Home > City Guides > South Africa > Durban > Durban Guide

About Durban

Introduction

Getting there

Getting around

Don't miss

Shopping

Eating & drinking

Sightseeing

Type of holiday destination

Climate

When to go

Places to stay

Cheap flights to Durban

Cheap flights to South Africa

Book a holiday to Durban, read our guide

Thinking of jetting off to the sunny shores of Durban? Now’s a greater time than ever to find the perfect holiday deals to enjoy your Durban holiday. Find all there is to know and more with our guide to Durban holidays.

Durban Introduction

Located by the warm shores of the Indian Ocean on the east coast of Africa, Durban is a city rich in culture, heritage and history. It is renowned for its deluxe hotels and long stretches of golden pristine beaches. It is the third largest city in South Africa and proves to be very popular within the surfing community as well as being famous for having one of the busiest ports in Africa.

Getting there

Just southwest of the city center, Durban International airport has many flights from all over the world landing people onto the beautiful soil of Durban. The new international airport by the name of “King Shaka” has replaced the existing Durban Airport just in time for the World cup 2010 in May.

Getting around

JNC Helicopters offers VIP travel to and from any South African city as well as an infinite number of tourist flight combinations, from 20min sightseeing flights to complete tours that take you around any part of South Africa.

Registered taxis are common, generally safe and relatively inexpensive. Taxis do not rove and hence need to be called so that one can be fetched from your pick up point. A lot of these will conduct point to point transfers, airport shuttles, and corporate transfers. The ones that can be recommended for the Durban and surrounds are:

Minibus taxis are very common and less expensive than metered taxis. Strictly speaking, they are minibuses that take people to and from work, they stick to set routes and they are generally not suitable for tourists unfamiliar with the area they are going to; when in doubt stick to metered taxis or buses. There are minibus taxis plying same routes as Mynah buses, they are more frequent and faster the buses.

Rickshaw rides are offered to tourists along the beach front, for amusement rather than getting around. Watch out for the many ups and downs in the ride; the tipping back of the rickshaw causes the contents of your pockets to fall out, into the coffers of the drivers.

Don't miss

The Golden Mile, is a stretch of South Africa’s most beautiful beaches. Not only for the budding surfer but it is also the perfect location for both adventure seeking junkies, water sports fanatics and general beach lovers. If all of the stated doesn’t tempt you, there are also various very popular and prestigious restaurants and nightclubs to keep you more than entertained during your star. Ensure you visit the Ushaka Marine World whilst on your visit!

Shopping

There are many opportunities to feed your shopping habit whilst in Durban and the main recommendation is the Gateway mall. The Gateway is the largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere. It features everything from a skateboard park to an IMAX, over 30 restaurants and of course, a vast array of opportunities for retail therapy.

Additionally, for souvenirs and wonderful ornaments, take a trip to Victoria or Essenwood Craft market and don’t be afraid to haggle, there’s always the opportunity for a great bargain!

Eating and drinking

Durban is famous for it's Indian cuisine and curries due to its large Indian population. Rare to find anywhere in the world, the Roma Revolving restaurant is a must dine and see. More than just fine dining, you can enjoy your mouth watering dish whilst experiencing the rare feature of a revolving floor area, ensuring your view is ever changing. Located at the top John Ross House, it is renowned for its splendid Italian food and service.

Also, visit Wilson's Wharf for a variety of choice, which hosts a large fusion of international restaurants whilst watching views of the busy Durban harbor.

Sightseeing

You can’t leave Durban without visiting the Ushaka Marine World at least once, with activities to keep you going through-out the day, from ocean activities to amusement parks it’s likely you’ll want to pay it a lot more than just one visit. Also worth seeing is the Drakensburg Wilderness Area which is a world heritage sight, Zululand and the Wildcoast Casino.

Type of holiday destination

Attracting visitors from all over the world, it’s no surprise with its beautiful climate, scenic landscape, and infinite sightseeing opportunities. The best aspect of Durban is it is the perfect location for visitors of all ages.

Climate

Durban climate overall takes on a subtropical feel. It’s not uncommon to find temperatures in Durban to exceed 30°C . Rainfall in Durban also makes a frequent appearance, typically during the months of October to April.

When to go

If hot sunshine weather is what you are after then you will enjoy visiting Durban during the summer months as during this time temperatures are high, rising up to 30°C and rainfall is very low.

Places to stay

Enjoy your holiday to Durban is met with style and sophistication with a stay at the Hilton Durban Hotel. Rated 5 starts, your stay at the Hilton Durban will be relaxing and entertaining to mention the least. If finding a holiday spot close to the beach, then hotels such as Roseland House will be perfect as its set overlooking the beautiful views of the Indian Oceans.