Best Places to Visit in Durban

Durban is blessed with a plethora of natural gems including pristine beaches and a serene climate which is rare to see in other cities of the Africa continent. It is a perfect representation of vast history and unique culture of South Africa. It is the third-largest city of South Africa which is heaven for travelers. Whether those are breathtaking gardens, lush hills or historical monuments, this spectacular city boasts about wide range of offerings. Here we have listed some of the most recommended places to visit in Durban during your tour to South Africa. Check out this Durban travel guide to discover some of the top things to do in Durban:

  • Indian Quarter: The Durban Indian Quarter is now a multicultural combination of sights, sounds, and unique aromas, covering Victoria Street Market and Juma Masjid Mosque, the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the popular tourist spots in Durban. Selling everything including spices and saris to sandals, incense, and complicated handcrafted jewelry, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian, and Somali Street sellers are haggling along small grounds. Shops of great expertise are to be found here, while the restaurants offer some of Durban’s finest genuine Indian food.
  • Umgeni River Bird Park: Umgeni River Bird Park has more than 200 kinds of birds at the Riverside District at the north shore of the Umgeni River, and some of them in Africa are the only representative of their type. Umgeni River Bird Park is one of the best tourists attraction in Durban. Visitors may witness a range of indigenous and bird species from Southeast Asia and Australia, including lory, cockatoo, and aras, along with a network of pathways through exuberant landscapes and waterfalls. One of the park’s attractions is the bird show, in which visitors may learn more about the unique species.
  • Mitchell Park and Jameson Park: Mitchell Park is one of Durban’s oldest parks, located in the upscale area of Morningside. The city’s calm gardens, massive plantations of multicolored flourishes, and broad wheelchair-friendly trails make it also popular for picnics and walks. Children appreciate the playground, little zoo, and aviary, while people who want to have a sick meal can dine in the café. Jameson Park is next to Mitchell Park, where there are over 200 rose kinds.
  • The Sri Radha Krishna Temple: The Sri Radha Krishna Temple is Africa’s largest temple in Hare Krishna. The Temple is surrounded by a magnificent lotus garden, where golden domes, gold-plated sculptures, chandeliers, marble tiling, and ceiling frescoes are made. Apart from appreciating the luxurious building, Govinda’s vegetarian cuisine is also the highlight of a visit here. Hungry travelers may celebrate a huge range of cheap Indian vegan cuisines and fruit drinks. The restaurant serves food for the city’s impoverished and impoverished. It is one of the top places to visit in Durban. 
  • uShaka Marine World:UShaka Marine World is a beautiful waterland, full of activities and is one of the top tourist attractions of Durban. The Sea World consists of the largest aquarium in the Southern Hemisphere and has reproductions of four wrecks. Visitors can get close to maritime life in underground halls.The Dolphin Stadium, Seal Stadium, and Penguin Rookery are some other attractions here. Wet ‘n’ Wild is a paradise for two-to-12-year-olds, with its splash-bowls, slides, and giant tubes. Kids adore the playgrounds, treasure cellars, and creativity here.
  • Umhlanga Rocks: Umhlanga Rocks is a prominent and upmarket tourist town, 16 kilometers north of Durban. The picturesque Isimangaliso wetland Park, a UNESCO World heritage site having eight interconnected ecosystems, 3 major lake systems, and St. Lucía’s biggest estuary system located 200 km north of Durban. Long, golden and interrupted beaches are the main sandy beaches of Durban.A lot of activities are to be done in Umhlanga Rocks for water sports lovers. Some of the aquatic sequences available include surfing, fishing, whale watching, viewing of dolphins, scuba diving and kiteboarding are some of the best things to do in Durban. 
  • Kwamuhle Museum: Exhibits illustrating life in and around Durban and leading to apartheid may be seen at the Kwamuhle Museum. The images of the city life and the work of those responsible for urban development are included in the displays. In the courtyard of the museum, three nude migrant laborers symbolize their vulnerability, The shadows of the past sculpture, designed by the Durban-born artist Ledelle Moe. The museum is situated in a former department of Native Affairs, a notorious site that enforces the laws of apartheid. Today is the place of optimism where individuals are acknowledged and diversity recognized who have been fighting injustice. Kwamuhle Museum is one of the top places to visit in Durban that you must add to your itinerary.
