The Ninth Harbour › South Africa
Durban
Warm Indian Ocean surf, golden beaches and the best curry in Africa.
Durban is South Africa’s playground: a subtropical beachfront city where you can swim in warm water all year, eat a legendary bunny chow and dive with sharks on Aliwal Shoal.
Best time to visit: April to September for warm, dry days and calm seas. Language: English, isiZulu. Currency: South African rand (ZAR).
Did you know?
- The bunny chow, a hollowed-out loaf filled with curry, was invented in Durban.
- Durban is home to one of the largest Indian communities outside India.
- The Durban Botanic Gardens, opened in 1849, are Africa’s oldest surviving botanic gardens.
Things to do in Durban
- Sibudu Cave (Archaeological site): Sibudu Cave is a rock shelter in a sandstone cliff in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Howick Falls (Waterfall, free): Howick Falls is a waterfall in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
- uShaka Marine World (Amusement park): uShaka Marine World is a 16-hectare theme park that opened on 30 April 2004 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Juma Mosque (Mosque, free): The Juma Mosque of Durban, also known as the Grey Street Mosque, is a Sunni Islam jama masjid located in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa.
- KZNSA (Gallery): KwaZulu Natal Society of Arts is a nonprofit art gallery and art center in Durban, South Africa.
- Midmar Nature Reserve (Nature reserve): Midmar Nature Reserve, also known as Midmar Dam Nature Reserve, is a protected area around Midmar Dam on the Umgeni River.
- Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World (Casino): Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment is an entertainment complex situated at the northern end of Durban's Golden Mile, adjacent to the Kings Park Sporting Precinct.
- Green Point Lighthouse, KwaZulu-Natal (Lighthouse, free): The Green Point Lighthouse is a provincial heritage site in Clansthal in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
- St. Paul's Anglican Church, Durban (Church, free): St.
- Virginia Bush Nature Reserve (Nature reserve): Virginia Bush Nature Reserve is a 38 hectare coastal bush reserve in the suburb of Durban North, Durban, South Africa.
- Silverglen Nature Reserve (Nature reserve): Silverglen Nature Reserve is a 460 hectare conservancy on the Umlaas River located aside the suburb of Silverglen, Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
- Galleria Shopping Mall (Shopping centre): Galleria Mall is a regional shopping centre located in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal and serves Amanzimtoti and nearby towns within the Sapphire Coast region.
- Giba Gorge Nature Reserve (Nature reserve): Giba Gorge Nature Reserve is an environmental precinct in Outer West Durban, South Africa.
- All Souls Umhlali (Church, free): All Souls Umhlali is a church in the Anglican Diocese of Natal between Umhlali and Salt Rock on the KwaZulu Natal Dolphin Coast of South Africa.
- North Beach (Beach, free, hidden gem): North Beach is one of the beaches of Durban, South Africa.
- Durban Botanic Gardens (Botanic garden, hidden gem): The Durban Botanic Gardens is situated in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- South Beach, Durban (Beach, free, hidden gem): South Beach is a residential area in central Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Riverside Soofie Mosque and Mausoleum (Mosque, free, hidden gem): The Riverside Soofie Mosque and Mausoleum is a mosque, mausoleum, and provincial heritage site in Durban, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
- Umhlanga Rocks Lighthouse (Lighthouse, free, hidden gem): The uMhlanga Rocks Lighthouse was completed in 1954 and stands on the beach in uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.
- Clairwood Shree Siva Soobramoniar Temple (Temple, free, hidden gem): Clairwood Shri Shiva Subrahmanyar Temple, also known as CSSST, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Muruga, located in Clairwood in Durban, South Africa.
- The Cenotaph (Monument, free, hidden gem): The Cenotaph in Farewell Square, Durban, South Africa, was erected as a war memorial to soldiers who died in World War I.
- Mitchell Park Zoo (Zoo, hidden gem): Mitchell Park Zoo is also known as Mitchell Park or Mitchell's Park.
- Gateway Theatre of Shopping (Shopping centre, hidden gem): Gateway Theatre of Shopping is a large shopping mall located on uMhlanga Ridge in uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Hawaan Forest (Forest, free, hidden gem): The Hawaan Forest is situated in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Pipeline Coastal Park (Nature reserve, hidden gem): The Pipeline Coastal Park is an area of coastal vegetation in Amanzimtoti, Durban, South Africa.
- Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter (Archaeological site, hidden gem): Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter is an archaeological site located in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, near the suburb of Hillcrest.
- Empisini Nature Reserve (Nature reserve, hidden gem): Empisini Nature Reserve was established in 1973 and is situated in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Umgeni River Bird Park (Zoo, hidden gem): The Umgeni River Bird Park is a bird zoo located in Durban, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- King Shaka Memorial (Memorial, free): The Shaka Memorial is a provincial heritage site in KwaDukuza in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
- KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden (Botanic garden): The KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden is situated along Mayor's Walk, in the western suburbs of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
- Pietermaritzburg Italian P.O.W. Church (Church, free): The Pietermaritzburg Italian P.O.W.
- Polly Shortts (Hill, free): Polly Shortts is a hill on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
- All Saints Maidstone (Church, free): All Saints Church is a church in the village of Maidstone on the Dolphin Coast in the Anglican Diocese of Natal in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
- Hexagon Theatre (Theatre): The Hexagon Theatre is a theatre complex that is part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus.
- Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve (Nature reserve): Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve is a 93-hectare protected area located in the Montrose suburb of Pietermaritzburg, the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
- Victoria Street Market (Market, free, hidden gem): The Victoria Street Market is a South African market in Durban, dating back to 1890, which grew from traders who set up in the Grey Street Mosque.
- Paradise Valley (Nature reserve, hidden gem): Nature reserve in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Amanzimtoti Japanese Gardens (Park, free, hidden gem): Park in Amanzimtoti.
- Cumberland Nature Reserve (Nature reserve, hidden gem): Private nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Bisley Valley Nature Reserve (Nature reserve, hidden gem): Nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve (Nature reserve, hidden gem): Nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Comrades House (Museum, hidden gem): Museum in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
- Voortrekker House Museum (Museum, hidden gem): Museum in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
- Church of the Vow (Church, free, hidden gem): Historic church building in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
- Playhouse Theatre (Theatre, hidden gem): Cinema in Durban, South Africa.
Where to eat and drink in Durban
- Durban Curry & Bunny Chow Trail, Grey Street: Taste the city’s famous curries where they were born.
- Florida Road, Morningside: Durban’s favourite strip of restaurants and bars.
- 9th Avenue Bistro, Morningside: Durban’s long-standing favourite for a special dinner.
- Oyster Box Curry Buffet, uMhlanga: The famous curry buffet at the grand hotel by the lighthouse.
- Cargo Hold, uShaka: Dine beside a glass wall of the shark tank.
- Butcher Boys, Florida Road: Aged steaks in a buzzing Morningside grill.