With a warm subtropical climate as well as being blessed with a number of beaches, the city of Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa receives its fair share of visitors. Given a facelift when it played host to the 2010 World Cup, Durban now sports a revamped waterfront. Apart from that, the city's downtown area is an interesting mix of colonial buildings and art deco structures. Home to the largest Indian population outside of India, it's no surprise that there is an unmistakable Asian feel to the city.
Sightseeing destinations in Durban
Whether it be walking along the beachfront or strolling the city, there's so much to love and appreciate about Durban. The downtown area is equally vibrating with its distinct African beat. While most spend a majority part of the day at the beach, there are other places of interest in the city. The colonial buildings are an arresting sight and you can also head to the Indian markets to enjoy the scents of spices.
Top tour activities in Durban
Between the buzzing downtown and a lively beachfront are some other interesting activities to do in Durban, and these include:
- Visiting the museums – A small collection of paintings as well as mixed media ceramics can be found at the Art Gallery located in City Hall; the gallery also features temporary and rotating exhibitions. Also located at City Hall is a collection of natural science artifacts such as stuffed birds and insects, cockroach and dung beetle displays and a reconstructed dodo as well as a life-sized dinosaur model.
- Tasting the food – The market is the best place to head to for a gastronomic trip. Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, you will find appetizing dishes to try, some even quite imaginative. All the produce used is locally sourced as well.
- Going an a cultural excursion – The history of Durban is shaped by the Zulu population as well as by the Indians who came over as indentured laborers in the 19th century. Seeing this contrast makes for a wonderful cultural experience and you can start at the “Golden Mile” beachfront where you'll find Indian ladies dressed in saris to traditional healers. You can also visit the Botanic Gardens to see a collection of African, American and Asian trees.
Top tour attractions in Durban
Durban is home to many wonderful attractions, and these are just a few of them:
- uShaka Marine World – A 16-hectare theme park where you'll find different shark species as well as local species. The park also offers programs such as dolphin and seal shows and feeding the rays.
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park – This park is made up of different ecosystems including Lake St Lucia, Sodwana bay National Park and the Mkuze Game Reserve.
- Blood River Heritage Site – This is where you'll learn about the history of Blood River and get to see an exhibit about Zulu culture.
Durban sightseeing tours and activities
Planning the perfect tour of Durban takes a lot of thought, and we here at La Vacanza can help out. You can browse through our collection of sightseeing activities and tours to select the best attractions to see and things to do.