Durban Key Attractions

While majorly popular among tourists for an amazing beach life, Durban has other ways of entertaining you. If there are Dolphins and other marine life to be seen at the Seawater Aquarium, there is the bird park at the Victoria embankments. Preserving history here are some good museums as well.

Rides offered by the colourfully dressed Zulu rickshaw men along the beaches are truly fantastic and unique to this place.

For art-lovers, there are a number of art galleries across the city and nearby places such as a Zulu Village or the breathtaking Drakensberg Mountain range make for a good excursion trip as well.

In a nutshell, there’s plenty to see and do in Durban. Here are few of the must visit sights.

1.Flora and Fauna

If you love animals, and particularly marine life, there’s a lot for you to see at Durban.

About 4 kilometers north of Scottsburg is the Croc World, a crocodile breeding farm. It is home to more than 2000 crocodiles and even snakes. The glass tunnel through the snake house makes this place an exciting attraction. The farm also has a restaurant where you can sample crocodile meat!

The Sea water Aquarium at King Shaka Avenue, has marine life from the Indian and the Atlantic Ocean. It is supposed to be Africa’s largest dolphinarium. The entrance to the underground section is through a shipwreck, which makes the tour of this aquarium all the more interesting.

To the north of the city, on the banks of the Umengi River is the Umengi River Bird Park. A variety of the bird species (indigenous and coming from Southeast Asia and Australia) are found here. Lories, Cockatoos and Aras are some of birds found here. The park features daily free flight shows here as well.

2.Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve

This region covering an area of 2 200 hectares,  runs from the coastal town of Park Rynie and passes through  Umzinto that is 9 kilometers to the west of Scottsburg. It was declared a natural reserve in 1973 where wildlife like porcupines, blue wildebeests, antelopes and Gazelles along with Zebras and black-backed jackals live. A large number of birds are attracted here to, because of the two artificial lakes. The reserve has good vegetation as well, that springs up well in spring.

3.Botanic Gardens

These 20 hectares garden lying on the slopes of Berea Hill, to the northwest of the center of the city, has a variety of fauna including some rare species. About 50 of them are permanent inhabitants of this place.

The Botanic Gardens were established in 1849. The herb garden and the other special garden where visually challenged are allowed to touch the plants are special attractions here.

4.Valley of a Thousand Hills

With gently rounded hills created since the Mesozoic era by the gradual recession of the Great Escarpment, The Valley of a Thousand Hills is a pretty region. It extends along the Umengi River to the north of Durban, between its outflow into the Indian Ocean and the Nagle Dam to the east of Pietermaritzburg. This dam supplies water in Durban. The lake is at the foot of the Natal Table Mountain that stands 960 meters tall and provides magnificent views from its summit.

The road between Durban and Pietermaritzburg that runs along the southern edge of the valley has panoramic views. The road passes Hillcrest and Botha’s Hill to come to Phel-Zulu, a Zulu village that attracts the tourists who wish to see the Zulu lifestyle in its traditional form. For the entertainment of its visitors, the village has performances of tribal dance and even a visit to a witch doctor.

Close enough is another tourist attraction – the Assagay Park with crocodiles, snakes and lizards.

5.Shopping in Durban

The city of Durban has few good shopping areas.

The Victoria Market, among one such shopping area, is the new Indian market that’s blend of African and oriental styled buildings. Close to 200 stalls here sell, exotic spices, basketwork and brassware, wood products like wood articles and wood carvings along with the usual like fruit, meat, vegetables etc. While there are a number of souvenir stalls, you need to know how to market well and pick up a good attractive item out of rubbish.

Durban’s Florida Road is a lively street to hang out at, with a number of restaurants, Bars, Cafes and other shopping centers.

The Essenwood Craft Market gives you a true sense of South Africa with a couple of good curios stalls.

Among the malls, there is the Gateway Mall, supposed to be the largest in the southern hemisphere and The Pavilion, which too has a wide range of good shops.

6.Art Galleries and Museums

A good sense of art and culture prevails in the city, with a number of venues to reflect this.

There are a couple of good museums and art galleries here:

• The Campbell Collection
  Entry to this museum is through appointment only, preferably in an organized tour. The Mashu Museum of Ethnology here has a good collection of native cultural items. There is also a photographic and literary archive. This museum is definitely worth a visit.

• The Kwa Muhle Museum
  This museum is in what was the former Native Administration Department. It reminds the visitors of the apartheid phase when from here, the Durban’s labour control system was administered.
• The Durban Art Gallery
  The Durban Art Gallery or the DAG at Smith Street here, has notable collections from Europe, Asian and Africa belonging to the 15th century. It also plays host for ‘Red Eye Art’, where young, South African artists, designers and other performers stage their work here.

7.The Golden Mile

The Golden Mile is the name given to beaches stretching along the Indian Ocean. It’s a good place for water-sports like surfing. While the peak seasons have this place crowded, at other time of the year, you can be assured of a quiet time with yourself. Among other things, there are pools and playgrounds, and bars and eating-joints as well.

8.Excursions and some nearby attractions

The Natal Sharks Board at Umhalanga that is responsible for ensuring beach protection keeps its headquarters open to visitors with displays on sharks and rays.

There are guided tours to the South African Sugar Terminal at Maydon Wharf, a little further from the city. It has the storage capacity of 5, 00,000 tonnes of sugar and is one of the biggest in the world. The tour focuses on production and refining industry.

You could pitch in for many of the escorted tour options available here and make a day’s trip to a number of places around. There are overnight trips for many of the Zulu villages, around the Valley of a Thousand Hills. The highland kingdom of Lesotho is an independent country that too makes for a good getaway. You could also visit the Drakensberg Mountain range.

Other than the above mentioned attractions, the city of Durban has a lot to offer to the tourists. You could go for swimming, surfing, snorkeling or diving at one of the secluded beaches around the city. For motor race lovers, there’s the A1 Grand Prix race, covering a route of 800 meters. There is horse racing as well at the Greyville Race Course.  You could tour the Mahatma Gandhi settlements. Hiking too can be tried at various venues in Durban.

From sport lovers to the more relaxed ones, and even those who like strolling through the cultural centers of the city for getting in touch with its rich heritage, can easily find there space and attractions and activities catering to their interests. Durban as a tourist attraction, works well with all kind of tourists.

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