Durban |
| Friday, 22 February 2008 00:00 |
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300 days of sunshine every year, warm water and long waves: Durban truly is surfers’ paradise. In the south of South Africa water temperatures rarely rise above 66°F.
The Indian Ocean off Durban heats up to 77°F in summer, making falling off the board much more bearable, and shark nets make sure there is no unwanted company in the water. If you prefer your feet dry, relax on the beach or stroll along the 3.6 mile-long beach promenade. The Golden Mile is Durban’s main attraction, lined with hotels, bars, and restaurants. An adventure park, souvenir shops, and countless swimming pools, equipped with water slides and water falls, offer plenty of recreation. The easiest way to get a first impression of what is on offer or simply to check out the scene, hire a local to drive you along the promenade in a colorful rickshaw. The northern end of the promenade is the Amphitheatre Gardens where subtropical vegetation invites you in for a rest. The adjoined Fitzsimmons Snake Park offers, as you can guess from the name, special adventures with slithering reptiles. Locals learn how to keep their back yards snake free, visitors can observe black mambas, cobra, and various species of otter from a safe distance. If your nerves cannot take snakes, check out the Minitown display, where Durban’s most important buildings and sights are shown at a 1:25 scale. In the southern harbor district a new attraction opened its gates in 2005: the uShaka Marine World. Dolphins, sharks, turtles, and many other natural inhabitants of the Indian Ocean frolic in water tanks up to 500 yards in length. Seal and dolphin shows as well as feedings of sharks and penguins combine entertainment with education and are sure to leave you impressed with marine life. Right next to the aquarium is a fun water park with numerous pools, huge water slides, tropical flora, and an artificial lagoon in which you can get up-close with harmless marine animals. The outdoor area offers various water sports and volleyball, as well as some decent restaurants. Away from the Golden Mile the Indian district is particularly noteworthy. Most of the Indian immigrants, of which there are about 1m in South Africa, have settled in Durban. They came to work in the sugarcane fields, mostly, now they are traders and craftsmen. The small, traditional shops around the Indian market offer anything from fabrics and clothes to jewellery and electronics, and of course spices like saffron and curry. The most prominent building of this district is the Juma Mosque with its two golden minarets. Almost 5,000 worshippers gather in the biggest mosque in the southern hemisphere. The historic town center is easily explored by foot. Apart from great colonial buildings you will find the most important museums in this area; the Natural Science Museum, displaying South-African wildlife, and the Local History Museum are particularly popular. If you take a car about 12 miles north of the city you will get to Umhlanga Rocks, a mundane beach resort with its very own waterfront promenade. Everything from hotels and restaurants to shops is more luxurious here. The Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve is just to the north. This reservoir protects subtropical coastal forests, monkeys, bushbucks, and rare birds around a large lagoon The Natal Sharks Board has its main office in Umhlanga Rocks. This organization is in charge of the shark nets off shore and supervises the entire region. The visitor center provides lots of information on sharks and several times a week visitors can observe researchers conduct an autopsy on the much-feared creatures. Though no safari, Durban nonetheless offers African lifestyle, fascinating natural phenomena, and a relaxing vacation. |
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