Durban travel guide: beaches, curry and Zulu heritage

The beachfront

The **Golden Mile** and the wider beachfront promenade stretch for several kilometres from **uShaka Marine World** to the north beaches. Walk or cycle the promenade, watch surfers at **North Beach** and **New Pier**, and swim between the flags where lifeguards are on duty and shark nets protect the bathing beaches. **uShaka Marine World** has an aquarium in an old shipwreck theme and a water park that children love.

Food

Durban's Indian community, here since the 1860s, created one of the country's great dishes: **bunny chow**, a hollowed out loaf filled with curry. Order a quarter mutton or bean bunny at a local favourite and be ready for the heat. The **Victoria Street Market** sells spices with fiery names, and seafood, prawns and samoosas are everywhere. The **Florida Road** strip in Morningside is the city's restaurant and bar hub.

Culture and history

The **Moses Mabhida Stadium**, built for the 2010 World Cup, has a SkyCar to the top of its arch and great views. The **KwaMuhle Museum** covers the city's apartheid history, and the **Phansi Museum** holds a remarkable collection of southern African art and beadwork. Just north, the town of **Umhlanga** has a lighthouse, a smart promenade and calmer beaches. At **Inanda**, the **Inanda Heritage Route** links the Gandhi Settlement and the Ohlange Institute, where John Dube founded a school and Nelson Mandela cast his vote in 1994.

Day trips and beyond

• **The Valley of a Thousand Hills**, an hour inland, has views, Zulu cultural villages and crafts.
• **The Drakensberg**, three hours away, is a World Heritage Site of dramatic peaks, hiking and San rock art.
• **iSimangaliso Wetland Park**, three hours north, protects lakes, beaches and estuaries with hippos and crocodiles at **St Lucia**.
• **Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park** is a Big Five park famous for its rhino conservation history.
• The **Nelson Mandela Capture Site** near Howick marks where he was arrested in 1962, with a striking sculpture.

When to go

Durban is subtropical: summers, November to March, are hot, humid and rainy, while winters, May to August, are warm, sunny and dry, which many people find the best time. The July and December holidays are busy with South African visitors.

Where to stay

**Umhlanga** is the most popular base for visitors, with beach hotels and a safe, walkable feel. **Morningside** and **Berea** offer guesthouses near Florida Road. Beachfront hotels near the Golden Mile are handy for the beach, but take care around the city centre at night.

Staying safe

Use ride-hailing apps, avoid the inner city after dark, keep valuables hidden on the beach and follow lifeguards' instructions about currents. Check current government travel advice before you travel.

Surfing and beach life

Durban is one of the country's surfing capitals. Surf schools on the beachfront offer lessons for beginners, and the warm water means you rarely need a thick wetsuit. Early mornings on the promenade are busy with walkers, runners and fishermen, a lovely way to see the city wake up. Lessons are available for children and adults of all levels, and bodyboarding is a fun alternative for families on calmer days.