The 18 Best Things to do in Durban, South Africa

The Best Things to do in Durban, South Africa

South Africa’s third largest city, Durban, is a vibrant coastal city located along the country’s eastern coast. It is a popular holiday destination, especially with locals, thanks to its alluring golden beaches, warm Indian Ocean waters and temperate climate. The city’s official slogan is “the warmest place to be,” and this captures the city in a nutshell.
Although the Durban area was occupied by hunter-gatherers from over 100 000 years ago, the city was officially founded by British settlers in 1835, when it was named after Sir Benjamin D’Urban, who was the Governor of the Cape Colony at the time.
A recent global survey listed Durban as the most underrated African gem. Be sure to add it to your itinerary. Here are the best things to do in Durban.

1.The Golden Mile

Durban’s beachfront is known as the Golden Mile, although it actually stretches across 6 kilometres. It is lined with palm trees, sandy beaches and playgrounds as well as beachfront hotels and restaurants, all combining to create a holiday atmosphere. Take a walk along the promenade and look out for the talented beach artists creating innovative sand sculptures. Do take a walk along the pier too, where you may spot stingrays, sharks and other marine life in the sea.

2. uShaka Marine World

Situated at the Southern end of the Golden Mile, this is one of Africa’s largest marine parks, and a fun outing for the whole family. It is home to Africa’s largest aquarium, which contains many species of marine life from the Indian ocean, including sharks, penguins, rays and starfish. Kids will love the water park, which contains Africa’s highest water slide, super tubes, and a collection of pools. uShaka also has a dolphinarium, a reptile centre and several restaurants and stores. For a special dining experience, visit the Cargo Hold, a fine dining restaurant in the stern of the reconstructed shipwreck, with stunning views of the shark tank and the ocean.

3. Rickshas

This unique mode of transport can be found along the Durban beachfront. It consists of two-seater vehicles decorated in elaborate local designs, which are hand-drawn by ricksha-pullers in colourful cultural dress and headgear. The rides only last for 10-15 minutes but are quite entertaining.
Rickshas were first brought to South Africa from Japan in 1893, and by the 1930s, in their heyday, there were more than 1000 of them. Their popularity declined as conventional motorised vehicles became more widespread and there are now only around 20 of them left.

4. Mini Town

Mini Town was opened in 1969 and still attracts visitors from all over. Kids will love this non-profit park, which comprises a miniature city featuring many of Durban’s landmarks and buildings scaled down to a twenty-fourth of their actual size. A miniature railway line runs through the city, as well as an airport with aeroplanes and a harbour with ships and boats travelling through it. It’s a great place for a photo shoot.

5. Moses Mabhida Stadium

This stadium was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and some key matches were played there at the time however it has been creatively repurposed since then. One can leap into the stadium on the Big Swing, ride the Sky Car over the 106-metre high steel arch for panoramic views of the city, get a great workout with the 500-step adventure walk to the top, or glide on a segway around the stadium. The Big Swing is the only stadium swing in the world as well as the tallest swing in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records, and it is bound to get your adrenalin pumping.

6. uMhlanga Rocks

uMhlanga is a popular town north of Durban, and the uMhlanga Rocks coastline is its crown jewel. Holiday resorts and 5-star hotels line the beachfront where you will find the red and white lighthouse, and the whalebone pier which was once named the most beautiful pier in the world by CNN. It’s an ideal place for an evening stroll as the sunsets here are magical. From the beach, one can enter the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, a wildlife and birdlife sanctuary with scenic nature trails that will take you across a lagoon and through a dune forest.

7. Victoria Street Market

One of the oldest markets in Durban, the Victoria Street Market, is a fusion of African and Indian influences with more than 200 stalls and vendors. It was originally established in the late 19th century but closed for a while after a tragic fire in 1973. The market officially re-opened in 1990 and is a great place to shop for Indian spices, African crafts, traditional clothing and jewellery, incense and brass ornaments. It even has a seafood and meat market where you can buy a wide variety of fresh produce!

8. Durban City Hall

The Durban City Hall is a grand building with a central copper dome and four smaller domes featuring Neo-Baroque Edwardian architecture. It was constructed in the early 1900’s and its design was based on that of the Belfast City Hall in Northern Ireland. The building's interior is equally impressive with stained-glass windows, marble pillars, wrought-iron balustrades and classic arches. Apart from the mayoral and municipal chambers, the Durban Art Gallery, Natural Science Museum and public library can be found here.

