D A
F
I
THE KWAZULU-NATAL REGION
of South Africa is rapidly becoming the
ultimate all-rounder destination, and now
it’s only a direct flight away. Any one of
five strings to its bow could tempt you in:
the thriving, rejuvenated city of Durban;
once-in-a-lifetime safari trips; the jagged
tabletops of the Drakensberg mountains;
award-winning beaches; and high-octane
sporting events. And that’s before you
get to the diverse gastronomy. Whatever
type of South African adventure you’re
PHOTOGRAPH: © USHAKA MARINE WORLD
planning, Durban KZN deserves to be
your next port of call. British Airways
introduced direct flights three times
a week last October, so now is the perfect
time to plan your trip to a region full
of opportunities to explore.
 urban offers something a little different to
D South Africa’s other major cities. Ever since
the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which brought
with it a swanky sports arena and a revitalised
waterfront, the pace of development in the city has Durban’s South African
brought a new confidence, and galvanised its sense
of fun. But its charm isn’t confined to all things shiny
and new. Durban has long hosted the largest Indian
diaspora population within a single city outside of
India, which gives the destination a welcome distinction
and uniquely subcontinental vibe.
Harking further back, Durban’s location also
makes it a prime spot for discovering early Natal
and Zulu culture. Head to the Campbell Collections
at Muckleneuk to see fascinating artefacts,
ABOVE Night falls on
documents and works by celebrated 20th-century food should be: messy,
Durban’s waterfront
South African artists. Dr Killie Campbell was
the first patron of Barbara Tyrrell, whose paintings
Durban
delicacies
You can thank
beautifully depict indigenous clothing and customs.
For more tribal artefacts, book a visist to the Phansi
Museum, set in the British Colonial Roberts House.
Here you can find exhibits such as contemporary
Indian population for sculptures, statues and Zulu beadwork. Outdoors,
your new favourite much of the city centre’s 19th-century architecture is
snack – the bunny casually resplendent, such as the palm-tree-flanked
chow. Loaves of bread Central Post Office with its grand clock tower. See also
are hollowed out and the City Hall and Florida Road Commercial Buildings.
filled with the curry For an oasis of calm within the city walls, visit the
of your choice, with 37-acre Durban Botanic Gardens, the oldest surviving
fillings including botanical gardens in Africa. It’s home to rare cycads
mutton and chicken. and bromeliads. And, if you time your visit right, you
It’s everything fast might just catch a concert featuring the KwaZulu-
Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.
oozy and ribsticking. Learn about Durban’s Indian heritage at the highly
Sa fa r
distinctive Temple of Understanding – the biggest
Hare Krishna temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
The building is shaped like a lotus flower and, inside,
there are beautifully lit murals of holy figures,
scene sings with global
complemented by golden decorations. For another
priceless piece of history, visit Mahatma Gandhi’s
Phoenix Settlement in the eponymous township,
where Gandhi lived for ten years and protested
against apartheid. Umgeni Business Park,
Aside from being a shining legacy of the 2010
World Cup, the Moses Mabhida Stadium has a
towering arch, inspired by the Y in the South African
flag, that presents a great opportunity to see
panoramic views of the city. You can walk up the found at Mali’s Indian.
550 steps yourself, or take the SkyCar. Another
attraction not to miss is uShaka Marine World, one
of the largest aquariums in the world, with an
impressive array of sharks and other sea-life.
game
parkS
Eat from the enture into the wider KwaZulu-Natal region ABOVE FROM LEFT
melting pot
Durban’s restaurant
V for memorable experiences of South African
wildlife. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is one of the
best known in the country. Two rivers flow through
KZN’s many nature
reserves allow you to see
unforgettable wild sights,
including lions and zebras
influences. For the here – the Black iMfolozi and White iMfolozi. This
best bunny chows huge expanse is best visited during the dry winter
in town, head to months (May–September) when the vegetation is
Hollywoodbets in the lush, and animals gather at water sources, making for
unmissable photo opportunities. There’s a chance of
an unassuming café seeing some extraordinary creatures in their natural
tacked onto a betting habitat, including lions, both black and white rhinos,
shop. More refined leopards, giraffes, buffalos and wild dogs.
Indian eats can be A lower-profile but equally spellbinding wildlife
destination is uMkhuze Game Reserve. Lions were
Sample the finest recently introduced here, but it’s one of the best
Ethiopian cuisine, chances you’ll get to see hyenas, as well as elephants,
including signature and rhinos. The dense scrubland setting makes
spongy flatbread these sightings all the more remarkable, though the
injera, at Habesha reserve’s crowning glory is the sky and trees, where
Café. Influences more than 400 species of birds can be found.
around the city range For the most all-encompassing nature experience,
from Portuguese to in terms of both wildlife and scenery, head to
Southeast Asian, so iSimangaliso Wetland Park. This Unesco World
you’re bound to find Heritage site encompasses 1,270 sq miles, with a
something delicious. series of teeming lakes on one side and the Indian
Ocean on the other. Five distinct ecosystems stretch
over a multitude of landscapes including offshore
reefs, beaches, lakes, wetlands, woodlands and coastal
forests. The wildlife is just as diverse. If you’re lucky,
you could spot nesting loggerhead and leatherback
turtles, whales and dolphins off the coast, as well as
ippos and zebras in the park.
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The
rg
ns
O the enclaved kingdom of Lesotho sit the
Drakensberg mountains, formally renamed
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park to go with its World
you can’t come to
South Africa without
sampling a braai.
Next door is the Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve,
with similarly famous scenery, offering views of
the Bell, the Horns and Cleft Peak. Do note, if
Heritage status in 2000. These gnarled green-hued Expect mouth- you want to hike here, you have to register
tabletops cut a striking line into the horizon, inviting watering spicy chops, with the park office before setting off.
leisurely exploration. steaks, sausages For another glimpse into the region’s
This vast natural complex has many smaller including borewors, fascinating history, take a guided walk in the
parks and nature reserves to choose from, and Royal and seafood including Kamberg Nature Reserve. It begins with a
Natal National Park is a great place to start. To rock lobster – on huge multimedia presentation, before a scenic
say this landscape resembles a movie set is not an barbecues. Durban walk to the Game Pass Shelter, dubbed the
understatement but a fact – 1964’s Zulu was shot Braai Day happens Rosetta Stone of southern African rock art.
here. You’ll find some of Drakensberg’s most accessible every Boxing Day, so These drawings were left behind by the ancient
scenery in Royal Natal National Park, as well as its you’ll be able to try it San people, depicting scenes of hunting and everyday
most celebrated view, the Amphitheatre. This amazing at block parties and life. You can find more San paintings at the Main
FROM TOP Hike to the
wall of cliff and canyon stretches for more than three bigger family events Caves in the Giant’s Castle. The Giant’s Castle park is
towering Amphitheatre
miles, longer than Cape Town’s Table Mountain, and all over the city. also the place to spot the rare lammergeier, or bearded rock formation at Royal
the sight of it from below is just as majestic as the vulture. Found only in Drakensberg, they nest in the Natal National Park;
view of the valley from the top. Watching the clouds Lammergeier Hide, and its popularity necessitates waterfalls cascade in
slowly clear beneath you to reveal the sprawling booking in advance. the Natal Midlands
 E&
A
ny great coastal city should have a long
stretch of beaches, and Durban’s Golden Mile
more than fits the bill. You can take your
choice of several beaches here, including Blue Lagoon
Beach, recently revamped with playgrounds, food
stalls and plenty of sand.
PORTS
At the southern end of the Golden Mile is the
popular uShaka Beach, while Battery, Country Club
and Oasis Beaches make for some prime surfing
opportunities. North of Durban, you’ll find the
Dolphin Coast – unsurprisingly, a fine spot for
sighting bottlenose dolphins, but also home to its fair City sips
share of beautiful beaches. Willard Beach in the town Grab a beachside
of Ballito is ideal for swimming, as are the tranquil sundowner at swanky
Ballito tidal pools. Here, the long boardwalk along the cocktail spots like
shoreline offers sweeping views of bays and coves. Moyo uShaka Pier
For an extra classy day at the seaside, head to the Bar, or sample hip
suburb of Umhlanga. As well as a suitably idyllic beach, craft beers at S43.
it offers some of the tastiest seafood around, at the KwaZulu-Natal
adjacent Oyster Box hotel. Nearby Umdloti Beach has also offers a wealth
yet more stretches of heavenly sand and sea to while of unforgettable
away the hours. wine tours.

