 Durban
Hot
and spicy! Durbs-by-the-sea is South Africa’s most laid-back city. It’s hot,
lush, tropical and has miles of great swimming and surfing beaches. Exotic
Indian and earthy Zulu influences add an exciting dimension to this buzzing
city. Durbanites have been voted the friendliest people in South Africa.
What to see and do
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The Beachfront
Durban has attractive brick-paved promenades from which you can take a
ride in an outlandish rickshaw or shop for cheap curios at market stalls.
If it’s glam you’re after - find it at the Beach Cafe’ at the Bay of Plenty.
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Sharks Board
They’re responsible for the nets that keep sharks away from swimming beaches.
The Sharks Board do weekly shark dissections at their base in Umhlanga
Rocks. You can also join them when they service the nets.
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UShaka Marine World
An aquarium, dolphinarium, water amusement park and shopping centre rolled
into one convenient package. Take your cozzie.
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’Music at the Lake’ at the Botanical Gardens
Regular performances by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra. The gardens also
host Carols by Candlelight, a Steel Tin Drum Festival and others.
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Indian culture
Indians have been in Durban for 150 years. Their cuisine speciality is
a ‘bunny chow’ – a chunk of bread with its inside scooped out and filled
with curry. Do some soul-searching in the ornamental gardens of the Hare
Krishna Temple of Understanding in Chatsworth.
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Victoria Street Market and others.
Durban has markets galore - art and crafts markets, flea markets, fruit
and veg markets, muti markets, markets in stables and markets on the beach.
East meets Africa in the Victoria Street Market where some stalls sell
Zulu beads and basketry and others sell Indian spices, fabric and brassware.
Durban backpacker accommodation
Durban Surrounds
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Valley of a Thousand Hills |
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 Carved by the Mngeni River and its tributaries. The Valley of a Thousand Hills is dotted with galleries, craft shops, friendly pubs and tea gardens that have sweeping views of the hills.
Valley of a Thousand Hills accommodation
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 A laid-back seaside town 30km south of Durban. Warner Beach has good surfing and is close to the diving at Aliwal Shoal. It’s also close to the airport and there’s a scheduled train service into Durban centre.
Warner Beach accommodation
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 Shaka's Rock is a lovely stretch of sandy beach with a beautiful tidal pool flanked by picturesque rocky cliffs.
Shaka's Rock accommodation
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Durban & surrounds
