Destination Travel Guide

Travel to Durban, South Africa

The City of Beautiful Beaches

About Durban

Getting to Durban
Things to do
Where to stay
When to Visit
Durban Weather
Currency & Language

Durban Travel Guide & Information

Durban, the largest city of the vast and varied KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa is a major tourist destination due to the city's subtropical climate and beaches. It is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and is best known as being the busiest port in Africa. The city of Durban is a coastal port with wide golden beaches splashed by Indian Ocean, giving it a reputation of being a “vacationer’s paradise” and gateway to numerous seaside resorts.

Durban is a city that has many sightseeing venues and historical sites. Flights to Durban are your passport to explore a city that is truly a melting pot of African, European and Asian influences, which have led to a myriad of styles in the city. Though much of Durban is characterized by British colonial architecture, the city is an exciting mix of cultures.

Travel to Durban for a one of a kind experience, like a traditional rickshaw ride along the buzzing beachfront, nicknamed 'The Golden Mile', and to feast on excellent cuisine prepared by the famed Indian community. With the promise of offering the country's most beautiful beaches and some of the best weather, Durban has earned its claim as the dream destination for locals and vacationer’s to South Africa.

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Getting to Durban

Map of Durban

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Things to do in Durban

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Museums:

Durban has wonderful museums offering visitors an insight into Durban’s glorious past.

KwaMuhle Museum: The museum depicts the history experienced by its residents; a reality portrayed without criticism or bias, and reflects the history and experiences that had never been accessible to the people of Durban. It is a museum that documents Durban's growth, interaction, relationships and confrontations of events and people.

Port Natal Maritime Museum: The Port Natal Maritime Museum deals exclusively with the city's seafaring history. It serves as a reminder that Durban was and still is the busiest port in Africa. The museum is a true voyage of discovery, offering an exhibit hall with a number of small crafts and three ships for children as they learn a little about maritime history. The Britannia Exhibition Hall offers exhibits that encompass the entire nautical experience, from weather prediction equipment to navigation by the stars and communication equipment linking ships at sea to dry land.

Must See:

Durban is home to plethora of attractions well worth adding to your itinerary.

The Golden Mile: The Golden Mile is the name given to the popular stretch of beachfront in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, including the promenade. It is one of the main tourist attractions in the Durban area. The Mile is also a well-known surfer's haven. The wide stretch of golden sands, separated by various piers, provides excellent opportunities for sun lovers and swimmers to enjoy the sunshine and warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Gateway Theatre of Shopping: Gateway Theatre of Shopping or “Gateway” is the 8th largest shopping center in the southern hemisphere and the largest in Africa. Located on Umhlanga Ridge in Umhlanga, north of Durban, the mall sees more than 1.30 million visitors per month. Gateway has 18 movie theatres, an IMAX theatre, and a playhouse called the “Barnyard Theatre”, more than sixty restaurants and close to 300 stores.

uShaka Marine World: uShaka Marine World is a theme park located in Durban. It is the 5th largest aquarium in the world boasting 32 tanks, totaling 17,500 cubic meters of water. The sea creatures found in the aquarium range from small sea horses, to sharks and dolphins. The Aquarium is built to look like an old wreck. The Phantom Ship contains a number of restaurants and cafes and serves as the entrance to the aquarium.

Where to Stay in Durban:

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Durban is often described as the liveliest of all the cities in South Africa and has an abundance of accommodation options to choose from, cheap hotels, 4-Star Hotels Under $99, spas, resorts, hostels and bed and breakfast Inns.

Golden Mile: All of Durban's main hotels are located along the Golden Mile and the beachfront properties are a mix of residential apartments and tourist hotels. Development boomed in the 1970s. The area is home to some of the most premier hotel chains and attractions, like Suncoast Casino, Entertainment World, uShaka Marine World and many beaches. In addition to the big hotels, the Golden Mile offers many other attractions.

Umhlanga: If you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation, choose Umhlanga, just north of Durban. The area has plenty of excellent hotels and resorts, a lovely coastline, great beaches, wonderful opportunities for long walks and bird watching around the lagoon. Umhlanga Rocks has many luxury hotels and apartments right on the beach, many of which offer exceptional views of the landmark lighthouse. Other places of interest in Umhlanga are the Umhlanga Country Club and Mount Edgecombe Country Club in nearby Mount Edgecombe.

Passport & Visa Requirements

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For US Citizens:
As per the latest travel information available for Durban here are the passport and visa guidelines to assist you further.

* Visitors to South Africa for tourism, short business meetings, or those in transit do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days.
* In the event a traveler overstays that period without a permit issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs, he or she may be subject to a fine.
* Visit the Embassy of South Africa website for the most current visa information.

For Canadian Citizens:

* A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Durban.
* The passport must be valid for a period of at least 30 days beyond the date of your expected departure from South Africa.
* Please ensure you have sufficient visa pages for travel to neighboring countries and back to South Africa for the whole duration of your trip.

This requirement applies to all travelers, regardless of age, including children.

We recommend that you check the latest travel alerts, various airlines baggage policies and travel safety tips, so that you do not miss out on any of the fun while visiting Durban.

*Kindly note that we take the utmost care in providing you with correct information at all times. However, the passport and visa regulations are subject to change and we strongly urge you to check the requirements directly with the US passport office and, or the Canadian Passport Office before traveling.

When to visit Durban

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The best time to travel to Durban is during the summers when temperatures sizzle, rainfall ceases and outdoor excursions are easy to plan. Despite the occasional thunderstorm, summer is the best time to book flights to Durban.

Budget travelers might want to visit Durban during the winters. However, temperatures can drop and rainfalls are frequent, making it quite a chilly adventure. The upside is that flights and hotels are cheaper and there are fewer crowds, which means shorter lines.

Planning your Visit:

High season: (November to March)

Low season: (June to August)

Durban Weather

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Durban is a mild subtropical climate with warm wet summers and mild moist, to dry winters, which are frost-free.

* Summers in Durban are hot and humid and very sunny with temperatures frequently rising above 300C.
* The winter climate, between June and August, is characterized by mild or even warm temperatures.

Currency and Language:

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Currency:
* The currency in South Africa is the Rand or ZAR.
* ATMs are available throughout Durban. Before traveling, contact your bank to let them know where you’re going and to find out what the fees are for making withdraws.

Languages:
* While the most commonly spoken language in Durban is Afrikaans, English is most commonly understood and spoken, too.
* Knowing a few phrases will only enhance your experience.

Travel Phrases to Get Around:

Hello		Hallo
My name is...		My naam is ..
Thank you		Dankie