Durban

Durban is South Africa’s third city and the busiest port in sub-Saharan Africa, set on Natal Bay where the Indian Ocean is warm enough to swim all year. It was founded in 1824 and named after Sir Benjamin D’Urban, the Cape governor. About a quarter of the city’s people are of Indian descent, from indentured labourers who began arriving in 1860, and that shows in the food. People come for the beaches, the surf and the curry, and use it as the gateway to the KwaZulu-Natal coast and game reserves.

Getting there

King Shaka International Airport is at La Mercy, about 35 km north of the centre between Umhlanga and Ballito. Airlink, FlySafair and other domestic carriers fly in from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Uber from the airport to the beachfront takes about 45 minutes. Long-distance buses stop beside Durban Station. In the city, Uber and Bolt are the practical way around; there is also the cheap People Mover bus, and Durban Tourism runs the Ricksha Bus city tour.

When to go

The climate is humid subtropical, with a summer average of 24 °C and a winter average of 17 °C. Summer, November to February, is hot and sticky with afternoon thunderstorms and sea around 24 °C. Winter, June to August, is the sweet spot: dry, sunny, 21 to 22 °C, and the surf is at its cleanest. The sardine run passes the coast in June and July, drawing dolphins, sharks and diving gannets close to shore. December is the domestic holiday rush and the beachfront is packed.

What to do

Walk the Golden Mile promenade from uShaka at the harbour end to the Moses Mabhida Stadium, where a SkyCar runs to the top of the arch for the view. uShaka Marine World has an aquarium and a water park. North Beach is the surf centre, and the beaches along this strip have shark nets, lifeguards and CCTV.

Eat a bunny chow, a hollowed quarter loaf filled with curry. Victoria Street Market is the place for spices; haggle. The Botanic Gardens are a quiet hour away from the beach noise. Day trips go to the Valley of a Thousand Hills, about 45 minutes inland, and to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, around two and a half hours north.

Good to know

Swim only at patrolled beaches between the flags; the FCDO warns that strong currents drown people every year. Durban has also had repeated beach closures over sewage and E. coli, including several beaches in December 2025 and January 2026. Check the eThekwini Municipality website for the current list before you swim.

The promenade is fine in daylight but stay off the side streets and avoid the CBD and the Point after dark. Point Road, now Mahatma Gandhi Road, has a bad reputation. Use ride-hailing at night rather than walking. Dress down in town and keep phones out of sight. Umhlanga and the higher residential suburbs are the quieter areas to stay.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Wikivoyage, Wikipedia, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Tripbase, Time Out Durban, Durban Tourism.