When one thinks of Africa from the tourist point of view, the first thing that comes to mind is the continent’s magnificent wildlife reserves. The primary aim of a holiday in Africa would be to see wildlife. But Africa is not only about wildlife. One visit to South Africa, perhaps the most prosperous country in the continent, is enough to see that the continent has a lot more to offer.
In South Africa, go to any of the cities like Johannesburg or Durban, they are just like any other modern city in the rest of the world. Durban in particular is a tourism hotspot. Clean streets, good, wide roads, disciplined traffic are the highlights of the city. However, the most inspiring aspect of the city is the people— always warm, courteous and willing to lend a helping hand.
Durban is about an hour’s flying time from Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city. There are several options to fly out to Johannesburg from Mumbai, and from various carriers.
The city was founded in 1823 as a trading settlement and was named Durban in 1835 in honour of the governor of the Cape, Sir Benjamin D’Urban. The city is in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, one of the nine in the country. The Drakensberg Mountains separate KZN and Free State (another province). The main languages spoken in this ‘Zulu kingdom’ are Zulu and English.
Durban’s population is about 3.1 million, a third of which are of Indian descent. The rest of the population is divided between the natives and whites. Durban also has the largest population of Indians outside India.
There is more to connect to for Indians as Mahatma Gandhi had stayed in Durban for over two decades from 1893. The Phoenix Settlement is where Gandhi worked out his philosophy and it is not too far from Durban. Other places of historical importance are Ohlange Institute (the school founded by John L Dube, the first president of the African National Congress), Inanda Seminary and Ebuhleni (the largest church in KZN).
Not too big in size and with a hilly geography, Durban has a sub-tropical climate. The temperatures are not very high during summer, but the high humidity takes its toll. Hearty consumption of liquids is advisable, particularly if a visit is planned between February and June. The winter months are fairly cool.
One of the main attractions of Durban is its beaches. The city has a coastline, which stretches to about 45 km. Even there, the area to visit is the ‘Golden Mile’, which is lined by a series of hotels (both expensive and budget), restaurants, holiday flats and entertainment centres. The now-famous A1 Grand Prix is run on the streets of the city near the beach.
The uShaka Marine World is a must-see and is one of the ten largest aquariums in the world. A visit to the restaurant, which has been constructed inside an old shipwreck, is a must. The main dining hall adjoins a huge glass tank with sharks and fish. It is easy to get lost just looking at the sharks. And that is probably the closest one could get to sharks without any fear. Dolphin and seal shows are also a part of the establishment. Wet ‘n Wild World is a water part that offers plenty of fun rides.
The area near the ‘Golden Mile’ beach boasts of fun zones like the Sun Coast Casino, Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom. Besides, there are plenty of malls and places to eat. Getting vegetarian meals might be a bit of a problem though.
There is plenty of shopping to do for souvenirs and curios. The beach is lined with shops selling Zulu art and craft work. Plenty of beadwork and wooden carvings are also up for sale. A word of caution though. It would be advisable to move around in groups in the city after dusk since lone travelers may prove to be soft targets for criminals.
Needless to say, no visit to Africa is complete without visiting a wildlife reserve. The Kruger National Park is one of the biggest and best places to see African wildlife and is about 300 km away from Durban. The emphasis at Kruger is on the conservation of elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes or the ‘Big Five’. There are plenty of private game reserves too. One of them is the Tala Game Reserve and is an hour’s drive from Durban and close to Pietermaritzburg (also worth seeing), the capital of KZN. One can get to see impalas, buffaloes, rhinos, hippos, giraffes and birds at Tala.
Durban’s surrounding areas have tourist interest. The Aliwal Shoal is situated off the KZN south coast near Umkomaas and boasts of a rich marine ecosystem. The Valley of a 1000 Hills is on the way to Pietermaritzburg from Durban and covers places like the Krantzkloof Natukre Reserve, Shongwemi Dam etc. The Umhlanga coastline is just north of Durban and is for the traveler who likes to relax and take it easy. A visit to the Drakensberg Mountains, Ulundi (site of the last Anglo-Zulu war), Elephant Coast or North Coast would be a rich experience.
The places named above are just a few of the many, many places to see when on a holiday around Durban. Planning what you would like to see properly is advisable since there are so many options.
Undoubtedly, South Africa is one country to visit with cosmopolitan cities like Durban to see. Once there, the whole atmosphere just thrills. You just can’t help falling in love with Africa.
