|
|
Durban - South Africa World Cup Host City
|
Durban is South Africa's most popular holiday spot and it's easy to see why. Located on the warm Indian Ocean on South Africa's east coast, Durban has miles of soft sand, fantastic swimming beaches, great surfing, top game reserves, and warm weather year round. Also referred to as "Surf City" life in Durban is similar to one long, enjoyable holiday. Durban has a history of hosting major sporting events and has excellent urban vibes including a mix of design, art, music and food - along with fascinating cultural influences. There is a good chance that with all of the attractions, you may never run out of things do to.
|
|
Adventure Sports
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, why not try the fastest growing adventure sport in the world-cyclone kite boarding, at Country Club Beach? The facilitators will kit you out with everything you need and Durban will supply the sea and the breeze. Get close to sharks at Ushaka Marine World, where shark cage diving offers a further adrenalin rush. Or go one better with a scuba dive at Aliwal Shoal - no cage this time. It's one of the top 10 dive sites in the world and famed for its ragged-tooth sharks. Splash through the waves as you take to the beach at Ballito on horseback; or enjoy a full-day outing with a bareback ocean ride and a picnic. Swop four legs for four wheels, and cross streams and climb rocky paths through the bush on a quad bike with River Quad Trails. Surprisingly, you can even pack in a couple of hours of adrenalin action at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping at La Lucia Ridge, not too far from Durban's main entertainment drag. It has a powerful wavehouse and an indoor climbing wall, which at 23 meters is the highest in the world (but great for beginners and experts alike). Always wanted to master a 4x4? You can do that too. Plus, there are fast go-karts and a Tony Hawke-designed skate park. Head to Shongweni Dam for a world-renowned rock climbing challenge. It's described as the most awe-inspiring piece of rock in KZN, with ratings of 5.13 (US) and 8 (France). If you must have your bungee fix, take the 100-metre plunge into Oribi Gorge just an hour south of Durban. Get together a group of enthusiasts and charter your own boat or organize a deep-sea fishing trip with Durban Boat Charter Association for a memorable experience on the Indian Ocean.
|
Beaches
Many of Durban's beaches have achieved Blue Flag status - an international award for high standards of environmental management and safety. Look for the main beaches that are protected by shark nets and have shower and toilet facilities. Lifeguards are on duty for most of the day and will position two beacons to indicate the safest bathing area. The Blue Flag beaches include:
Bay of Plenty: North Beach and South Beach - they're ideal for swimming, boogie boarding and surfing, and are surrounded by hotels and holiday apartments. Curio sellers line the pavements, so this is a good place to buy mementos. A promenade runs all the way from Snake Park Beach in the north to Addington in the South, and is a great space for walking or jogging.
Addington: it is close to the harbour entrance and is more protected, being at the southern end of Durban's Bay. Hence the waves are gentler, making this the ideal beach to learn how to surf.
Anstey's: this beach gets the full force of the sea swells, located as it is on the Bluff south of the city. Make sure you're a strong swimmer if the surf is big.
Umhlanga Rocks Main Beach: an upmarket holiday resort beach lined with luxury hotels, it is about 15 minutes drive from Durban, and a fun spot with a holiday vibe. When you've had enough of walking Umhlanga's long promenade, head to the village; it teems with restaurants, pavement cafes, pubs and clubs.
Umhlanga Rocks Bronze Beach : avoid the crowds with your own secluded patch of sand; it's quieter and more secluded than Umhlanga's Main Beach.
|
Eating Out
You'll find every imaginable type of cuisine in Durban, from simple to sophisticated, with African, Asian and European influences all thrown into the mix. Chefs have every essential ingredient on tap: fresh seafood, herbs, Midlands beef, Karoo lamb, organic vegetables, exotic spices and subtropical fruits. Havana at Suncoast Casino has great views of the beach to accompany its imaginative dishes. Café Fish at the yacht basin on Victoria Embankment is known for its seafood, and you can hear the waves in the harbor splashing nearby while you eat. 9th Avenue Bistro in Morningside will give you award-winning, innovative meals and memorable desserts. If it's a well-matured steak you want, Butcher Boys in Florida Road is the place to go. In the Hillcrest area, Aubergine has an excellent reputation for its stylish food, while the nearby Makaranga Hotel offers a refined setting overlooking beautiful gardens. For a more casual meal, there are many inexpensive restaurants and every type of takeaway food, including pizzas, burgers, Thai, Chinese and good old fish and chips. You have to try South African wine - why not take home a few bottles for friends and family? Predictably, curries are very popular in Durban given its thriving Indian community, but beware: at times there's only spicy, very spicy, and extra spicy. Sometimes it's best to ask for extra-mild. Don't go home without trying a Bunny Chow, a half loaf of bread filled with succulent curry. It's messy, but great value finger food, especially after a night on the town. The Roma Revolving Restaurant gives you the best views of the city 32 floors up as it slowly revolves. Arrive at sunset for cocktails so you get to see the city light up before tucking into classic Italian cuisine.
