Durban - Beach Front

Sea World closed to allow the animals to move to the new attraction - uShaka Marine World.

In the Amphitheater Gardens, with their subtropical plants, ponds and fountains, a flea market is held on the last Sunday in the month and an art market on alternate Sundays.

Durban's main beaches, from north to south, are the Blue Lagoon, Laguna, Tekweni, Country Club, Oasis, Dunes, Battery, North, South and Addington Beaches. There are life guards on duty on these beaches from 8am to 5pm, and it is advisable to bathe only within the marked-out areas. Some sections are reserved for bathers, while others are for surfers.

Fitzsimon's Snake Park has about 120 different indigenous species of snakes, including mambas, cobras and puff adders, as well as crocodiles, iguanas and tortoises. On weekends and during the holiday seasons there are various demonstrations. Attached to the park are a snake research institute and a serum-collection station.

Beyond Sea World, to the north, is a small amusement park, with roundabouts, swimming pools and a chair-lift.

In the section of the seafront called Marine Parade, with Snell Parade to the north and Erskine Parade to the south, are numerous high-rise hotels and blocks of flats, restaurants and bars. With its striking skyline and constant hustle and bustle, the Golden Mile is very reminiscent of Miami Beach.

To the west of Minitown is an ice rink where skates can be hired.

The Little Top Alfresco Theatre on South Beach is the venue, during the holiday season, of a variety of events for the entertainment of holidaymakers, including beauty and talent contests.

Minitown is a miniature city with replicas of Durban's best-known buildings on a scale of 1:25. All the models, including the ships and buses, were made in Minitown itself. The first model was completed in 1963.

Near the Sea World Aquarium stand Durban's much photographed rickshaw men in their colorful costumes and imposing headdresses. In the 1930s there were still hundreds of them plying all over the city: now there are only 10-20, offering short trips along the Beach Front.

In Gillespie Street, which runs parallel to Marine Parade, is The Wheel, a modern shopping and entertainment complex, with more than 140 shops, restaurants, bars and cinemas. Over the entrance is a Ferris wheel.