urban KZN, like much of the rest of South ABOVE Endless stretches

D Africa, is obsessed with sport. If you’re a

spectator, you can catch international and
domestic cricket at Kingsmead in Durban, or watch
of pristine sandy beaches
along the Golden Mile.
LEFT Sunset view from
Umhlanga beachfront
the Sharks play fearsome rugby at Kings Park. If you’re
a participator, however, the region’s landscapes make
action irresistible.
Among those brave enough to attempt an
ultramarathon, the 90km Comrades Marathon is
legendary. It’s the oldest and biggest race of its kind in
the world, running along five hills between Durban
and the town of Pietermaritzburg. The Dusi Canoe
Marathon, held over three days, shares the same start
and end points, but runs along the Msunduzi and
Mgeni rivers, taking in exhilarating rapids along the
way. The 120km-long race is the biggest canoeing
event in Africa.
The Amashova Durban Classic also sees cyclists
from across the continent and beyond take part
in a series of races, again from Pietermaritzburg
to Durban, over distances up to 160km. With an
Ironman triathlon taking in landmarks such as
the Golden Mile, there is no shortage of sporting
feats to conquer – or at least enjoy spectating
– in Durban KZN.

Make a date with Durban DURBAN

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at ba.com/durban D EL IV ER IN G G LO BAL CO N N E CT I O N S