|
Attractions & Activities
Durban's balmy weather makes it ideal for those who love the great outdoors, so come and enjoy sunny days with temperatures in the mid-20 degrees Celsius (75-85 Fahrenheit) during the 2010 World Cup finals. It's easy to move around the city to because everything is within a half-hour bus or taxi ride. Head to the ocean for a fishing charter or chill out on a sundowner cruise. Take in the marine life at Ushaka Marine World and burn up some energy at Water World. For some R&R (rest and relaxation), escape to one of the many green spaces, parks and conservancies surrounding the city. Fly a microlite and see what other seductive charms the city offers, like some of the best surf and superb golf courses that are equal to the best on the African continent. This is one of the most vibrant and creative places in the country. Get caught up in the exuberance of the Red Eye Art evenings. Join the beautiful people for the Durban July, the country's top horse-racing fashion extravaganza. Turn up the heat as you taste Africa, Asia and Europe in the hands of inspired chefs, then burn it all off on a dance floor that boasts layers of modern sounds atop earthy African rhythms. And don't forget to try a samoosa and a bunny chow, Indian delicacies renowned in this part of the world.
|
Entertainment and Leisure
Day or night, Durban is always ready to party. Try Florida Road, the beachfront, the Point, Gateway shopping centre and all the friendly little towns along the coastline. If pubs and clubs are your thing, watch the passing parade from Joe Kools overlooking North Beach. Bean Bag Bohemia is home to eccentricity and decadence. Roman Lounge in Stamford Hill Road is a noted gay and lesbian club, while Vacca Matta at the Suncoast Casino is the place to see and be seen. Durban's arts scene pulses with live music venues, theatres and cinemas all over the city if you need a break from football, football and more football. Catch happy hour at the Jazz Club at Howard College every Wednesday (the fun starts in the early evening). The Rainbow Jazz Club in Pinetown was one of the first in South Africa to open to all races and is a legend in its own right. The KZN Philharmonic hosts leading international conductors and musicians at the City Hall and various other venues. The Playhouse in the city centre is home to spectacular stage shows; the Catalina at Wilson's Wharf has locally inspired comedy acts and theatre; and Elizabeth Sneddon at KZN University hosts arts festivals. Bring your picnic basket and dance to the music at The Barnyard, you'll enjoy a novel and lively night out at Gateway shopping centre in La Lucia. When it comes to events during 2010, look out for Pro Surf competitions at North Beach and for the Durban July Handicap on the first Saturday in July, the latter is South Africa's most glamorous, glitzy fashion and horse-racing event. The Red Eye Art evenings are legendary as the city's artists transform part of the city with installations and exhibits.
|
History & Culture
Many events, cultures and nations have shaped Durban, and you'll find more than a dozen museums that tell its unique story. Go back a few million years at the Geology Display Centre at the University of Natal. At the Natural Science Museum in the City Hall see how mammals, birds, reptiles and fish enjoyed the region a few thousand years ago. There's even a real Egyptian mummy to be observed. The Indian community plays a major role in the local economy and culture. Follow in the Footsteps of Gandhi, who devised his philosophy of passive resistance here in the suburb of Phoenix. Nearby is the home of John L Dube, the first president of the ANC. See how 19th-century colonists lived in Durban at the Old House Museum in St Andrew's Street, Albert Park. Check out military memorabilia at the Warrior's Gate MOTH museum. Phezulu in the Valley of 1 000 Hills is a great introduction to the traditional Zulu way of life. See what present-day life is like in an urban township by taking a shebeen tour (a shebeen is a local township pub and eating place, often with live musical entertainment). At Warwick Triangle, you'll find one of the largest retail medicinal plant markets in the country. Explore the Shembe Church at Ebuhleni near Inanda. It's the largest of its kind in KwaZulu-Natal, with over two million members. Experience Durban's creative spirit at one of its many art galleries. There's the main Durban Art Gallery in the City Hall, showcasing a mix of local and international pieces; the NSA Gallery in Bulwer Park with its garden restaurant and crafts shop (great for gifts); and the modern Kizo at Gateway, displaying the works of leading contemporary local artists. The Maritime Museum tells some of the history of Africa's busiest port through displays and a couple of vessels that you can climb into.
