Durban is a city of about 3 million on South Africa's east coast in KwaZulu-Natal. It is no longer just a holiday/resort city, boasting industry and South Africa's busiest container port.
This is a World Cup 2010 host city with games to be played at the new King Senzangakhona Stadium.
Get in
By plane
Durban International Airport (formerly Louis Botha Airport) is the main airport serving the city of Durban and is 15km south of the city center. It serves mostly domestic destinations and the only international flights are to/from Mauritius (Air Mauritius) and Swaziland (Swazi Express Airways and South African Express)
See also Discount airlines in Africa.
By bus
All national carriers (e.g. Intercape, Greyhound) and the Baz Bus offer regular services to Durban. The city is also the gateway to Kwazulu-Natal province.
By train
The central train station is in the city centre.
Spoornet operates daily inter-city trains to Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg, with a weekly service to Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Cape Town. You can also get to Port Elizabeth or East London by changing trains in Bloemfontein.
MetroRail operates frequent commuter trains to various suburbs of Durban and towns nearby (such as Pinetown and the resort towns of both the south coast (eg. Kelso and Park Ryne) and the north coast).
By boat
Some cruise ships dock in Durban, but generally there are no "one-way" entries by boat to Durban. In theory passage on a freighter might be arranged, but it's not widely advertised.
Get around
There is a public bus system but as in any large city use common sense. Bus schedules are relatively accurate but allow extra travel time if taking the bus. You can pick up paper schedules and buy discounted multi-ride tickets at the info booth at the depot across from the Workshop. The Mynah lines depart from this depot to Morningside and the beachfront as well as buses to many southern and western suburbs.
Registered taxis are common, generally safe and relatively inexpensive. These are also known as metered taxis. There are ones which are based in Durban, in surrounding suburbs and in Umhlanga Rocks. These 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:
There are also group taxis, referred to as "combi taxis" (or "minibus taxis"), that are impossible to miss as (in Durban) they're brightly decorated and always have music pumping. They are mostly small vans and there is always someone hanging out of a window making the hand gestures that indicate whether there are seats available and where the combi is going. Combi taxis are very common and less expensive than registered taxis, but opinions differ as to their safety. There are many published reports of accidents involving combis, and there are frequent stikes and taxi wars over territory. 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.
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 cause the contents of your pockets to fall out, into the coffers of the drivers!
See
Do
Down on the beach strip:
Elsewhere in the city:
Festivals
Hiking
Parks and Reserves
Buy
Crafts
Clothing
Food to bring home (subject to import regulations)
Eat
As Durban has one of the largest Indian populations outside of India itself, a Durban curry is a popular dish and can range from mild to very hot. There is also the Bunny Chow which is unique to the city, a quarter loaf of bread hollowed out and filled with a curry of your choice. Check out the Workshop restaurants for some of the best bunny chow in the city. Or head over to the Indian neighborhood near Victoria Market for moue authentic Durban Indian food.
Try the Roma Revolving Restaurant at the top of John Ross House on the esplanade for Italian food and the best view of Durban.
Wilson's Wharf: Durban's answer to Cape Towns waterfront. Eat at a fine selection of international restaurants and watch the busiest harbor in Africa's activity. Take in a show afterwards at the upstairs Catalina theater.
Try Morningside restaurants, along Florida Road, for trendy cafe sidewalk eateries including one Italian style, Spiga d ' Oro , frequented so often by South Africa's notorious businessman, Schabir Shaik, that a dish is named in his honor 'Pasta a la Shaik'. Bill Clinton and Bill Gates tried the place. And nearby, be nearly guaranteed to rub shoulders with the up-and-coming in-crowd at the Bean Bag Bohemia, Essenwood Road, a restaurant that makes great dining an artistic event.
Drink
Zacs, located at Wilson's wharf on Victoria's embankment is a popular place to get thirst quenching drinks and just relax and enjoy the view of the harbor.
Another popular destination is Thirsty's, one of Durban's best known pubs located at the edge of the water's mouth so you can watch the vast boats coming and going through the entrance to the port.
Joe Kool's, on the beachfront is also well known as the best place for a "sundowner" after a long day on the beach. Check out their roof-top deck for the best views.
The BAT Centre, on the port is also a good place for a quick meal or drink. There's free jazz most nights as well as other concerts, hip-hop and the occasional poetry slam.
Sleep
As one of the largest cities in South Africa, and a major tourist destination, Durban offers a broad range of accommodation. There are many budget guest houses, an abundance of mid-range hotels and several luxury hotels. For those who want to stay longer it is also possible to rent a fully furnished flat.
Stay safe
Durban is trying its best to shake its reputation for crime. The beach strip is frequently patrolled by policemen, there are CCTV cameras and there's ample lighting at night. There have, however, been widely reported attacks on tourists in the early hours of the morning, so caution should be exercised, even here.
It is still a good idea to stick to the main streets and not go out at night unless you are very familiar with a particular area. Avoid the usually busy central business district, which is empty after dark. Above all, use common sense, especially at night.
Avoid flashing cash in public and do not use cell phones on the street. Do not wear expensive jewelry, especially if using combis or private buses. If you're not prepared to lose it, don't wear it!
The Point, the area between downtown and the port, known for prostitution and cheap hotels has higher crime rate (although parts are currently undergoing a massive redevelopment). Avoid walking here alone or at night and take cars or metered taxis if you need to go to this area.
Stay healthy
DO NOT HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX!!!
In September 2006, a study by the Medical Research Council found HIV infection rates higher than 66% among women in an area just south of Durban . If you decide to engage in sexual activity with someone whose infection status you do not know, please practice safer sex to reduce your risk.
Get out
Durban (Zulu: eThekwini (IPA: ˈɛːʔtɛˌkwinĭ) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. It is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and is famous as the busiest port in Africa. It is also a major centre of tourism due to the city's warm subtropical climate and beaches.
According to the 2001 Census, the city has a population of 3.2 million. Durban's land area of 2,292 km² is comparatively larger than other South African cities, resulting in a comparatively lower population density of 1,460/km². Although essential, these taxis are often poorly maintained, and are frequently not road-worthy. These taxis make frequent unscheduled stops to pick up passengers, which cause accidents when drivers to the rear are unable to stop in time. With the high demand for transport by the working class of South Africa, minibus taxis are often filled over their legal passenger allowance, making for high casualty rates when minibuses are involved in accidents. Minibuses are generally owned and operated in fleets, and inter-operator violence flares up from time to time, especially as turf wars over lucrative taxi routes occur.
;Rickshaws
Durban is also famous for its iconic Zulu Rickshaw pullers navigating throughout the city. These colourful characters are famous for their giant, vibrant hats and costumes. Although they have been a mode of transportation since the early 1900s, they mostly cater to tourists.
Suburbs
:Main article: List of Durban suburbs
Educational institutions
Private schools
Public schools
Chelsea Preparatory School celebrates its 75th birthday this year Chelsea homepage
Maris Stella
Headline text
Tertiary institutions
Solvista Secondary School
Sister cities
Durban's sister cities are:
Partner Cities
See also
Durban Art Deco
References
External links
