Botanical Gardens |
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The Durban Botanic Gardens (DBG) traces its origins to colonial times, when it was founded in 1849 for the introduction and trial of potentially useful commercial crops.
The gardens later developed collections of sub-tropical trees, palms and orchids. The Durban Botanic Gardens remains a classic botanic gardens, reflecting the universality of the plant kingdom. It has, for over 100 years, had a fine mixed arboretum of African, Asian and American trees.
The Gardens are a few minutes walk from the bustling Warwick Triangle, site of one of the largest retail medicinal plant markets in the country. The Gardens hosts approximately 500 000 visitors per year, many of whom are foreign tourists.
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City Hall |
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Durban City Hall is one of the more popular tourist attractions and is guaranteed to be rather interesting.
The City Hall is a very attractive building built in 1910. That means that this building has been standing for almost a hundred years now, thats pretty impressive. It was designed in Modern Renaissance style and is the most famous building in Durban.
Inside, the Natural Science Museum houses an unique range of stuffed animals, birds, reptiles and insects, as well as a dodo skeleton and South Africa's only ancient Egyptian mummy. The eThekeini Art Gallery upstairs has an amazing collection of South African art.
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Ushaka Seaworld/Dolphinarium |
The Durban’s Sea World moved in 2004 to its new premises in the UShaka Island theme park, between the southern end of the Golden Mile and Durban Point. The new Sea World is the worlds 5th largest marine theme park in the world. It exhibits 12 000 animals, predominantly from the western Indian Ocean, with the largest collection of sharks in the Southern Hemisphere. |
Golden Mile |
The Golden Mile or Golden 6km is a popular self guided walking tour. It received its name from the Portuguese explorers who referred to the sea sand along the coast in this area as the 'Sands of Gold'.
This walking tour normally commences at Natal Command, which is located at the corner of Argyle and Snell Parade. You need to walk in a southerly direction along Snell Parade, which later becomes Marine Parade.
Whilst walking down the Golden Mile:
Take note of the beaches - Battery, Snake Park, Bay of Plenty, North Beach, Dairy, Wedge, South & Addington
Visit the Snake Park
'Pop into' Mini-Town - miniature replicas of Durban's best known buildings.
Walk past the Sunken Gardens and Amphitheatre(opposite the North Beach Garden Court). There is normally a flea market in this area on Sundays.
Take note of the Bartholomew Diaz Statue
Visit the Ocean Action Centre and Time Warp Museum
Sea World is a 'must see' attraction
If you walk along the beachfront you will also notice Durban's famous Paddling Pools and the Little Top at South Beach
Have a ride on a Ricksha
Visit Funworld - aerial cableways, dodgems etc. |
Grey Street |
Grey Street is the teaming business and residential Indian sector of the Durban City centre, and is also the educational, cultural and business heart of the Natal Indian community. The significance of the area, in the life of the South African Indian community, can be gauged from the fact that up until the late 1930's, the they formed the largest racial grouping within the cities municipal boundaries. |
Old Fort |
Set in fine gardens, this model, old fort is a reconstruction of the basic defenses set up by the 27th Regiment, the Inniskiling Fusiliers. The original site was constructed to help protect the soldiers and the British population of the town from the Afrikaners who came and besieged Durban following their victory at the battle of Congella, in 1842. The Irishmen held out for a month when relief arrived from Grahamstown brought by the epic ride of Dick King. No admission. |
Snake Park |
Fitzsimon's Snake Park has around 120 different indigenous species of snakes, including mambas, cobras and puff adders, as well as crocodiles, iguanas and tortoises. At weekends and during the holiday seasons there are various demonstrations. Attached to the park are a snake research institute and a serum-collection station. |
Umgeni River Bird Park |
Spectacular waterfalls and lush vegetation, with birds out on perches, in walk-through aviaries and open paddocks, this little jewel is one of the finest bird parks in the world!
Come and see spectacular macaws and elegant flamingoes, and see how some of the world’s rarest birds live and breed. A viewing window will allow you to follow the activity in the baby room, where plump little chicks are reared by loving foster-parents. You’ll see the stately cranes, the comical toucans and loads more.
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