South Africa's third largest city, Durban is known for its wonderful climate, vast beaches, sub-tropical landscape and holiday attractions.
Durban has a mix of cultures with a large Indian community and a new influx of Africans from countries in the north. You can swim all year round. The central beach area, called the Golden Mile, actually stretches for 6km (4 miles) from the Umgeni River to the Point. Along it are a wide variety of souvenir stalls and family entertainments, from the excellent u'Shaka Marine World to funfairs, a snake park and mini-golf. Survey the scene from a cable-car or stroll along the promenade.
Colonial Durban's heart is Francis Farewell Square, with the City Hall, which now contains the Natural Science Museum and Durban Art Gallery, featuring a fine collection of black South African art and craft. Not far away is the African Arts Centre, where much local art is for sale. The Indian District is characterised by markets, mosques, temples and well-preserved buildings from the turn of the century, including the Juma Musjid Mosque. The Victoria Street Market is filled with spices, curios and fresh produce.
Just north of Durban, the Valley of a Thousand Hills has plenty of bijou shops and tearooms, as well as the Assagay Safari Park and Phezulu. Basic, child-friendly places offering a crocodile farm, snake park, children's zoo and Zulu dancing.
South of Durban a series of beach resorts, including Amanzimtoti, Scottsburgh, Port Shepstone and Margate, where you could visit a crocodile farm, the Banana Express railway and the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. The offshore Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks are some of the best dive sites in South Africa.
Umhlanga Rocks is the home of the Natal Sharks Board, offering audiovisual presentations and shark dissections to those with a taste for gore! Ballito offers a wide range of water and land sports, while just to the north, 19th-century Zulu king, Shaka, used to throw his enemies off the cliff at Shaka's Rock.
