Activities
The Golden Mile: Segway and bike hires provide the best tour and experience of the Durban Beachfront.
Moses Mabhida Stadium: Named after former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party, Moses Mabhida. It is a multi-use stadium and was one of the host stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
uShaka Marine World, one of the largest aquariums in the world and family-friendly theme park. It comprises of the uShaka Sea World, uShaka Wet 'n Wild, uShaka Beach, and uShaka Village Walk.
The Markets of Warwick—possibly the largest informal street market in South Africa
The International Convention Centre (ICC)—the leading conferences centre in Africa for the last 5 years, and rated 4th in the world in 2005.
Durban Ice Arena - Durban's iconic ice skating rink, revamped in 2015.
Gateway Theatre of Shopping: Durban’s unique shopping and entertainment complex with more than 400 outlets offering anything and everything a shopper could want.
Climate
The Climate in Durban is the humid subtropical; it is characterised with hot and humid summers; and warm and dry winters, which are snow and frost-free.
The rainy season happens in Summer (November - mid-April). This period is hot and humid during the day but are relieved by afternoon or evening thunderstorms. There are also occasional storms and cyclones. Winters (June - August), are generally warm and sunny.
Eating Out
From traditional Zulu meals to delectable Indian curry and other cuisine choices; there are various spot in Durban to fill the yearning for a delicacy. The restaurants, eateries and hospitality establishments reflect the diversity nature of the cosmopolitan city.
The best takeout joints and fine dining establishments can be found in Florida Road, Lilian Ngoye Road (formerly Windermere), Umhlanga north of Durban and Hillcrest.
Getting Around
There are various alternatives for travel within Durban. Unlike other cities, the city is walkable and easy to navigate. There are public transport options, both private and public buses, offering bus services within and outer areas. It is also advisable to hire a car from the various standard car rental services; and there are quite a number of mini buses and metered taxi cabs available.
Language
English and Zulu are the most common languages spoken in Durban. A large percentage also speak Afrikaans.
Money
The Official currency for South Africa is the Rand (ZAR).
Negatives
In terms of crime rate, Durban is more dangerous than Johannesburg but much safer than Cape Town.
This is a radical shift from previous decades when Johannesburg was the most dangerous of these cities and Cape Town the safest. However, Criminals usually avoid targeting tourists because they know that the police response will be greater.
Shopping
One of the reason tourists’ visits Durban is the opportunity to ‘shop till they drop’ and enjoy the unique entertainment facilities. The city is home to the Gateway Theatre of Shopping - the largest mall in Africa (in terms of size). Described as the shoppers’ paradise, the over 400 outlets offer various world class shopping experience, unending entertainment and delicious meals, in one environment.
Other malls in the city like the Pavilion Shopping Centre, La Lucia Mall, Rinaldo Shopping Centre, Bridge City Shopping Centre, Musgrave Shopping Centre, Watercrest Shopping Center, City View Shopping Centre, and Galleria, all provide a premier shopping and entertainment experience.
The Victoria street market on the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets in Durban Central is one of the oldest markets in the city. The Afro-Indian market offers various wares ranging from jewellery, woven baskets, silk saris, scarves, to even cheap Chinese products. There are all manners of delightful food and spices including a fish market.
Situated in the 1000 Hills Tourism route, the Heritage market caters for the whole family, locals and tourists. It provides a unique shopping experience in the Hillcrest area, ranging from jewellery, health, beauty, clothing, sporting and convenience stores to specialist stores not found in your average mall.
Time
SAST (South Africa Standard Time) - UTC+2 hours