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THINGS TO DO AND SEE
KwaZulu Natal Tourism
South Africa's playground, KwaZulu-Natal has spectacular mountain ranges, miles and miles of golden beaches, battlefields and some of the best game reserves in the country. Every June and July, hundreds of thousands of sardines make their way up the coast, getting trapped in bays and coves, they beach themselves and create much excitement at this natural extravaganza.
10 “must do's” in Durban.
The problem with Durban is the fact that there is actually far too much to do... We've tried to make it easier by highlighting 10 activities in and around our magnificent city that we think are 'must do's'...
1. Dine with the Sharks!
No trip to Durban would be complete without a visit to Ushaka Marine World, the largest oceanarium in the Southern Hemisphere. Overlooking the Indian Ocean, this award winning design recreates a series of sunken ships with a mind boggling variety of marine life on display.
2. Durban Cathedral and Mosque
Situated in Cathedral Road off Dr Yusuf Dadoo (formerly Grey Street) lies the Emmanuel Roman Catholic cathedral with its virtual next door neighbour, the Juma Musjid Mosque. Both buildings are steeped in history. The cathedral opened its doors in 1904 and has marble carvings of Christ's crucifixion which were donated by Empress Eugenie as a memorial to her son the Prince Imperial who was killed in the Zulu War of 1879.
3. Botanic Gardens
Regarded by many as some of South Africa's most beautiful city parklands, the gardens provide a year round display of bold and contrasting colours surrounding the main walk from the tea garden to the entrance. The first seeds were laid in 1850 by the original curator Mr Mark Johnson McKen. Have a look at the Ernest Thorpe Orchid House, Cycad collection, Sunken Garden and the lake which is home to many bird species including pelicans.
Information Centre:
08h30 - 16h30 Mon-Sun
031 309 1170 / Fax (031) 309 1271
4. KZN Sharks Board
The Sharks Board is the only organisation of its kind in the world and a leader in shark conservation and research. It is the Sharks Board that maintain the nets that keep our main beaches safe for swimmers. At their headquarters in Umhlanga, you can find out all about these amazing creatures. Regular shark dissections are performed which provides a great opportunity to see exactly what goes into the belly of a shark! Visitors can also accompany the Sharks Board crew aboard their boat as they carry out early morning inspections of the nets.
Tel: +27 (0)31 5660400
1a Herrwood Drive
Umhlanga
KwaZulu-Natal
5. Up close with the dolphins!
Pods of 200+ dolphins frolic just off our North Coast and it's possible to get right in among them with a registered guide. The dolphins have a natural curiosity about humans and will approach your small boat so closely it's sometimes hard to tell who is watching who! This is an amazing experience where whale sharks and other marine life are also seen regularly but the dolphins are the stars of the show.
6. Experience Zulu culture
A trip to the Kingdom of the Zulu wouldn't be complete without an authentic Zulu experience. In the picturesque Valley of a Thousand Hills, you can visit a traditional village and spend the day immersed in this rich and colourful culture. Highlights include meeting with a Sangoma (traditional healer/spiritual guide), as well as witnessing brewing of traditional beer and thatching and home building. Relax and enjoy an authentic Zulu meal with your hosts.
7. Shop till you drop!
Gateway is more than a shopping centre. In this vast entertainment complex you will find cinemas, restaurants, a climbing wall, a wave house where you can practice surfing skills year round and even a skate park. This is a shopping trip the kids won't complain about!
Visit our Shopping page for more information on the rest of Durban's mall's and shopping experiences.
8. Go wild in the Bush
Everyone wants to see some wild animals on a trip to Africa and KZN is home to the Big Five of Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo. To see lions you'll have to travel a bit but a large variety of game (including rhino) can also be found a mere 45 minutes from the city centre.
Visit our Game Reserve page for information on more of Kwa-Zulu Natal's Reserves.
9. The highest bungee swing in the world!
Calling all adrenaline junkies! Oribi Gorge on KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast offers a variety of high altitude adventures from abseiling 110 metres down Lehr's waterfall to swinging across the top of the falls in the world's highest bungee swing. Or you can slide along a 120m steel cable across the gorge, 160m above the ground, on a wild aerial slide! Add in white water rafting on the Umzimkulu river, mountain bike trails, excellent surfing at the nearby beach, the possibility of seeing a leopard and we think we have adventure sports covered!
Oribi Gorge
10. Beaches, beaches, beaches
It's hard to choose a single beach when we have miles of coastline to choose from!
Everyone has their favourite beach and our reasons for loving them are diverse. It could be the great waves, the vibe, the white sand, the activities or the absence of other people. Suffice to say, there's enough beach for everyone and the Indian Ocean is warm and inviting all year round. Wherever you go in KZN, you won't be far from the beach of your dreams!
More on Durban's beaches
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