Delightful Durban is the largest city of the vast and varied Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa. A coastal port with a more than equable sub-tropical climate and wide golden beaches washed by the warm Indian Ocean.

Durban is a holidaymaker's paradise and gateway to the dozens of seaside resort towns of the coast to the south and north of the city. The 'Golden Mile' central beach area, flanked by numerous high-rise hotels, stretches for four miles (six km) and is fronted by promenades and entertainment facilities, flea markets and colourful traditionally clad Zulu rickshaw pullers. A fleet of 'tuk-tuk' type three-wheelers has augmented public transport in the city.

Although much of Durban is characterised by British colonial architecture, the city is actually an exciting mix of cultures.

There is a large Indian community, descendants of indentured labourers who came to work on the Natal sugar estates in the 1850s and who provide the city with an intoxicating oriental flavour enhanced by their shrines, bazaars and tantalising curry restaurants.

There are also the Zulu people, whose proud warrior ancestors inhabited the province before the coming of the European colonial powers. The heritage of the amaZulu is very evident in the region north of the Tugela River, known as Zululand, where legendary King Shaka once ruled supreme and today is where most of Kwa-Zulu Natal's game parks are to be found.

Durban is the gateway not only to the coastal beach resorts of the province, but also to the rolling hills and plains of the Natal Midlands and their backdrop, the majestic, jagged peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains, which border the province in the west.

Durban Attractions

Francis Farewell Square

This historic square in the middle of Durban is the spot where the city originated as a tiny settlement of itinerant traders and hunters in the early 19th century. It is named for Henry Francis Flynn, one of the prominent inhabitants of the time. Around the square are some interesting sights, particularly the 1910 City Hall on the south side, which is an exact replica of the City Hall of Belfast, Ireland. On the first floor of the City Hall is the Natural Science Museum with an interesting insect section; on the first floor is the renowned Durban Art Gallery. Various musical, song and dance performances are held on the City Hall steps every Wednesday at 1pm. Alongside the City Hall is Durban's local history museum housed in the Old Court House, which was the first public building ever erected in Durban, in 1866.

uShaka Marine World

In January 2004 Sea World closed its doors to the public and reopened as uShaka Marine World, which has become the largest marine theme park in Africa. The park is tastefully themed with African imagery and has five zones offering entertainment, dining, a retail village, water slides and access to uShaka Beach. The Sea World zone incorporates an aquarium, dolphinarium, a seal pool and penguin rookery, as well as interactive activities in the dive tank, snorkel reef and touch pool, while Wet 'n Wild offers heart-stopping, adrenalin-pumping rides as well as water-based activities for the less adventurous.

Address: 1 Bell Street; Telephone: (031) 328 8000; Transport: Marine World is on the main Point Road bus route and is serviced by Greenline and Mynah buses; Opening time: Sea World: Daily 9am to 6pm, closing at 5pm in winter (Island activities closed Mondays). Wet 'n Wild: Wednesday to Sunday 9am to 6pm, until 5pm in winter; open daily on public holidays and during government school holidays; Admission: Combined tickets: R125 (adult), R80 (children). Sea World: R85 (adults), R55 (children); Wet 'n Wild: R60 (adults), R45 (children); other concessions available

KwaMuhle Museum

The notorious building that was once the ‘Department of Native Affairs' where every black South African in Natal was required to register in the days of Apartheid, now houses a museum dedicated to tracing the history of racial laws in Durban, including memorable video and photographic exhibits. Despite this the building is known to all as KwaMuhle, meaning ‘place of the good one', the name honouring a white man who ran the department but did his best to fight the system within its constraints.

Address: 130 Ordinance Road; Telephone: (031) 311 2223; Opening time: Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 4pm; Sunday 11am to 4pm

Juma Masjid Mosque

The magnificent Juma Masjid Mosque, the largest mosque in the Southern hemisphere, dominates Durban's central Indian district. It's gilt-domed minarets tower over the bustling commercial area, but inside the marbled worship hall is peaceful and boasts a simple elegance. Tours of the mosque can be arranged. Around the mosque, on Grey Street, are several Indian food outlets, most offering the uniquely Durban 'bunnychow' (half a loaf of bread scooped out and filled with curry). Off of Grey Street is the Madressa Arcade bazaar. Also in the area is the brightly painted Victoria Street Market (on the corner of Queen and Russell streets) offering incense, henna tattoos, spices and other exotic goods.

Address: Grey Street; Telephone: (031) 306 1774 (tour arrangement)

Botanical Gardens

Durban's botanical gardens are renowned for having the finest collection of plantlife anywhere in Africa. Established in 1851 the gardens, on Sydenham Hill Road west of the Greyville Race Track, are the city's oldest natural attraction, providing a relaxing spot to stroll among huge indigenous and exotic trees, and the stunning orchid house display. The gardens are also abuzz with birdlife and boast a lovely tea garden.

