Durban Attractions

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.

The African Arts Centre sells Zulu arts and crafts (jewelry, baskets, wood and stone sculpture, pottery, woolen carpets and brightly colored textiles).

In Durban's northern district of Virginia are the Japanese Gardens, with curving wooden bridges, ponds, waterfalls and Japanese lanterns.

In the Diamond Cutting Works visitors can watch diamond-cutters at work.

Durban International Airport lies 15km/9mi south of central Durban. There is a shuttle bus service from the air terminal in the city center (corner of Smith and Aliwal Streets) to the airport.

Durban's bus services are run by the Durban Transport Management Board (DTMB). The central bus station is between Commercial and Pine Streets.

The DTMB's Mynah shuttle service runs between the North and South Beaches and Albert Park by way of Smith Street (returning on West Street) and also to the Botanical Gardens. There is a bus every 5 minutes on weekdays between 6.30am and 5.25pm; less frequently at other times.

DTMB also runs city tours, harbor tours and a variety of excursions (reservations and starting-point at pavilion on Marine Parade).

Durban's old railroad station, in use from 1894 to 1980, has been converted into the Durban Exhibition Centre. It has more than 11,000sq m/118,400sq ft of covered exhibition space and 15,000sq m/18,000sq yd of grounds, together with restaurants, bars and a large parking lot for 1,000 vehicles. There are permanent exhibitions with audio-visual displays in Hall 4.

The Killie Campbell Africana Museum, housed in Dr Killie Campbell's old home on Berea Hill northwest of the city center, contains his important library of works on the history of Zululand and Natal, the Mashu Ethnology Collection of Zulu arts and crafts, and fine furniture.

Kingsmead Stadium is the venue of international rugby matches and track and field events and the finishing point of the Comrades' Marathon.

Mitchell Park, in the Windermere district, is one of Durban's oldest parks, with old trees, beautiful flowerbeds and a mini zoo. There is a bird house containing large numbers of indigenous, exotic and rare birds.

Adjoining Mitchell Park is Robert Jameson Park, which in September has a glorious display of more than 200 different roses.

Set in beautiful gardens is the Old Fort where the British population of Durban took refuge in 1824 during the month-long siege of the town by the voortrekkers. Adjoining is Warriors' Gate, which contains a small collection of militaria.

The Pigeon Valley Park, west of Durban's center, is a pleasant area for walkers and bird-watchers.

The port of Durban is the most important in South Africa and one of the largest on the continent. It brings in supplies for the mining and industrial areas on the Witwatersrand and exports mainly sugar, fruit and maize. It has over 15km/9mi of quays and a storage capacity of 317,265cu.m/414,967cu.yd. Thanks to its port Durban has developed into an important industrial center (sugar, textiles, dyestuffs, chemicals, foodstuffs).

The General Post Office, built in 1885, was Durban's first town hall.

Built originally in 1853 St Paul's was rebuilt in 1906 in the neo- Gothic style.

The walls of the beautiful interior have commemorative plaques to some of Durban's early settlers plus stained-glass chancel windows.

The ornate Temple Of Understanding with its gold-tipped steeples and silver roof is one of Durban's most unique buildings.

Lying in southwestern Durban this Hare Krishna temple has conducted tours. A vegetarian restaurant is also open to public.

An old station building in Commercial Road has been converted into the Workshop, an attractive shopping center with restaurants and cafés.

uShaka is Africa's largest marine theme park. uShaka features fresh and sea water, lush vegetation, natural materials and a recreated 1920's cargo ship wreck into a world of sea and marine life.

Whysall's Camera Museum illustrates the development of photography from 1841 to the present day with over 3800 photographs and a collection of old cameras.

A popular bathing resort is Ballitoville (or Ballito for short), 45km/28mi north of Durban. It has a beautiful beach protected by shark nets.

The Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, area 214ha/529ac, contains a variety of indigenous plants, numerous birds, antelopes and rhinos.

The Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, area 6sq.km/2.25sq.mi, offers numerous scenic walks and viewpoints. It is very popular with bird-watchers.

Near the reserve's entrance, the Umgeni River plunges into a deep wooded gorge.

The Marianhill monastery, in the slum quarter of Pinetown, was founded in 1882 by a Trappist abbot, Franz Pfanner, and was taken over in 1909 by the Marianhill missionary order. It has developed into an important training center for Black South Africans.

This municipal nature reserve, area 50ha/125ac, lies near Westville, on the western outskirts of the expanding Durban conurbation. There are a number of short hiking trails which allow visitors to see the park's flora (mainly of indigenous plants) and its large numbers of birds.

South of Verulam a road branches off R 102 and runs west to the Phoenix Park Settlement, where Mahatma Gandhi established a farm during his stay in Natal. His house now contains a small museum on his life and work.

Salt Rock is a quiet little resort with a hotel and a camping site. On the coast are piers and towers built for the benefit of anglers. Salt Rock Country Club has a wide range of sports facilities, including a boccia pitch, tennis courts, billiard tables and swimming pools.

Shaka's Rock has hotels and a sheltered beach, and there is a beautiful hiking trail running parallel to the coast. This is said to have been a favorite spot of the Zulu king Shaka.

Tongaat (pop. 50,000) is an important center of the sugar industry.

Tongaat was founded in 1849 by British immigrants. The town, named after the Tongaat River, was originally called Victoria. It preserves a few buildings from its early days. Also of interest is the Shree Marriamen, a tiny Hindu temple on the main street. The golf course, fringed by palms and surrounded by green fields of sugarcane, attracts golfers from far and wide.

Tongaat Beach has a hotel and numbers of holiday apartments. The beaches are protected by shark nets.

The nearby Crocodile Creek crocodile farm is open daily to visitors.

The bathing resort of Umdloti, at the mouth of the Mdloti River, has one of the finest beaches in the area. The river takes its name from a wild tobacco plant which grows along its banks.

15km/9mi south of Tongaat is Verulam (pop. 30,000). Founded in 1850 by Methodists, it is the oldest town in the province, with a majority of Indians in the population.