Bergtheil Museum
This 19th-century farmhouse, a national monument, contains an interesting collection of photographs, documents and artifacts relating to 1848 German settlers. Monday-Friday 8 am-1 pm and 2-5 pm. 16 Queens Ave., off Kings Avenue, Westville. Phone 203-7107.
Campbell Collections
The Campbell Collections comprise the Killie Campbell Africana Library, Mashu Museum of Ethnology, William Campbell Furniture and Art Collection and the Jo Thorpe Collection of African Art. The museum is a must-see if you want to understand the English influence in Durban. Anthropologist Dr. Margaret Roach Campbell created one of South Africa's finest private libraries of Africana. The daughter of sugar baron Sir Marshall Campbell, she also collected superb examples of African culture, including musical instruments, beadwork, pottery, weapons and costumes. A set of 250 paintings of tribal dress by local artist Barbara Tyrell completes the Mashu Museum of Ethnology. Tuesday and Thursday 8 am-1 pm. Guided tours by appointment. 229 Marriott Road (at corner of Marriott and Essenwood roads, Berea), Durban. Phone 207-3711.
Durban Cultural and Documentation Centre
Documents the history of the Indian community. Includes information about indentured Indians and Gandhi in South Africa and has displays of cultural artifacts, paintings, culinary art, traditional clothing and jewelry. The staff is very helpful, and the center is the occasional venue for lectures and concerts featuring traditional Indian music. Open Monday-Friday 7:30 am-4 pm. Groups of 10 or more should call in advance. Corner of Epsom Road and Derby Street, Durban. Phone 309-7559.
KwaMuhle Museum
If you want to know what life was like for Africans under apartheid, visit KwaMuhle. This local landmark, built in 1929, was headquarters of the notorious Native Administration Department, the place where white policy-makers controlled the lives of the African population in the city. The name, KwaMuhle (Zulu for "place of the good one"), was given to the first manager of the department, who reputedly rescued and repatriated 7,000 Zulu men who would have been stranded in South Africa's Transvaal at the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War.
Despite its name, cruel and inhumane treatment was meted out to hundreds of African men who went to the department seeking permits to work in the city. The museum features permanent and temporary exhibits. It's a must-see for any visitor, and don't be put off by its location, which is across the street from a huge parking lot where hundreds of taxi-vans gather to pick up city workers and shuttle them to various neighborhoods. Monday-Saturday 8:30 am-4 pm. Free. There's a gift shop on-site, and it features a wonderful selection of area handicrafts, including a boxed Nativity scene with Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus outfitted in Zulu beads and sackcloth. 130 Ordnance Road, Durban. Phone 300-6156.
Natural Science Museum
Vast arrays of displays are featured, including a life-size reconstruction of Tyrannosaurus rex, a reconstructed dodo and the mummy of Peten-Amen, who lived in Egypt some 2,300 years ago. Focus is mainly on animals, birds and reptiles. Educational programs and films are presented from time to time. Open Monday-Saturday 8:30 am-4 pm, Sunday and public holidays 11 am-4 pm. First Floor, Durban City Hall, Smith Street, Durban. Phone 311-2256.
|
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:
|
°C
|
|
Wind Chill:
|
°C
|
|
Humidity:
|
%
|
|
|
