Visit Durban’s Top Attractions

Affectionately referred to as “Durbs”, the city of Durban is the capital of the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa and is the country’s third largest city, after Johannesburg and Cape Town. Its subtropical climate and spectacular beaches make Durban a popular holiday destination for inland-dwelling South Africans as well as international tourists. Durban’s visitor attractions include the vibrant Golden Mile, uShaka Marine World, Greyville Racecourse, the Umgeni River Bird Park, and the Victoria Embankment. Sports venues include the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Kings Park Stadium and the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead. The International Convention Centre in Durban is counted among the leading conference centres in Africa and in 2005 was rated as the world’s 4th best conference venue. The Gateway Theatre of Shopping offers movie theatres, a live performance theatre, more than 350 stores, loads of restaurants, cafés and fast-food outlets, a games arcade, theme park and science centre.

Stretching northward from uShaka Marine World on Durban’s South Beach, to the Suncoast Casino, the Golden Mile is the city’s most popular tourist attraction. With the Indian Ocean washing white sandy beaches, this stretch of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline offers surfers some spectacular waves, particularly at South Beach. With the shore punctuated by piers jutting out into the ocean, families will find plenty to keep the little ones busy, while swimmers are assured of safety provided by lifeguards and shark nets. Attractions along the Golden Mile include Mini Town, uShaka Marine World, North Beach, Bay of Plenty, Dairy Beach, a skate park and the Surfing Museum. Beautifully made traditional arts and crafts are offered by market vendors at various places along the beachfront.

uShaka Marine World covers an area of 16-hectares and took three years to complete. As the 5th largest aquarium in the world, uShaka Sea World is designed around five shipwrecks and is home to an astounding variety of marine creatures, the more unusual of which include geometric morays, honeycomb morays, catsharks, hammerhead sharks, spinner sharks, ragged-tooth sharks, potato bass, cobia and kingfish. Visitors are offered the opportunity to snorkel among hundreds of fish in the lagoon, walk on the ocean floor, or try shark-cage diving.

Visitors to this bustling coastal city will soon see why “Durbs” remains one of South Africa’s most popular holiday destinations.