hills; certainly, there are no 1000 hills. Just treat it as an expression.
You dine with the Zulus, and eat their specialties. In addition, be magnanimous by buying some of their handicrafts.
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Botanical Garden
It is a public garden and a very popular one within the city of Durban.
Inside the garden, you can explore it without any guide.
Some rare flowers will compel you to take a photo on your mobile.
I guess, you will exit the garden within 30 minutes.
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Umgeni River Bird Park
This is a unique bird park set amidst a river and numerous waterfalls, The settings are dreamy, both for us the viewers, and the birds.
The birds are kept in aviaries. They are guests to the park brought from the American continent, African countries, and also from Australia.
Birds from the lush rainforests of Indonesian remote islands can also be spotted.
Among the birds, the star of attraction is the Kookaburra, whose call is strikingly similar to human laughter.
Toucans and Hornbills are too big a bird that cannot miss our eyes.
The Wattled Cranes are also rare birds from Africa that are specially taken care of in Umgeni River Bird Park.
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Mitchell Park Zoo
The Grey-Crowned Crane is one of my favorite birds. I am sure, millions of bird lovers are in love with this beautiful bird which is one of the wildlife you can spot in Mitchell Park cum Zoo.
I read it is the only zoo in Durban. When the whole nation of South Africa is a game park, what is the necessity of a zoo?
There are giant tortoises, elephants, Ostrich, and many more.
The star attraction are the Meerkat.
They are adorable and live in burrows. They are always looking ahead as if expecting someone.
Another big attraction is a primate called Cotton-top Tamarin.
What an appropriate name!
A few more rare species of monkeys are on display, one of them is the Black-capped Squirrel Monkey.
and the White-eared Marmosets. Marmosets are the smallest primates in the world. They are imported to South Africa from Brazil.
I have never seen a black swan. It is usually in spotless white.
It is not a peacock, but a Pheasant called Silver Pheasant, pointing to silver plumage. I think this sight alone is worthy of a trip to Durban.
Finally, the ultimate beautiful bird of all in Mitchell Park Zoo is this breathtaking Ibis in spectacular Scarlet.
Look at its strange beak
Two more bird species that will catch your eyes are White Imperial Pigeons and Carolina Wood Ducks.
Mitchell Park and Zoo is certainly, one of the must-see places in Durban.
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Jameson Park Rose Garden
If you are crazy about roses of myriad colors, you should visit Jameson Park in Durban.
This is one of the largest rose gardens in South Africa. As many as 200 + rose species are nurtured here.
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Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve
It is indeed a nature reserve. The whole place oozes serenity. Greater Durban is where you have to head to visit the nature reserve. It is located inside a 64-acre resort township and is also very close to the Atlantic Ocean.
Not much information is available, but I read it is the scene of Umhlenga River that is about to merge with the Atlantic Ocean.
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Giba Gorge Nature Reserve
Located 32 km from Durban, the deep valley is a naturally formed gorge that is caused by the erosion of Giba River.
There is a lengthy stretch, measuring 35 km, that is maintained for scenic mountain biking adventure.
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Kenneth Stainbak Nature Reserve
This is not a zoo but still, it is a popular suburban park where you can spot numerous animals and birds.
In addition, it is a place for hiking. I think it is during hiking, you can have an opportunity to spot a good number of wildlife among which, the prominent animals include:
It seems mountain biking sport is a highly pursued sport in South Africa as you can find specially laid out tracks for mountain biking enthusiasts.
What animals you can spot here?
- Duiker-a species of Antelope. In this park, you can find Duikers in red, blue, and grey color
- A couple of species of mongoose-it is an indication that there are snakes around.
- Reedbuck
- Impala
Both the above 2 are the top deer species in South Africa.
- Vervet Monkey
- Water Monitor Lizard
I think it is a cousin of the large Komodo Dragons of Indonesia
With so much to see amidst the Yellowwood trees, it is worth visiting this attraction in Durban.
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Umgeni Steam Train Ride
For oldies, it will be a nostalgic ride in the train that is pulled by a steam locomotive.
For this generation, it will be a journey that will make them cry because of the fine coal particles that enter their eyes.
- Victoria Market
Now, let us move on to shopping, and eating which are essential activities when we go abroad.
It is the major local market where both the locals and the tourists go. There are simply too many things to buy and take home, and also to purchase and eat on the spot.
Both the Westerners, and the Asians, are crazy about colorful beads. We can buy to our heart’s content. Similarly, the native Africans’ wooden handcrafts make great souvenirs.
Cheap jewelry and brass articles would beg us to buy.
Some of the local delicacies to eat in Durban
Different meats that sound exotic to tourists are the prime delicacies to eat in Durban. The Zulu cuisine might just give a bit of a shock to us, but we will begin to like it in a day or two.
Here are some recommendations.
- Bunny Chow
Don’t mistake it a for bunny meat dish but nonetheless, it contains some meat and plenty of local vegetables. It is almost a sandwich.
As a matter of fact, I could not distinguish much from it from the usual veggie sandwich except that the filling is stuffed inside a bread whose inside is scooped out to accommodate the filling.
See the ready to be filled in breads that show the hollow.
I think I will like this Durban specialty.
Apart from Bunny Chow, I didn’t find anything unusual.
So, that’s Durban for you. You need at least a week to spend in Durban to make your visit, memorable.