  • Big Rush Urban Adrenaline: If you visit Durban on a long journey to quench a craving for excitement, Big Rush is one of the best places to see in Durban. Tourists and clients will find the adventure park with the greatest bungee jumping, and skydiving facilities. The employees are quite competent here and pay particular care to their safety and the younger adventurers. The park is perfect for a short vacation, hence a trip to this park should not be missed at any cost.
  • Kings Park Stadium: The Sharks, the elite South African rugby side that also had quite a few players in the Springboks is located in this park. The stadium is more renowned than the climax for the film Invictus which won the Oscar and the best places to visit in Durban. This stadium can hold 52000 people and is thus also ideal for the usage of football clubs based in the Premier Soccer League. In the stadium, the performers, including Michael Jackson and Celine Dion, were also invited on world-famous tours. On the next visit to Durban, in anticipation of another world-famous performance, you might wish to check out Kings Park.
  • Durban City Hall: In addition to having a beautiful historic structure in the middle of Durban City Hall, there are also other interesting attractions. Durban City Hall also called the eThekwini City Hall, built-in 1910 is a construction that is difficult to overlook. Its façade is neo-baroque in style sculptures reflecting the industrial, art, literary, musical, and commercial spheres as well as of patriotism and unity are depicted here. The construction is nearly a precise duplicate of Belfast’s town hall.Of course, the City Hall houses the municipality’s offices, but tourists may also check out the Durban Art Gallery and the Natural Science Museum.
  • Durban Botanic Gardens: The people of South Africa feel proud about the natural resources they have got and the Durban Botanic garden is a perfect example of it. It has history of more than 100 years and popular for maintaining proper collection of unique species of fauna you will never find anywhere. The main collection includes palm trees, bromeliads, orchids and cycads. The garden also features more than 50 different species of birds that add an element of excitement to your tour.
  • Golden Mine: It is a perfect starting point for travelers who want to start their tour to Durban with extreme excitement. The beach point is a catalyst for adventure lovers who can try water sports activities including surfing, swimming, fishing or simply bask in the mild sunshine. In the vicinity, you can spot several other key tourist destinations such as Mini Town, Moses Mabhida Stadium anduShaka Marine World.
  • Moses Mabhida Stadium: It is listed in one of the most popular stadiums in the world where some of the matches of FIFA World Cup 2010 were organized. This massive stadium has a capacity of holding more than 60,000 spectators including seats for VVIPs. You can enjoy a short tour to stadium and consider having mouth-watering food at the nearby restaurants that serve unique South African cuisine.
  • Phezulu Safari: Your journey to South Africa will only complete when you take a wildlife tour and Phezulu Safari is an ideal destination to do so. It is one of the most exciting and safest safari parks you will come across in entire South Africa. Along with a safari tour, here you can also enjoy cultural shows organized by local people that become key highlights for local as well as foreign tourists.
  • The Valley Of A 1000 Hills: If you want to experience the lush landscapes spread over an immense territory then you must visit this unique destination. It is one of the most spectacular driveways you will enjoy that takes more than half-hour of drive from main Durban city. Photography lovers will definitely love this destination as they can find nice background views which can be only seen in postcards.
  • Victoria Street Market: If you are done exploring the natural gems of Durban, it’s time to indulge in shopping. Here you can enjoy hustle and bustle of city life as the entire market is crowded with several shops, stores, galleries, boutique, restaurants and hotels that make your day totally worth. While been here, you can consider buying few antiques, artifacts, brassware, Chinese goods and much more. There is a lot to take as a sovereign from here and the choice is totally up to you.

Head out to the Golden Mile, Experience uShaka Marine World, Visit Durban Botanical Gardens to see living fossils, enjoy sun and sand at the beach, Go on a KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board boat tour, View the Umhlanga Lighthouse from Lighthouse Bar, Follow the Inanda Heritage Trail, Dine at The Cargo Hold, Swing into Moses Mabhida Stadium, Go to Suncoast Casino World are the top 10 things to do in Durban. 

What’s next waiting for you?

Most of the tourists prefer to keep South Africa as their last vacation destination as they find other countries more worth visiting. However, you will realize the importance of cities like Durban only when you actually visit them. Now you know where to go and what to in Durban, go ahead and create your itinerary. If you are looking for popular places to visit near Durban then check our other South Africa travel guides.

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