Durban & KZN South Coast

Durban is a sophisticated cosmopolitan city of over three million people where east meets west and beneath which beats the pulse of Africa. Durban is popular for its superb swimming and surfing beaches, restaurants and nightspots, shopping complexes and uShaka Marine world. It’s a fun city to visit for a night or two, which makes the fact that this is the starting point for all ventures into the Kwa Zulu Natal safari area and the St Lucia Wetlands all the more appealing. 

The Durban beaches, which stretch from the Point northwards as far as the eye can see, offer sailing, snorkelling, scuba, swimming, surfing and fishing in the warm shark-net protected waters of the Indian Ocean. The most well known section of beachfront is the Golden Mile. It stretches six kilometres (four miles) along the sandy Indian Ocean shoreline and, in addition to the beaches it offers paddling pools, pavilions, piers, amusement parks, colourful markets, and eating places. Special features are the rickshaws - lightly built carts pulled by Zulu ‘drivers’, both elaborately decked out in beads, furs and streamers.

Durban is a sophisticated cosmopolitan city of over three million people where east meets west and beneath which beats the pulse of Africa. Durban is popular for its superb swimming and surfing beaches, restaurants and nightspots, shopping complexes and uShaka Marine world. It’s a fun city to visit for a night or two, which makes the fact that this is the starting point for all ventures into the Kwa Zulu Natal safari area and the St Lucia Wetlands all the more appealing. 

The Durban beaches, which stretch from the Point northwards as far as the eye can see, offer sailing, snorkelling, scuba, swimming, surfing and fishing in the warm shark-net protected waters of the Indian Ocean. The most well known section of beachfront is the Golden Mile. It stretches six kilometres (four miles) along the sandy Indian Ocean shoreline and, in addition to the beaches it offers paddling pools, pavilions, piers, amusement parks, colourful markets, and eating places. Special features are the rickshaws - lightly built carts pulled by Zulu ‘drivers’, both elaborately decked out in beads, furs and streamers.

At the end of the Golden Mile uShaka Marine World has daily dolphin shows and is Africa’s largest marine theme park, and something not to be missed if you find yourself in Durban. A short walk along the beachfront leads to another wildlife experience – the Fitzsimon’s Snake Park on Snell Parade, North Beach. The park contains a fine collection of exotic and indigenous species plus crocodiles, leguaans (iguanas) and terrapins.

Further inland from the city you will reach the steep slopes and plunging gorges of the beautiful Valley of 1000 Hills where rural communities live according to age-old traditions. Here are situated craft villages, safari parks and sites offering traditional Zulu dancing.

Durban is surrounded by some of the most beautiful and pristine natural landscape in South Africa. The St Lucia Wetland Park is a World Heritage site, as are the Drakensberg Mountains. The Kwa Zulu Safari area holds the Phinda and the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game reserves which means you can easily combine a Big 5 safari with a beach holiday.

Contact one of our Travel Experts for recommendations on the different accommodation in the area, or for advice on how best to structure you tour or safari.