9. Durban Botanic Gardens

Dating back to 1848, these are the oldest existing botanical gardens in Africa. While most of South Africa’s other botanical gardens focus on indigenous species, the majority of plants and trees in these gardens have been gathered from around the world, and they form a fascinating collection of botanical wonders. One can see the world’s rarest cycad, a tree that changes colour and the “walking tree”—a banyan fig tree from India that spreads rapidly, killing other plants in its path. Do a guided tour on the golf cart to get the most out of your visit and take some time to have a picnic at the lake.

10. Umgeni River Bird Park

This bird park is situated in a lush tropical landscape dotted with waterfalls, and is home to over 800 birds, from more than 200 species. Some are native to South Africa while others are exotic birds from other countries and continents. Some endangered species can also be found here. There’s a free-flight bird show on most days, showcasing birds from around the world.

11. Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve

This mangrove swamp forest at the mouth of the Umgeni River has the most mangrove trees in the Durban area. Spanning 76 hectares, it was proclaimed as a nature reserve in 1977. The complex natural estuarine ecosystem is home to three protected mangrove species, and one can explore it through elevated boardwalks. The birdlife is prolific and there is a rustic bird hide where the birds can be observed discreetly from. The reserve is only open on the third Saturday of every month.

12. Eat a bunny chow

The bunny chow is one of South Africa’s most iconic culinary creations and it first originated amid humble beginnings in Durban, during the apartheid era. It consists of a half-loaf of hollowed out bread, filled with a spicy curry and topped with the scooped-out bread. Be like the locals and eat it without cutlery – it’s good, heartwarming comfort food.

13. Gateway Theatre of Shopping

Durban’s largest shopping centre with over 380 shops, the Gateway Theatre of Shopping offers much more than retail therapy. Some of its other attractions are an indoor climbing arena with 11 different challenges, go-kart racing on the rooftop, a snow wonderland with year-round snow, a skatepark and a bowling avenue. If you prefer more relaxing activities, there are theatres and cinemas.

14. Gandhi’s House

Mahatma Gandhi spent 21 years in South Africa, during which he developed his philosophy of satyagraha (a type of passive resistance to injustices) in the Durban region. He also established a self-sustaining communal living system in Phoenix, a township north of Durban in 1903, and lived there for 10 years with his family. The settlement is still in existence and comprises Gandhi’s house (which is now a museum), his son’s house and the local tourism office.

15. Inchanga Choo Choo

25 km from the Durban city centre, you will find Kloof, a picturesque suburb. This is where the Inchanga Choo Choo departs from. This steam train will take you back in time, as it travels through the Valley of a Thousand Hills, a stunning part of the province with rolling hills and green valleys. At Inchanga, you will find arts, crafts and food galore, and you can spend some time there before boarding the train back. The trains operate on one Sunday a month so time your trip to take advantage of it.

16. Boat Cruises

A leisurely boat cruise or catamaran ride is a wonderful way to admire Durban’s coastline from the sea. Cruises often depart from the Durban Marina, providing stunning views of the city skyline, the Moses Mabhida Stadium, and the vibrant beachfront. Along the way, one may spot dolphins, whales (in season), and a variety of seabirds. Many cruises also provide informative commentary about Durban's history and landmarks, enhancing the overall experience.

17. Water Sports

Durban is a paradise for fans of water sports enthusiasts, due to its warm waters and attractive coastline. Surfing is very popular for both beginners and experienced surfers. The best surf spots are North Beach, uShaka Beach, Cave Rock, Addington Beach and La Lucia.
The wind conditions are also ideal for kite surfing and windsurfing, especially between September and April.
Diving and snorkelling will provide the opportunity to explore the colourful reefs which are dotted with shipwrecks and teeming with marine life.
More relaxing water sports include stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.

18. Go on a road trip

Durban is surrounded by many fascinating places within short drives. Some of them can be done as day trips while others are more appropriate for weekend getaways. A road trip to the South will take you to pristine beaches, wild nature reserves, immaculate golf courses, and the southernmost coffee estate in the world. A road trip to the North will take you to the St Lucia estuary, part of a UNESCO World heritage site, and the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Africa’s oldest proclaimed nature reserve. Drive inland and you will discover historic battlefields, and striking mountain ranges.