Durban
Mega City
General Information
Other Name: -, , State: KwaZuluNatal, South Africa
Area: 2291.89 km²
Languages Spoken: -
Long Distance Code: +27
Importance: -
Best Time to Visit: - to - and -
International Access: -Description
Durban is the third most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. It is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and is famous as the busiest port in Africa. It is also a major centre of tourism due to the city's warm subtropical climate and beaches.Today, Durban is the busiest container port in Africa, and a popular tourist destination. The Golden Mile, developed as a welcoming tourist destination in the 1970s, as well as Durban at large, provide ample tourist attractions, particularly for people on holiday from Johannesburg. It lost its international holiday pre-eminence to Cape Town in the 1990s, but remains more popular among domestic tourists.With more than 2 million more visitors every year it is the country's leading holiday resort.Durban is a modern city with wide streets, tall office and apartment blocks and many parks and gardens.Location
-Climate
Sub-tropical Climate
This is a small park (about 120 acres) which enjoys interesting coastal vegetation and is crossed by three, well marked trails. A visitors' center and interesting map help to explain the special characteristics of the reserve and the preservation work it has been, and is, carrying out. There are picnic spots dotted around the park, making it an ideal way to spend a day. The parking area is secured. Within easy reach of the city center this makes a nice day or half day outing.
One of South Africa's most beautiful parks, the Botanic Gardens is notable for its tall trees, a lake and a vast collection of gardens, including the Ernest Thorpe Orchid House, Herb Garden, Sunken Garden and Garden for the Blind. Founded in 1849, the gardens are located in a lush 50-acre/20-hectare park at the foot of the Berea and minutes from the city center. An information center and tea garden are on-site. The KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the lake on various Sundays throughout the year.
The most imposing building in central Durban, between West and Smith Streets, is the City Hall, with its conspicuous copper-covered dome. Built in 1910, it was modeled on the City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In addition to municipal offices it houses the Municipal Library and the Natural Science Museum.
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 that runs along with it. It runs roughly from South Beach to the newly-constructed Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in the north. It abuts the central business district of the city to its west.It is one of the main tourist attractions in the Durban area. The wide stretch of golden sands, artificially separated by various piers, provides excellent opportunities for sun-worshippers and swimmers to enjoy the sub-tropical sunshine and warm waters of the Indian Ocean.Most of the Mile's beaches are protected year-round by lifeguards and shark nets. The Mile is also a well-known surfer's haven.
North Beach is one of the beaches of Durban, South Africa. It is situated north of the harbour and bluff, in between Bay of Plenty and Dairy Beach.Due to its good surf conditions, Durban and North Beach is an ideal holiday and tourist destination. North Beach provides facilities for surfing , body boarding, paddle ski, skateboarding and plain swimming and sun bathing. During the festive season, the beaches are flooded by holidaymakers and tourists, camping out, braaing and revelling.North Beach has a number of restaurants in its immediate vicinity, the most significant of which is Joe Kools. Containing a restaurant, bar and nightclub overlooking the beach, Joe’s as it’s affectionately known, has been part of North beach for many years.
short distance to the east of the Dick King statue at the bottom of Gardiner Street is the Maritime museum. It is set on-board three South African ships - two tug boats, the Ulundi and the JR More, and a minesweeper, the SAS Durban. There are artefacts, photographs and memorabilia relating to Durbans long-standing relationship with the sea, and what better place to house such a museum, than on three seafaring vessels. As a result, the whole experience gives even the hardiest landlubber a taste of the sea.
This board is supposedly the only one of its kind in the world. At its headquarters in Umhlanga, visitors can watch a video presentation and shark dissection—hold your nose if you're sensitive to smells. For the more adventurous, there are early-morning trips out to sea in a Sharks Board ski-boat to observe firsthand how staff go about their daily servicing of nets off Durban's Golden Mile. Although the nets cover less than 10% of KwaZulu-Natal's coastline, some 1,200 sharks are caught in them every year. All live sharks are tagged and released.
St. Thomas' is located in the leafy suburb of Musgrave up on the Berea. It is 100 years old this year and is housed in a beautiful, old stone building. On Sundays there is Holy Communion . It is a welcoming parish, so whether you are a regular or on tour, you will not feel left out.
The three-domed Temple of Understanding is one of the most-visited tourist attractions in Durban. Located south of the city center in an Indian area known as Chatsworth, this Hare Krishna temple is capped with large domes of white and gold and enveloped by gold-dust-coated windows. Numerous 10-ft-/3-m-high pictures depict the life of Krishna, a Hindu deity. Cooks at its Hare Krishna Food for Life kitchen serve more than 1,000 meals a day to the poor and destitute in the city.
In the Riverside district, on the north bank of the Umgeni River, is the Umgeni River Bird Park On a network of paths running through the park visitors can observe a variety of indigenous and exotic (from Southeast Asia and Australia) species of birds, including lories, cockatoos and aras.
uShaka Marine World is a theme park located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It comprises 4 sections, uShaka Sea World, uShaka Wet 'n Wild, uShaka Beach and uShaka Village Walk. It is located on the strip of land between the beachfront and the harbour. It was the first phase in the redevelopment of the Durban Point into a new tourist and lifestyle hub of the city.
uShaka Sea World-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 all the way through to sharks and dolphins. The Aquarium is built to look like an old wreck. The Phamtom Ship contains a number of restaurants and cafes and serves as the entrance to the aquarium. The most notable of these restaurants is "The Cargo Hold" restaurant which contains a full wall sized aquarium containing a number of sharks which are visible from most of the dining areas.
uShaka Wet 'n Wild-This is the water park which contains many rides for the young and old. From the lazy river ride which goes through the ship wreck and past some tanks, to the adrenaline pumping high speed slides.There is a large grass area around the swimming pools where people can relax and tan if they have had too much of the slides.
uShaka Beach-This is a beach which has direct access from the amusement park. It boasts a large pier leading out into the ocean and pristine sand beaches.
uShaka Village Walk-The Village Walk is designed in an african theme. Restaurants, cafes and other shops can be find in the Village Walk.
uShaka Sea World-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 all the way through to sharks and dolphins. The Aquarium is built to look like an old wreck. The Phamtom Ship contains a number of restaurants and cafes and serves as the entrance to the aquarium. The most notable of these restaurants is "The Cargo Hold" restaurant which contains a full wall sized aquarium containing a number of sharks which are visible from most of the dining areas.
uShaka Wet 'n Wild-This is the water park which contains many rides for the young and old. From the lazy river ride which goes through the ship wreck and past some tanks, to the adrenaline pumping high speed slides.There is a large grass area around the swimming pools where people can relax and tan if they have had too much of the slides.
uShaka Beach-This is a beach which has direct access from the amusement park. It boasts a large pier leading out into the ocean and pristine sand beaches.
uShaka Village Walk-The Village Walk is designed in an african theme. Restaurants, cafes and other shops can be find in the Village Walk.
The Valley of a Thousand Hills, a beautiful region of gently rounded hills created since the Mesozoic era by the gradual recession of the Great Escarpment, extends along the Umgeni River between its outflow into the Indian Ocean, to the north of Durban, and the Nagle Dam to the east of Pietermaritzburg, which supplies Durban with water.The old road between Durban and Pietermaritzburg runs along the southern edge of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, an area with magnificent views. After passing Hillcrest and Botha's Hill it comes to Phe-Zulu, a typical Zulu village where visitors can see something of the traditional Zulu way of life including performances of tribal dances and a visit to a witch doctor. There are similar opportunities for visitors in nearby Assagay Park, which also has crocodiles, snakes and lizards as tourist attractions.