DESTINATIONS DURBAN AFRICA
in South Africa, after Soweto, and a tour is a fascinating window into an un- touristy side of city life. We stopped at Max’s Lifestyle for a cooking lesson and brai – a traditional barbecue. The downtown city skyline is
ASK THE EXPERT
Claire Farley, 2by2 Holidays: “It’s the warm golden beaches that bring people to Durban, as these are generally good all year round and ideal for relaxation after a safari or touring holiday elsewhere in the country. In terms of sightseeing, start with a city tour to take in lovely colonial buildings, such as the City Hall. Gandhi lived in Durban while evolving his strategy of passive resistance, and you can visit his house, which is now a museum. The Natal Shark Board offers interesting tours of their facilities and the bird park at Umgeni is worth a visit. The lush Durban Botanical Gardens are renowned, and the Japanese Gardens offer a peaceful retreat.”
dominated by the curving arch of the Moses Mabhida Stadium, one of the host stadiums for the 2010 World Cup and now the spot for thrills and spills. The Big Rush Big Swing, jumping from an 80m high platform into the stadium below, is only for the brave, but anyone can stomach the SkyCar, a glass lift that crawls up the side of the arch to a viewing platform at the top. For an even better view, suggest a helicopter tour over the Durban coastline, offered through BAC Helicopters. At the other end of Marine Parade
are thrills of a different kind, in the form of uShaka Marine World. The marine theme park offers everything from cage diving in the shark tank and dolphin shows to water slides and pools.
w WHERE TO STAY In downtown Durban, hotels line the beachfront. When it comes to being at the centre of everything, African Pride recommends the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani, where the towers are home to 734 rooms, and
there are three swimming pools, a spa, and a range of dining options from Japanese to grills. A quieter, more low-key alternative is Quarters Hotel Florida Road, a boutique guesthouse in the Morningside area, known for its restaurants, coffee shops and bohemian vibe. However, operators often find British clients like to stay in the quieter suburbs outside the centre and head into the city solely for sightseeing. In Umhlanga Cox & Kings
recommends the upmarket Oyster Box, (see Tried & T
ested) and the
stylish 88-room Beverly Hills Hotel, and further along the coast the Fairmont Zimbali Resort, which is surrounded by milkwood forest, lagoons and a golf course. This 154-room property is 30 minutes from Durban, with its own spa, kids’ club, and a range of restaurants.
w MOVING ON The KwaZulu-Natal region may be best known to British tourists – especially those of a certain age – for its battlefields. It was a theatre of conflict in both the Anglo-Boer and Anglo- Zulu wars.
TOP: Moses Mabhida Stadium LEFT: Fairmont Zimbali Resort BELOW: Bunny Chow at Freedom Café
46
travelweekly.co.uk 10 December 2015
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