Address: 70 St Thomas Road; Telephone: (031) 2011 303 or 309 1170 (tour bookings); Opening time: Daily 7.30am to 5.45pm (16 September to 15 April), 7.30am to 5.15pm (16 April to 15 September)

The BAT Centre

On the Victoria Embankment beside the Durban harbour is a haven for traditional artists known as the BAT Centre (an acronym for Bartle Arts Trust). The centre features an enormous studio where artists work, a theatre, exhibition galleries and a restaurant serving authentic African dishes. There are stunning views of the harbour from the restaurant deck. Nearby is the Maritime Museum, which details the history of the harbour and houses a restored tugboat and other interesting exhibits.

Address: SAS Inkonkoni Building, 45 Maritime Place, Small Craft Harbour, Victoria Embankment; Telephone: (031) 332 0451; Opening time: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm

Durban Excursions

Zululand Battlefields

Zululand, ancestral home of the Zulu people and site of many a bloody battle between the British, the Boers and the Zulus during the 19th century, is best explored as a self-drive adventure, although many tours are available from Durban. Every town in this area of northern Kwa-Zulu Natal has a story to tell or an event to commemorate and tourism offices throughout the region provide maps and guides to assist visitors in making the most of the history, culture, scenery and wildlife. The landscape varies from plains, to rolling hills, river valleys and lush forests. This land once encompassed the Zulu kingdom led by legendary Shaka Zulu, who clashed with the British and the Boers in many epic battles. Centre of the Zulu nation is the small town of Eshowe. King Shaka was born close to the town, and it was also the site of a 10-week siege during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Other towns of note are Ladysmith and Dundee, near which were fought the historic battles of Rorke's Drift, Blood River and Isandlwana. There are numerous ‘living museums' in the form of Zulu cultural villages open to visitors in the area.

Telephone: (031) 366 7500 (Tourism KwaZulu-Natal); Greater St Lucia Wetland Park

In the far north of Kwa-Zulu Natal are a string of nature reserves and game parks, of which the largest and most exciting is the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, dominated by the fascinating St Lucia estuary and lake system. It covers five distinct ecosystems varying from dry thorn scrub to tropical forest and is bordered by giant dunes, beaches and tropical reefs. Big Five game viewing is on offer, and this is the only place in the world where you will see hippos, crocodiles and sharks co-habiting in the same lagoon. There are comfortable rest camps in the park.

Telephone: (033) 845 1002; Opening time: Open 24 hours daily, office hours are daily 8am to 4.30pm; Admission: Free

Midmar Dam

North-west of Durban in the Midlands of Kwa-Zulu Natal is the Midmar Public Resort Nature Reserve, offering accommodation, picnic sites and recreational opportunities around the huge Midmar Dam. At the main entrance is the Midmar Historical Village, a reproduction of a 19th century redbrick village with tree-lined streets, a village church and Hindu Temple. Many of the buildings are originals that have been relocated to the site from towns and villages elsewhere in the province. There are also vintage steam train rides on offer and Shire horse carriage rides, as well as several shops, restaurants and exhibition halls. Midmar is also the centre of the Midlands Meander arts and crafts route, which winds through the Midlands along the R103 road, taking in more than 65 participating attractions dotted across the countryside, ranging from herb farms to antique shops and artists working with stained glass. The huge dam stages the annual Midmar Mile, the world's largest open water swim.

Drakensberg Mountains

The jagged peaks of the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains) tower over the eastern border of Kwa-Zulu Natal with Lesotho, providing a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. The mountains abound with hiking trails, climbing routes, 4x4 trails, pony treks and adventure pursuits, all accessible from numerous resorts in the lower reaches. Some of the more popular resorts are Champagne Castle, Cathkin Peak and Cathedral Peak, while Giant's Castle and its game reserve are famed for the more than 500 rock paintings left behind by the San people on cave walls. Eagles soar around the peaks in the Royal Natal National Park in the north, where the dramatic scenery includes the Amphitheatre, a five-mile long (8km) curved basalt wall. The region is largely untamed, and criss-crossed by lengths of rugged dirt roads. The only road that breaches the mountain range and crosses the border to Lesotho is the hair-raising Sani Pass, which is topped by the highest pub in Africa.

Telephone: (031) 366 7500 (Tourism KwaZulu-Natal);Durban Airports

Durban International (DUR)

Location: The airport is 10 miles (16km) southwest of Durban. Time: GMT +2. Contacts: Tel: +27 (0)31 451 6667. Transfer to the city: An airport bus service is available to connect to the city, and a coastal town service, which operates from 6am to 6pm, carries passengers to the outlying resorts. Taxis are available. Car rental: Numerous car rental companies are represented at the airport, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Imperial and National. Facilities: The airport restaurants, bars, ATMs and currency exchange facilities. Duty free shops are available for international flights. There is a first aid room operated by a private hospital. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance. Departure tax: None.

Durban Basics

Time: GMT +2.
Electricity: 230 volts, 50Hz. Round, three-pin plugs are standard.
Money: South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and the larger hotels. ATMs are widely available (there is a daily limit for cash withdrawals) and major international credit cards are widely accepted, except in petrol stations where cash is required. Visitors should take care and be vigilant when drawing cash from ATMs as there is a high incidence of credit card fraud involving the use of ATMs. Travellers cheques and some foreign currencies are accepted at larger hotels and shops, but commission is charged, otherwise all commercial banks will exchange them.

