10 Must-See Attractions in Durban
Hub of water sports, Great White Shark lore and bunny chow, Durban is a superb city and popular destination in South Africa. A host city for the successful 2010 FIFA World Cup, the KwaZulu-Natal metropolis is home to well over three million people. Durban’s main lures are pristine coastal areas that serve the international surfer community, a dynamic multicultural populace and a beautiful subtropical climate.
These ten must-see attractions help a great deal as well.
10. BAT Centre
This bohemian arts and culture community centre is strongly representative of a movement in contemporary Durban. The BAT Centre is very much a physical incarnation of a grassroots push to support local talent in a variety of disciplines. In this regard, the craft harbour off Victoria Embankment is terrific.
9. The Berea
The Berea overlooks Durban and the Indian Ocean at-large and serves as a perfect photo-op site. The lofty neighborhood is one of the traditional bastions of expensive real estate in the city.
8. Natural Science Museum
Durban’s Natural Science Museum is a good place to get in touch with the legacy of KwaZulu-Natal province. The facility is diminutive but nonetheless, has some wonderful fossils and ancient artifacts on display.
7. City Hall
Durban City Hall is undeniably the most prominent colonial landmark in the superb city. Built at the turn of the 20th century in veritable Edwardian style, the city hall is very much a relic of the past in modern South Africa but still valuable as a cultural and historic attraction.
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6. Botanic Gardens
Over half a million visitors pass through Durban’s lush Botanic Gardens every year, which makes it one of the top attractions in the city. Originally set up in 1849 to test potential cash crops, the facility now boasts a massive medicinal plant market and notable collections of orchids, cycads and palms.
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5. Moses Mabhida Stadium
Easily one of the standout hosts of the memorable 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Moses Mabhida Stadium’s arch rises gracefully above the Durban skyline. The now multi-purpose facility will serve the city well in the decades to come, certainly as the lynchpin of the Kings Park Sporting Precinct.
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4. Umgeni River Bird Park
One Durban gem truly for the birds is Umgeni River Bird Park. Puns aside, this nature reserve is spectacular and well worth the short 7.5 km trip outside the city center. The lush, scenic milieu is home to owls, cranes, vultures, hornbills, storks and scores of other colorful creatures.
Photo
3. uShaka Marine World
As a major world port, beach and coastal city, it only makes sense for Durban to have a first-class aquarium and marine park. Enter uShaka, a phenomenal theme park for the entire family with all the requisite attractions in tow. From dolphin shows to a “waterworld” park, restaurants to thrill rides, uShaka is a complete destination. The aquarium has to rank as the top draw however. Only four others in the world outrank it in overall area.
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2. Gateway
One peek at Durban’s Gateway website mission statement is all you need to know about this remarkable “Theatre of Shopping”: Gateway’s vision is to remain the greatest entertainment and shopping complex in the Southern Hemisphere.
No mere boast either. The massive leisure attraction pulls it off with close to 400 shops, myriad restaurants, IMAX screens a sports arena and much, much more. A major Durban hub, without question.
Photo
1. The Golden Mile
Another nerve center of Durban is The Golden Mile. This pre-eminent strip of urban beachfront between ocean and skyline is one of the best on the planet. The gateway to uShaka Marine World and Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World may not offer the posh privacy of the nearby Umhlanga coast but nonetheless, is where the action is in this remarkable city.
Check out superb rates on hotels all over South Africa.
These ten must-see attractions help a great deal as well.
10. BAT Centre
This bohemian arts and culture community centre is strongly representative of a movement in contemporary Durban. The BAT Centre is very much a physical incarnation of a grassroots push to support local talent in a variety of disciplines. In this regard, the craft harbour off Victoria Embankment is terrific.
9. The Berea
The Berea overlooks Durban and the Indian Ocean at-large and serves as a perfect photo-op site. The lofty neighborhood is one of the traditional bastions of expensive real estate in the city.
8. Natural Science Museum
Durban’s Natural Science Museum is a good place to get in touch with the legacy of KwaZulu-Natal province. The facility is diminutive but nonetheless, has some wonderful fossils and ancient artifacts on display.
7. City Hall
Durban City Hall is undeniably the most prominent colonial landmark in the superb city. Built at the turn of the 20th century in veritable Edwardian style, the city hall is very much a relic of the past in modern South Africa but still valuable as a cultural and historic attraction.
Photo
6. Botanic Gardens
Over half a million visitors pass through Durban’s lush Botanic Gardens every year, which makes it one of the top attractions in the city. Originally set up in 1849 to test potential cash crops, the facility now boasts a massive medicinal plant market and notable collections of orchids, cycads and palms.
Photo
5. Moses Mabhida Stadium
Easily one of the standout hosts of the memorable 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Moses Mabhida Stadium’s arch rises gracefully above the Durban skyline. The now multi-purpose facility will serve the city well in the decades to come, certainly as the lynchpin of the Kings Park Sporting Precinct.
Photo
4. Umgeni River Bird Park
One Durban gem truly for the birds is Umgeni River Bird Park. Puns aside, this nature reserve is spectacular and well worth the short 7.5 km trip outside the city center. The lush, scenic milieu is home to owls, cranes, vultures, hornbills, storks and scores of other colorful creatures.
Photo
3. uShaka Marine World
As a major world port, beach and coastal city, it only makes sense for Durban to have a first-class aquarium and marine park. Enter uShaka, a phenomenal theme park for the entire family with all the requisite attractions in tow. From dolphin shows to a “waterworld” park, restaurants to thrill rides, uShaka is a complete destination. The aquarium has to rank as the top draw however. Only four others in the world outrank it in overall area.
Photo
2. Gateway
One peek at Durban’s Gateway website mission statement is all you need to know about this remarkable “Theatre of Shopping”: Gateway’s vision is to remain the greatest entertainment and shopping complex in the Southern Hemisphere.
No mere boast either. The massive leisure attraction pulls it off with close to 400 shops, myriad restaurants, IMAX screens a sports arena and much, much more. A major Durban hub, without question.
Photo
1. The Golden Mile
Another nerve center of Durban is The Golden Mile. This pre-eminent strip of urban beachfront between ocean and skyline is one of the best on the planet. The gateway to uShaka Marine World and Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World may not offer the posh privacy of the nearby Umhlanga coast but nonetheless, is where the action is in this remarkable city.
Check out superb rates on hotels all over South Africa.
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