Delightful Durban is the largest city of the vast and varied
KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. A coastal port with a more
than equable sub-tropical climate and wide golden beaches washed by
the warm Indian Ocean, Durban is a holidaymaker's paradise and
gateway to the dozens of seaside resort towns of the coast to the
south and north of the city. The 'Golden Mile' central beach area,
flanked by numerous high-rise hotels, stretches for four miles
(6km) and is fronted by promenades and entertainment facilities
such as a skatepark, flea markets and colourful traditionally clad
Zulu rickshaw pullers. A fleet of 'tuk-tuk' type three-wheelers has
augmented public transport in the city.
Although much of Durban is characterised by British colonial
architecture, the city is actually an exciting mix of cultures.
There is a large Indian community, descendants of indentured
labourers who came to work on the Natal sugar estates in the 1850s
and who provide the city with an intoxicating oriental flavour
enhanced by their shrines, bazaars and tantalising curry
restaurants. There are also the Zulu people, whose proud warrior
ancestors inhabited the province before the coming of the European
colonial powers. The heritage of the amaZulu is very evident in the
region north of the Tugela River, known as Zululand, where
legendary King Shaka once ruled supreme and today is where most of
KwaZulu-Natal's game parks are to be found.
Durban is the gateway not only to the coastal beach resorts of
the province, but also to the rolling hills and plains of the Natal
Midlands and their backdrop, the majestic, jagged peaks of the
Drakensberg Mountains, which border the province in the west.
Getting around: As in most South African cities, Durban has a
limited public transport system. Buses operate in the city centre
and the suburbs, though schedules are erratic. Metered taxis are
available, although most common is the minibus taxi. These are less
expensive but tend to be more dangerous as drivers rarely pay
attention to road rules. Minibus taxis should only be caught on
regular routes at busy hours and passengers should not enter an
empty minibus. Colourful hand drawn rickshaws are a common sight on
the Durban beachfront and are more for tourists than for getting
around. They are well worth the experience, however. There a number
of car rental agencies available and the city is relatively easy to
negotiate, though can be very congested during morning and evening
rush hour.






