Durban is a vibrant cosmopolitian city in KwaZulu-Natal, on the east coast of South Africa, blessed with balmy weather all year round. Durban is also known by the Zulu word eThekwini. Since 2000, Durban, along with a number of towns, have been part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
Durban is a melting pot of African, European and Asian influences which heve led to a myriad of styles in the city. Durban's architectural variety is expressed in the Victorian houses of Berea, the Hindu temples, the largest Mosque in the Southern Hemisphere in Grey Street and the skyscrapers in the CBD. The well-known Grey Street is filled with the pungent perfumes of curries and spices, and the exotic colours of Indian women in traditional saris, as Durban is home to the largest Indian population outside of India.
Durban, the 'Curry Capital of South Africa', is famous for its spice markets and unusual foods like 'bunny chow' (half a white loaf scooped out and filled up with curry - YUM!).
Durban's Central Business District is within easy reach of all hotels and convention venues.
Durban Beachfront
The main beaches in Durban include the Battery Beach, Snake Park Beach, North Beach, Diary Beach, Wedge Beach, South Beach and Addington Beach. Surfing is one of the main activities on Durban's beaches.These beaches are characterised by soft, golden sands and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Numerous signs demarcate safe swimming areas where trained Surf Life Guards and shark nets ensure the safety of swimmers and surfers from sunrise to sunset.
The famous Durban beaches stretch from the Point at the harbour, northwards as far as the eye can see, offering sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming, surfing, fishing and more. Along with water sports, the city also provides a wealth of music, theatre, museums, art galleries, monuments, shopping centres, sports stadia and the vibrant Durban nightlife.
The wide public promenade, stretching along the coastline from Durban Harbour in the south, to the Umgeni River in the north, is full of Zulu ladies selling hand-woven baskets and beautiful beadwork. Rickshaw drivers adorned with tall, flamboyant headdresses, try to lure tourists into their brightly painted and decorated rickshaws for a comfortable ride around town. Rickshaws are actually associated with India, but arrived in Durban along with the Indian labourers the British imported to labour in Durban's sugar-cane fields.
Visitors and residents can take a leisurely stroll down Lower Marine Parade Pedestrian Walk, take the kids to one of the world-class amusement parks, or dance the night away in a trendy nightclub. Durban caters for every taste.
The Durban beachfront is bordered by a continuous stretch of luxury hotels, apartments, restaurants, nightclubs, curio sellers and dozens of other attractions with idyllic views of the Indian Ocean, known as Durban's Golden Mile. Primarily a sub-tropical "holiday city" and beach resort on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean, Durban is marketed as "South Africa's Playground" "where the fun never sets", but is also Africa's busiest container port with a substantial industrial sector.
Durban Harbour
Durban Harbour became a major South African port when the bay was dredged in 1887. Durban Harbour is one of the world's largest natural deep-water ports and Africa's busiest container port today.
Ships enter the harbour mouth between the piers, against the green backdrop of the Bluff. The Bluff in Durban is a long forested, green pennisula, which protects the harbour from ocean winds.
Further Inland
Further inland from Durban, the steep slopes and plunging gorges of the beautiful Valley of 1000 Hills are home to rural communities, craft villages, safari parks and sites offering traditional Zulu dancing.
African township communities, whose rich and colourful cultural activities strongly impact on the city's culture, surround Durban. Township groups have designed numerous murals that adorn walls throughout the city. In recent times, a number of tour companies have started to offer trips through the popular township destinations, where for foreign visitors can experience typically vibrant African neighbourhoods where many "shebeens" or taverns provide a warm welcome, music plays night and day, and the goats and chickens wander the streets.
Geography and Climate
The Bluff, a green clad pennisula protecting Durban Bay from the sea winds, bounds Durban in the south. Durban stretches north beyond the Umgeni River to high-lying Durban North. A ridge of hills known as the Berea suburb encircles the flat, central part of Durban.
The climate is humid and tropical most of the year, with summer rainstorms bringing relief from the humidity. The hills above the city are more temperate, but the warm sea current flowing down its shoreline affects all of Durban.
The Agulhas Current travels southward down the KwaZulu-Natal shoreline, and is one of the most powerful currents in the world.
The coast to the north and south of Durban also enjoys beautiful beaches and warm water.
The vegetation on the coastal regions are very abundant and tropical, with an amazing range of plants, trees and flowers not found in other parts of Southern Africa.
Demographics
Durban has a population of about 3.1 million people, according to the 2001 Statistics South Africa Census, making Durban the second largest city in South Africa and the largest city on the East Coast of Southern Africa.
Durban residents are a diverse mix of Eastern, Western and African cultures, including a large Indian community, giving Durban a unique cultural flavour.
The average Durban household has 3.93 members, but 21.3% of all Durban households are single person households.
The Durban population is young, with a median age of 25 years. Women are plentiful, outnumbering men by 8.1% in general, but 11.7% for over-eigteens!
Durban residents speak mainly IsiZulu at home (63.0%), while 30.0% speak English, 3.4% speak IsiXhosa, 1.4% of residents speak Afrikaans, 0.7% speak Sesotho, 0.2% speak IsiNdebele, 0.1% speak Sepedi and 0.9% of the population speak a non-official language at home.
Christians make up 68.0% of the Durban population, 15.5% have no religion, 11.3% are Hindu, 3.2% are Muslim, 0.1% are Jewish, and 1.9% have other or undetermined beliefs.
Durban Economy
Durban is a holiday city and beach resort, taking full advantage of a strong tourism-based revenue stream. Durban offers world-class conference facilities, which are very popular with companies and organisations throughout the world. Durban is marketed as "South Africa's Playground" "where the fun never sets", but is also Africa's busiest container port with a substantial industrial sector.
Some of the industries in and around durban includes sugar cane farming, sugar refining, shipbuilding and ship repairing, petroleum refining, fishing, automobile assembly. Other indusries focus on the manufacture of food products, footwear, textiles, paint, chemicals, fertilizers and soap.
Durban is the main port for the Witwatersrand and is connected by railroad with Johannesburg and other cities on the Rand. Durban's main exports includecoal, sugar, corn, granite, manganese and other mineral ores.
Durban Transport
Durban is a major gateway to Africa.
Durban Harbour is Africa's busiest general cargo port and home to the largest and busiest container terminal in the Southern Hemisphere.
To distribute the enormous cargo load entering South Africa through Durban Harbour, there is an extensive road network leading to any destination in South Africa. Durban's road network includes seven freeways, although the city centre often experiences traffic jams.
Durban is a meeting point for the N2 highway from Cape Town in the south and Richards Bay in the north, and the N3 highway from Johannesburg. The two highways meet at the Four-Level E.B. Cloete Interchange near Westville, jokingly called "Spaghetti Junction".
Durban has a very competent public transport system running throughout Durban, and an abundance of taxis.
Durban International Airport provides air transportation for Durban and is only a 10-minute drive from the City. All the major South African Airlines serve Durban International Airport. Flights are available to destinations in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Mauritius.