|
Natural Attractions
Durban is green all year round, thanks to its subtropical weather. To see the city and coastline at its best, head to La Lucia Ridge, preferably early on a clear morning. Look south to view the beach arcing around Durban's bay. See a different angle of the same view by looking north from atop the Bluff at the harbor entrance. Go for an early morning walk along Umhlanga Rocks paved beachfront walkway (North Coast) and you may see dolphins surfing the waves just offshore. Also at Umhlanga Rocks is Hawaan Forest Estate, one of the few left in South Africa. Head further north to Thomson's Bay and walk through the hole in the rocks to the secluded coves - a great place for a lunchtime picnic. The Umgeni River estuary is also a popular picnic spot and launch point for keen canoeists. At low tide the shallows are exposed and thousands of birds, including terns and pelicans, gather to feast. Get close to nature and birdlife by traversing the boardwalk through the Beachwood mangroves on the north side of Blue Lagoon. The Botanic Gardens close to the city is Durban's oldest man-made nature attraction, established as it was in 1851. At Pigeon Valley Park in Glenwood see the largest known colony of the rare Natal elm. The Bluff on the south of the harbor has walking trails and bird hides, making for a great way to spend a laid-back afternoon. Take a sunset cruise around the harbor for a skyline that's reminiscent of Manhattan. For the reverse angle, have dinner at the Roma revolving restaurant. See Durban's leafy suburbs in Kloof and Hillcrest and the countryside in late afternoon at Botha's Hill and Valley of 1 000 Hills. Stop near Heidi's Farm Stall for the view east over the Inanda Dam, then drive a few kilometers further and look west for a spectacular African sunset. If you're a golfer, don't miss a game at beautiful Zimbali on the North Coast or the spectacular new Cotswold in Hillcrest.
|
Surrounding Areas
Durban is the gateway to KwaZulu-Natal, where you can swim in subtropical seas in the morning and stand on top of the 3 000-metre Drakensberg Mountains, four hours later. This is the home of the mighty Zulus and you'll soon understand why they called it "heaven". The coast has a mixture of uninterrupted beaches and rocky coves splashed by the Indian Ocean. To the north are spectacular Big Five game reserves, subtropical marine reefs and the *iSimangaliso (previously Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park World Heritage Site. To the east is the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, also a World Heritage site and the highest range in Africa (this side of Kilimanjaro). To the far south is the rugged Wild Coast with stretches of uninhabited indigenous dunes and forest, and excellent fishing opportunities. It must be noted, the province has one of the highest ratios in the world of area under conservation. KwaZulu-Natal is rich in culture and history. You can see battlefields from 100 years ago in the Midlands or ancient 5 000-year-old artifacts in the Drakensberg caves. There are many places to experience Zulu culture, and a half-hour drive from the city centre will take you back in time to a traditional way of life. The fertile Midlands are only an hour inland, and some of the best produce in the country comes from its rich pastures. If you're a meat eater, you must try a juicy steak or local boerewors (farmer's sausage). The area also gives expression to its inhabitants creativity, hence the Midlands Meander which showcases over 100 craft shops and galleries.
|
Wildlife
KwaZulu-Natal is world-renowned for its nature and conservation efforts on both land and sea. Take a boat trip with the Sharks Board to learn more about these predators of the deep, and you may be lucky enough to see dolphins close up. The Sardine Run could rival the spectacle of the World Cup when it hits the beaches of the South Coast and Durban. It's a natural phenomenon you won't see anywhere else in the world, and it usually happens every June and July. Kilometer upon kilometer of the shoals of these 20cm fish, seek refuge in shallow waters from sharks, dolphins and other marine predators. Crowds throng the beaches to scoop up the silvery bounty in baskets, buckets and even skirts. Take a boat trip to see the action or get really close on a scuba dive. Don't miss CROW (the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife) in Yellowwood Park. Established 25 years ago, this professional organization is KZN's wild animal hospital where animals are treated, rehabilitated and returned to nature. Get personal with the world's longest snake, an 11-metre reticulated python at the Snake Park on the beachfront. See a zoo housing birds, reptiles and small mammals at the top of Florida Road at Mitchell Park. Kloof Gorge in Kloof is one of many nature reserves managed by KZN Wildlife and abounds with the area's birdlife. KwaZulu-Natal is a leading conservation area packed with major game parks, all of them no more than three hours away. In the north are Hluhluwe/Umfolozi and the *iSimangaliso (previously Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park World Heritage Site. Inland is the mighty uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, another World Heritage Site.
|
Local Map of Durban
Map of Durban, South Africa
*Click on map to enlarge
|
|
View All South Africa World Cup Host Cities online.
Check Out our South Africa World Cup Stadiums page for statistics about all of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Venues.
View our South Africa World Cup Host City Distance page to view the distance (in miles) between the Host Cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa - Information on the Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Packages and World Cup Tickets that we'll have to offer.
|
