Durban
A year-round tropical city, Durban is the country's third largest city and a major Indian Ocean port. It is also home to the second largest Indian population, resulting in a blend of African, British and Indian cultures. A perfect Durban cultural experience is attending a proper cricket match at Kingsmead Cricket Ground, followed by a meal of Durban Indian “bunny chow”, a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with your choice of curry.
uShaka Marine World - A combo of uShaka Sea World and uShaka Wet ‘n Wild, all on the waterfront. The Sea World includes an underwater aquarium featuring South Africa's sea creatures (most famously the Great White Shark and its cousins). The water park has a typical water park atmosphere, but it's a good spot to let kids cut loose and hit some wet slides.
Moyo - Next door to uShaka, Moyo is a contemporary take on African dinner theater complete with tableside hand washing, and guest face painting in the African tradition. During your meal, traditional singers and drummers perform tableside with rhythmic and energetic African songs and dances.
Umhlanga Rocks - Just north of downtown with white sand beaches and a 3 km walking promenade, Umhlanga Rocks is perfect for viewing wild dolphins and shipping vessels arriving in Durban's port.
All Durban beaches bear unnerving shark-warning signs, but most beaches also post that shark nets are in place offshore and are maintained by the Kwazulu-Natal Sharks Board. Many local children and adults do swim in the netted areas.
The Kwazulu-Natal Sharks Board center offers a fascinating daily presentation on shark conservation and biology with a 20-minute dissection of a recently captured shark. For kids (six and older) and their parents, the Sharks Board also provides fascinating two-hour boat rides of the Durban coast and shark nets, complete with wild dolphin viewing.
