Bust of Gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi worked as a lawyer in Durban for more than 20 years. A bust of him is right inside the door leading to the Tourist Junction. 160 Pine St., Durban.
City Hall
Completed in 1910, this structure is an example of Edwardian neo-Baroque architecture, and with its distinctive dome, resembles the Belfast City Hall. Inside, you'll find polished wooden floors, intricate stained glass, wrought-iron balustrades, marble pillars and ornate arches. On the second floor of the building is the Durban Art Gallery, the setting for international and South African art collections. Guided tours can be arranged. The Natural Science Museum is also housed in the building. West Street, Durban. Phone 311-111.
De Gama Clock
The Portuguese community installed the clock in 1897 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first sight of Durban by the famous Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama, in 1497. Take a close look at the dragons, owls and the many other Victorian accessories that adorn the clock. You'll find the clock on the bayside of the Victoria Embankment at a midpoint between Jonsson and Mona roads.
Dick King Statue
On Gardiner Street is the equestrian statue of Dick King, commemorating his 600-mi/966-km ride to Grahamstown in 1842 to advise the British that Durban was under siege. King Street, Kings Hall, Kings Mansion, Kingsway, Kingsmead Stadium, Kingsborough and King's Ford are named after him.
Maydon Wharf Sugar Terminal
At the western end of the Durban bay are three enormous silos that hold as much as 500,000 tons of refined sugar—you can't miss them. Sugar from these silos is loaded onto cargo ships and transported from Durban's harbor to destinations all over the world. No visitor to the city should miss the opportunity to take a guided tour of the terminal—sugar is to Durban what gold is to Johannesburg. Open Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Tours at the following times: 8:30-9:45 am, 10-11:15 am, 11:30 am-12:45 pm and 2-3:15 pm. 57 Maydon Road, Durban. Phone 301-0331.
Rickshaw-pullers
The colorful rickshaws that you see along the beachfront are almost a landmark in and of themselves. The role of the rickshaw-puller in Durban has changed with time, from that of providing everyday transport to tourist attraction. Sugar magnate Sir Walter Campbell brought them to the area in 1893. He needed a way to transport his wife around. By 1904, as many as 2,000 rickshaw-pullers operated in Durban, ferrying workers and shoppers with their purchases. However, between 1962 and 1977, rickshaws gradually began to disappear. Today, less than two dozen operate along the beachfront and none in the city. Nevertheless, a short jaunt in one of these man-drawn carriages delights children and adults alike.
The Cenotaph
Located outside City Hall, The Cenotaph is a 36-ft/11-m obelisk that's dedicated to fallen World War I soldiers. Made of granite with ceramic decorations of angels carrying the spirit of a fallen warrior, the warrior's tomb and a sarcophagus bearing the name of the dead are on the top step below the obelisk.
The Royal Hotel
The Royal is a quintessential landmark in Durban. It has undergone a number of transformations since it opened in 1842. The first Royal was made of wattle and daub, and the walls were strengthened with stones. In 1848, Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria, stayed in the hotel. After his visit, the name changed to the Royal Hotel. The Royal was rebuilt in 1870, then again in 1880, and further changes were made in 1956. Cecil Rhodes, Mark Twain, Paul Kruger, Bobby and Edward Kennedy, and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York are among the prominent guests who have stayed there. 267 Smith St., Durban. Phone 689-2221. http://www.theroyal.co.za.
|
Durban Scheduled Tours
 Durban Scheduled Tours. Read More
Durban Accommodation
 Durban Accommodation. Read More
Top Destinations
Cape Town Hotels
With Cape Town's spectacular geography and its amazing vibe it is not hard to see why it is consistently voted amongst the world's best cities. It is also South Africa's oldest city, the point at which South Africa as we know it today started.Read More...
Garden Route Hotels
Travel to South Africa and visit the Garden Route. The Garden Route is one of the most scenic parts of South Africa. Situated on the Southern Cape Coast almost midway between Cape Town...Read More...
Pilanesberg Game Lodges
The crater of a long extinct volcano is the setting of Pilanesberg National Park - a fascinating alkaline complex produced by volcanic eruptions some 1300 million years ago...Read More...
Addo Elephant National Park
The first settlers in the Addo region immediately decimated the big elephant herds, because they frequently devastated their fields and plantations. So the number of elephants continuously decreased...Read More...
Johannesburg Hotels
A city of astonishing contrasts, a huge metropolis where opulent wealth and desperate poverty live side by side: Johannesburg is the intriguing, dynamic heart of this turbulent country...Read More...
Day Tours and Scheduled Tours
Scheduled Tours and Day Tours from selected african destinations...Read More...
Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park is the primary destination in South Africa for many international tourists. Each year more than half a million visitors are registered...Read More...
Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe is a Big Five game reserve covering some 75,000 hectare. It is one of the largest game reserves in South Africa.The rich diversity of vegetation ensures a wide range of game and the topography offers ideal game viewing opportunities.Read More...
|
|
Fact FileEstablished: 1835
Estimated Population: 3,5
Ethnic Groups: Black 68.3%, Indian or Asians19.90%, White 8.98%, Coloured 2.82%,
Literacy: 84.6%
Government: Republic
Points of interest: Durban Waterfront is host to many events including the annual and prestigious Mr Price Pro Surfing Championship; City Hall which was completed in 1910; The old station which currently houses Tourist Junction and was built in 1892; Elephant House at 745 Ridge Road which is the oldest house in Durban having been built in 1850.
GeographyBeing situated on the south-eastern seaboard of South Africa in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban is adjacent to the Indian Ocean in the east, and is bordered by the Drakensberg Mountains in the west and to the south lies the Atlantic Ocean.
Durban Weather
|
Durban, South Africa
|
|
|
|
Temp:
|
20°C
|
|
Wind Chill:
|
20°C
|
|
Humidity:
|
73%
|
|
|