Rates subject to change at any time

ZAR 1.00	ZAR 5.00	ZAR 10.00	ZAR 100.00	ZAR 1,000.00
AUD 0.22	AUD 1.09	AUD 2.19	AUD 21.90	AUD 218.96
CAD 0.19	CAD 0.96	CAD 1.92	CAD 19.23	CAD 192.31
GBP 0.09	GBP 0.47	GBP 0.93	GBP 9.32	GBP 93.19
USD 0.16	USD 0.82	USD 1.65	USD 16.46	USD 164.56

Language: South Africa has 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely spoken.
Entry requirements for Americans: United States passport holders need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days for business or touristic purposes.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British passport holders need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days if passport is endorsed British Citizen or British Overseas Territories citizen. Those whose passports state British National (Overseas) may stay up to 30 days without a visa. All others require a visa. Visa extensions are possible if applied for at least 30 days before expiry date, and cost ZAR425.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian passport holders need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australian passport holders need a valid passport, but no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans who hold dual nationality should note that they are required to enter and leave the country on their South African passports.
Passport/Visa Note: Passports must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the period of intended stay. An onward or return ticket is required, as well as sufficient funds and documents needed for further travel. Note that visitors to South Africa must have at least one free page in their passport for endorsements.
Embassy or Consulate in US: South African Embassy, Washington, United States: +1 202 232 4400
Embassy or Consulate in UK: South African Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7451 7299
Embassy or Consulate in Canada: South African High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 744 0330
Embassy or Consulate in Australia: South African High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 2424-7
US Embassy or Consulate: United States Embassy, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 342 1048
UK Embassy or Consulate: British High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 421 7733
Canadian Embassy or Consulate: Canadian High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 422 3000
Australian Embassy or Consulate: Australian High Commission, Pretoria: +27 (0)12 342 3740
Health: Travellers arriving in South Africa from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Otherwise no vaccinations are required. There is a malaria risk in the low-lying areas of the Northern Province and Mpumalanga (including the Kruger National Park) and northeastern Kwa-Zulu Natal, and precautions are advised when travelling to these areas. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Tap water is safe in urban areas but sterilisation is advisable elsewhere, as there are periodic outbreaks of cholera in the poor communities of rural South Africa, particularly in Northern KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. Food poisoning is rare. Medical facilities in South Africa are good, but medical insurance is strongly advised as private hospitals expect cash upfront and public hospitals are best avoided.
Tipping: If a service charge is not included in the bill, waiters expect a tip of 10%. Tipping for services rendered is widely anticipated by porters, taxi drivers, golf caddies and petrol attendants. 'Car guards' operate in the city centres and tourist spots and will offer to look after your parked car; they are usually immigrants from neighbouring countries looking for work and will expect anything from R2 upwards on your return.
Safety: Visitors to South Africa should be aware of the country's high incidence of crime. Although this tends to be concentrated in pockets throughout the country, for example in the township areas, opportunistic crime is fairly widespread. Travellers should always be aware of these risks and exercise the necessary precautions. Doors should be locked when driving and one should not walk alone at night in city streets, isolated beaches or remote areas. Berea and Hillbrow in Johannesburg are high risk areas and visitors should be cautious in the area. There have been recent incidents on hikers walking on Table Mountain in Cape Town and visitors should avoid walking alone on the mountain. One should be vigilant when using ATMs and carrying valuables. It is worthwhile noting that the South African authorities do give high priority to the protection of tourists.
Communications: The international access code for South African is +27. The outgoing code is 09 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0944 for the United Kingdom). South Africa also has city codes. International phone cards cannot be used in South Africa. The country is served by three GSM mobile phone networks. Mobile service providers offer 'pay-as-you-go' Sim cards, which are a good option for visitors staying for some time. Internet cafes are widespread.
Duty free: Travellers to South Africa do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2 litres wine and 1 litre spirits; perfume up to 50ml and 250ml eau de toilette; and other goods to the value of R3,000. All other goods brought in from abroad by residents of South Africa must be declared on arrival. These will be subject to import duties. For goods to be re-imported, travellers must complete a DA65 or NEP-form that is issued on departure. Prohibited items include meat and dairy products, all medication except for personal consumption, flick knives, ammunition, explosives and pornography containing minors and bestiality.

Durban Climate and Weather

South Africa is a large country and has diverse climactic regions, but in general the weather is sunny and hot in the summer months (December to April), and mild during winter (May to November). Winters in the Cape are cold and wet, and snow falls on the mountain ranges here and in Natal. Gauteng and the northern areas experience thunderstorms regularly during evenings in the summer months, and winters are usually warm during the day and cold at night.

Durban	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall (mm)	119	126	132	84	56	33	35	49	73	110	118	120
Rainfall (inches)	4.7	5.0	5.2	3.3	2.2	1.3	1.4	1.9	2.9	4.3	4.6	4.7
Avg Temp (°C)	24	24	24	22	19	17	17	18	19	20	22	23
Avg Temp (°F)	76	76	75	71	67	63	63	65	67	69	72	74