Durban held the country’s biggest music spectacle over the weekend. The Metro FM Awards saw tourists from all over the country come in support of the event. For those who are still in our beautiful city, here’s a list of things to do before you get on the plane again.
Visit the Golden Mile
Named for the golden sand beaches lining the coastal edge of the city centre, the popular “Mile” actually extends about four miles from Blue Lagoon south to Addington Beach and Durban Harbour. A wide, brick-paved promenade makes it easy to walk, jog, or bike the route, detouring out on the piers to watch surfers, kite boarders, and sand castle architects, or soak in the warm Indian Ocean. Bike rentals are available, and afterwards, indulge in breakfast or lunch at one of the many beachfront eateries.
Visit the Morning Trade (8 Morrison Street, Rivertown, Durban)
The Morning Trade is a weekly market for local farmers, artisanal product producers and organic merchants to share their wares with Durban’s public. It is a place to source your locally-produced fresh and speciality goods, or just to meet friends over delicious artisan food and drink in Durban’s newest community-orientated market.
Explore the Indian District
Two waves of Indian emigration - one of indentured servants under British rule beginning in 1860 and the second by traders in the 1880s onward - helped make South Africa’s most multicultural city home to the highest concentration of Indians outside India.
Take a walk and tour the district around Dr Yusuf Dadoo (Grey) and Bertha Mkhize (Victoria) Streets to immerse your senses in the city’s Indian heritage and history.
Take your Durban experience to new heights
Your journey starts with a two-minute SkyCar ride up the stadium arch, before you step on to the platform and take in the unparalleled 360 degree views of Durban and beyond. The SkyCar gives you the chance to discover Durban from a 106m-high vantage point. Look one way and take in the ocean views as far as the eye can see, look the other way and you’ll see the city spreading out for miles beneath your feet. This is a must-do for locals and tourists.
Take a KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Boat Tour
Beaches along the KwaZulu Natal coastline are the only ones in South Africa protected by shark safety gear (including nets and anchored drum lines), making shark attacks rare. Join a working Sharks Board crew on a morning boat tour to see the safety system, learn about sharks, and you may encounter dolphins, turtles and rays.
Walk among “Living Fossils” at the Botanic Gardens
Africa’s oldest surviving Botanic Gardens houses one of the world’s top collections of “living fossil” plants. Walking through the gardens’ cycad forest is a bit like stepping on to the set of Jurassic Park. Pack a mat and picnic basket and enjoy the atmosphere.
Sunday Tribune