Durban

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Durban Travel Guide

City Map

City Introduction

Durban is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and one of the largest cities in South Africa. The written sources about the area begin in 1497, when Vasco da Gama sailed along the coast around Christmas time and named the place Natal. In 1686, a ship from the Dutch VOC sank, and survivors came to present-day Durban, which was bought by the Cape Colony in 1689.

A real colonization did not happen until 1824, when the British helped the Zulu king Shaka and received a large area of ​​land out of gratitude. Union Jack went to the top, and the British settlement became a reality with the name Port Natal, which in 1835 was changed to Durban after the governor of the Cape Colony, Benjamin D’Urban. The town became a garrison town, but was occupied by Dutch Voortrekkers in 1839, who proclaimed Natalia Republiek.

However, Durban returned to the British again in 1842, and then it developed to approximately 5,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the 1860s. The population multiplied to approximately 70,000 when Durban became part of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Durban’s growth continued through the 1900s, where it was expanded with e.g. educational institutions and new port facilities, and in 2010 Durban was one of the host cities for the World Cup in football.

Today, Durban is a big city with many sights and attractions, interesting architecture and lovely recreational areas. You can experience the city on foot on a stroll, with a good start at Durban City Hall, which is home to the city administration and one of Durban’s landmarks. The Neo-Edwardian town hall was built with inspiration from Belfast City Hall in Northern Ireland in the years 1906-1910, following a design by the architect Stanley G. Hudson.

Durban City Hall is the focal point of several squares in central Durban. Opposite the town hall is the Central Post Office, which was opened in 1885 as the city’s first town hall. It was Phillip Dudgeon who designed the building, which is considered one of South Africa’s finest examples of neoclassicism. The neighboring building is St Paul’s Anglican Church, which was erected as the second church on this site in 1910.

From the area around the town hall, you can walk west along the main thoroughfares West Street and Anton Lembede Street. This is where you will find many of Durban’s high-rise buildings and large shops. There are also several museums downtown, such as the Durban Natural Science Museum, which is a part of the town hall building. You can visit the Old House Museum as well, located in an old 19th century house, where you can explore the life of the upper middle class early settlers in the area.

Just east of Durban Central, which is the name of downtown, you come to the Golden Mile Durban. The Golden Mile is Durban’s long beaches with golden sand, where you can enjoy a swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean under the subtropical sun. There are tourist hotels along the beach, and in the neighborhood, there are many activities such as the amusement park uShaka Marine World. You can also take a walk along the Durban Point Promenade, which is close to the entrance to the city’s harbour.

If you want to enjoy cafés, restaurants, shops and historic suburban charm, you can go to Florida Road, which is a little north of Durban Central. Florida Road is known as one of the most interesting places to go out in the evening and between Sandile Thusi Road and Innes Road you can see the many old houses that are over a hundred years old, many are in the Edwardian style of the time.

Other Attractions

Day Trips

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Pietermaritzburg

Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. The city’s history goes back to the mass migration of the Voortrekkers from the Cape Colony in 1835. The Voortrekkers were settlers in the South African interior, and in 1839 they founded Pietermaritzburg, which was named after the Voortrekker leaders Piet Retief and Gerrit Maritz.

The city became the capital of the newly established Natalia Republiek, but Pietermaritzburg fell into British hands, who in 1843 built Fort Napier here. In the same year, the city was chosen as capital of the British Colony of Natal. Throughout the 19th century Pietermaritzburg grew as an administrative town and in 1880 the railway to Durban opened.

More about Pietermaritzburg

Geolocation

In short

Durban, South Africa Durban, South Africa[/caption]

Overview of Durban

Durban is the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and one of the largest cities in South Africa. The written sources about the area begin in 1497, when Vasco da Gama sailed along the coast around Christmas time and named the place Natal. In 1686, a ship from the Dutch VOC sank, and survivors came to present-day Durban, which was bought by the Cape Colony in 1689.

A real colonization did not happen until 1824, when the British helped the Zulu king Shaka and received a large area of ​​land out of gratitude. Union Jack went to the top, and the British settlement became a reality with the name Port Natal, which in 1835 was changed to Durban after the governor of the Cape Colony, Benjamin D’Urban. The town became a garrison town, but was occupied by Dutch Voortrekkers in 1839, who proclaimed Natalia Republiek.

However, Durban returned to the British again in 1842, and then it developed to approximately 5,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the 1860s. The population multiplied to approximately 70,000 when Durban became part of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Durban’s growth continued through the 1900s, where it was expanded with e.g. educational institutions and new port facilities, and in 2010 Durban was one of the host cities for the World Cup in football.

About the Durban travel guide

Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English

About the travel guide

The Durban travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the South African city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

Durban is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

Read more about Durban and the South Africa

South Africa Travel Guide: https://vamados.com/southafrica
City tourism: https://visitdur-ban.co.za
Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Durban you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

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