• Overview

  • Durban, a coastal city in eastern South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, is known for its African, Indian and colonial influences. Refurbished for soccer’s 2010 World Cup, the seafront promenade runs from uShaka Marine World, a huge theme park with an aquarium, to the futuristic Moses Mabhida Stadium.

    Best Hotels in Durban

    • Hilton Durban
    • Albany Hotel
    • Blue Waters Hotel
    • Pavilion Hotel
    • Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani

    Best Restaurants in Durban

    • 9th Avenue Waterside
    • The Grill Jichana Durban
    • Havana Grill
    • Malis Indian Restaurant
    • Cafe 1999

    Entertainment Places to Visit in Durban

    • uShaka Marine World
    • Durban Funworld
    • MINITOWN
    • The Fun Company Pavilion
    • uShaka Kids World

• Itinerary

  • Day 1

    10:00am-10:30am : Makiwa Gallery

    If you're thinking of redecorating your home, Makiwa Gallery is worth a stop. The gallery offers exquisite sculpture and bright, bold paintings by a talented, self-taught Zulu artist.

    11:00am-1:30pm : Umhlanga Main Beach

    Offering outstanding swimming conditions, Umhlanga Main Beach is equipped with all the necessary tourist facilities, including restrooms, showers, and umbrellas for rent. Enjoy the warm ocean breeze or take advantage of the high waves perfect for surfing and other water sport activities. You can also take a walk on the coastal promenade and visit the local cafes and restaurants. Remember to swim only in dedicated areas near the lifeguard stations, and keep in mind that seasonal currents can get strong at this location.

    2:00pm-3:00pm : Phansi Museum

    Offering outstanding swimming conditions, Umhlanga Main Beach

    Phansi is pronounced ‘punzi’, meaning ‘below’ or ‘beneath in IsiZulu, after the basement location where it began. ‘Phansi’ is also traditionally known as the place beneath, where the ancestral spirits dwell.

    3:30pm-6:00pm : Shark Diving

    Day 2

    11:00am-1:30pm : Nelson Mandela Capture Site

    Stop by Nelson Mandela Capture Site to admire the striking monument dedicated to the late president and anti-apartheid activist. The statue marks the location where, in 1962, the police captured Mandela, who managed to evade arrest for 17 months. View the sculpture, designed by Marco Cianfanelli and made up of tall steel columns, aligned to create a portrait of Nelson Mandela that comes into view as you approach the memorial site.

    2:30pm-5:00pm : The Valley of a 1000 Hills

    Take a drive through The Valley of a 1000 Hills, a popular road trip destination near Durban. Enjoy the scenery of the rolling hills and the rushing Umgeni River as you drive along the valley edge, or, if you happen to be there on the last Sunday of the month, take a scenic ride on the steam train. Pay a visit to one of the traditional Zulu villages, where you can find an abundance of arts and crafts, try out local delicacies, and experience ancient rituals.

    Day 3

    10:00am-3:00pm : uShaka Marine World

    uShaka Marine World, a spacious 40 acre (16 hectare) waterfront theme park boasts an aquarium, water park, and a rope adventure area. While there, you can enjoy dolphin and seal shows at the stadium, snorkel among schools of fish, or visit the reptile exhibit to observe snakes, crocodiles, spiders, and other creatures. Numerous pools and slides await you at the water park, while other attractions include a shopping mall, cafes, restaurants, a beach, and a children's play area.

    3:30pm-6:00pm : Golden Mile

    Appealing to walkers, cyclists, and joggers, Golden Mile represents a developed stretch of Durban's coastline offering some of the best attractions in town. Highlights include a series of pubs, as well as an aquarium, skate park, museum of surfing, and several sandy beaches.

    Day 4

    10:00am-11:30am : Africa Art Gallery

    12:00pm-2:30pm : Suncoast Casino

    With more than 1,450 slot machines and 50 gaming tables, Suncoast Casino offers entertainment around the clock. You also have 18 restaurants to choose from, as well as a number of spas, cocktail bars, and sporting events, including cycling and A1 street racing.

    3:00pm-5:30pm : Durban Botanic Gardens

    The oldest botanical garden in Africa, Durban Botanic Gardens was founded in 1851 and features a scenic 15 hectare (37 acre) park, dotted with thousands of trees and plants, both indigenous to South Africa and from other parts of the world. The park boasts a substantial plant collection, especially cycads, orchids, and palm trees. Bask in the tranquil atmosphere as you roam the picturesque garden paths, admire the well-kept lawns, go bird-watching, or have a picnic in the shade.

    Day 5

    10:00am-11:30am : Giba Gorge Horse Trails

    1:00pm-5:00pm : Zinkwazi Beach

    Day 6

    11:00am-12:30pm : Lucien Beach

    1:00pm-3:30pm : Riverbend Crocodile Farm

    Take a tour of the croc sanctuary with a farm, cafe, and a craft shop at Riverbend Crocodile Farm. One of the most successful crocodile breeding basks in South boasts more than 30 years of experience in crocodile biology, including data with regard to growth rates and breeding cycles. Entertain your food options in the crocodile cafe, with pies, milkshakes, and super scones. Treat your children to a trip to the jungle gym, or participate in a crocodile feeding. Visit in January and February to witness crocodiles hatching.

    5:30pm-6:00pm : Andrew Early Design Studio

    Day 7

    10:00am-11:30am : Zipline

    12:00pm-2:30pm : Thompson's Bay Beach

    Walk through a large hole in a rock wall to discover the sheltered coves and limestone formations of Thompson's Bay Beach, a picturesque stretch of sand and boulders. Tucked between Ballito and Shaka's Rock, this beach has tidal pools perfect for kids, a gentle sea for swimmers, and plenty of marine life for snorkeling. Practice your stand-up paddleboarding or climb the rocks to try to spot a whale breaching. Due to its features and location, the popular beach can get crowded; your best chances for a parking space are in the morning.

    3:00pm-5:30pm : Willard Beach

Gallery