A large city, the second seaport of South Africa after Cape Town. In Durban, the motley ethnic flavor of South Africa is clearly manifested. A Hindu temple and a Protestant church, a mosque and a synagogue coexist here. Durban form the old and new city. There are quite a lot of Victorian buildings in the old one. A significant part of it is occupied by the Indian quarter, the smell of Hindu spices is in the air. Here you can meet the Zulu healers Sangom, selling witchcraft attributes: dried monkey paws, skins, etc. The new city lies in the Marine Parade area, dominated by buildings made of glass and concrete.
Interesting places
St. Paul Church (1853) is one of the important historical buildings of the city. Next to it is the building of the Old Post Office. Here, in 1899, the young Winston Churchill, who had escaped from Boer captivity, was met. This is the inscription on the memorial plaque. The escape brought Churchill world fame. It is believed that his political career began in these places.
City Hall (Durban City Hall). Built in 1910, the building is a copy of the town hall in Irish Dublin. On a small square there is a beautiful monument to the fallen in World War II.
The most important museums in Durban. Durban Museum of Natural History, Durban Local History Museum and Durban Art Gallery. City Hall houses the National Science Museum and Art Gallery.
Talana Museum. Its buildings are located around the old manor of Peter Smith, who in the middle of the XIX century. discovered coal deposits here. He also founded the city of Dundee. The exhibits of the museum tell about the city, the development of the coal industry, the history of the Anglo-Boer wars. Of interest are the military and maritime museums, as well as the Begrtheil Museum, dedicated to the German settlers of 1848. Adherents of outdoor activities and just curious will be interested in the Surf Museum.
Minitown (Minitown) – “a city within a city”, a miniature version of Durban and its main attractions on a scale of 1:25. Located on the Marine Parade.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00 to 18.00, on Sunday – from 9.30 to 16.45, closed on Mondays.
Jumma Musjid Mosque. Built in the 19th century. It is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and can accommodate between 4,500 and 5,000 believers.
“Sea World” (Sea World). Aquarium, dolphinarium and oceanarium. Sharks, sea turtles, giant rays. Located on the coast.
Open daily from 9.00 to 21.00. Performances of dolphins, seals and penguins at 10.00, 11.30, 14.00, 15.30 and 17.00. Shark feeding – Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday at 21.30.
The botanical garden was founded in 1850 and is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. The KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra performs here periodically on Sundays.
Open daily from 7.30 to 17.15, admission is free.
The Vasco da Gama clock was installed in Durban in 1887 in honor of the famous navigator, whose ship first came here in 1497. In 1969, on the year of the 500th anniversary of the birth of the pioneer, the Ambassador of Portugal installed a commemorative plaque next to the clock. The clock can be seen on the way to the Botanical Garden.
African Art Center. Gallery and shop with authentic products made by the craftsmen of the Zulu and Xhosa tribes (sculptures, dolls, paintings…).
Open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 17.00, on Saturday – from 9.00 to 13.00.
Sugar terminal in the port. Professional guides will take you through the sugar warehouses and tell the story of the industry in KwaZulu Natal (sugar is still an important part of the province’s economy). Open daily, guided tours at 8.30, 10.00, 11.30 and 14.00.
Well, and, of course, in Durban you should definitely visit the new huge entertainment complex Ushaka Marine Word, located on the ocean, with a lot of shops, restaurants, a water park and an aquarium.
