Resort information for Durban, South Africa
Durban
Delightful Durban is the largest city of the vast and varied
KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. A coastal port with a more
than equable sub-tropical climate and wide golden beaches washed by
the warm Indian Ocean, Durban is a holidaymaker's paradise and
gateway to the dozens of seaside resort towns of the coast to the
south and north of the city. The 'Golden Mile' central beach area,
flanked by numerous high-rise hotels, stretches for four miles
(6km) and is fronted by promenades and entertainment facilities
such as a skatepark, flea markets and colourful traditionally clad
Zulu rickshaw pullers. A fleet of 'tuk-tuk' type three-wheelers has
augmented public transport in the city. Although much of Durban is characterised by British colonial
architecture, the city is actually an exciting mix of cultures.
There is a large Indian community, descendants of indentured
labourers who came to work on the Natal sugar estates in the 1850s
and who provide the city with an intoxicating oriental flavour
enhanced by their shrines, bazaars and tantalising curry
restaurants. There are also the Zulu people, whose proud warrior
ancestors inhabited the province before the coming of the European
colonial powers. The heritage of the amaZulu is very evident in the
region north of the Tugela River, known as Zululand, where
legendary King Shaka once ruled supreme and today is where most of
KwaZulu-Natal's game parks are to be found. Durban is the gateway not only to the coastal beach resorts of
the province, but also to the rolling hills and plains of the Natal
Midlands and their backdrop, the majestic, jagged peaks of the
Drakensberg Mountains, which border the province in the west.
Getting Around Durban
As in most South African cities, Durban has a
limited public transport system. Buses operate in the city centre
and the suburbs, though schedules are erratic. Metered taxis are
available, although most common is the minibus taxi. These are less
expensive but tend to be more dangerous as drivers rarely pay
attention to road rules. Minibus taxis should only be caught on
regular routes at busy hours and passengers should not enter an
empty minibus. Colourful hand drawn rickshaws are a common sight on
the Durban beachfront and are more for tourists than for getting
around. They are well worth the experience, however. There a number
of car rental agencies available and the city is relatively easy to
negotiate, though can be very congested during morning and evening
rush hour.
Tipping
Waitering is a livelihood and a tip of 10% is expected for
good service, if a service charge is not included in the bill.
Tipping for services rendered is widely anticipated by porters,
taxi drivers and petrol attendants. Golf caddies should be tipped
accordingly. 'Car guards' operate in the city centres and tourist
spots and will offer to look after your parked car; they are
usually immigrants from neighbouring countries looking for work and
will expect anything from R2 upwards on your return.
Health Advice
Travellers arriving in South Africa from infected areas
require a yellow fever vaccination certificate; otherwise no
vaccination is required. There is a malaria risk in the low-lying
areas of the Northern Province and Mpumalanga (including the Kruger
National Park) and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal, and precautions are
advised when travelling to these areas. There is a high prevalence
of HIV/AIDS. Tap water is safe in urban areas but sterilisation is
advisable elsewhere, as there are periodic outbreaks of cholera in
the poor communities of rural South Africa, particularly in
Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces.
Drug-resistant TB has been reported throughout the country. Food
poisoning is rare. Medical facilities in South Africa are good, but
medical insurance is strongly advised as private hospitals expect
cash upfront and public hospitals are best avoided.
Safety Advice
Visitors to South Africa should be aware of the country's
high incidence of crime. Although this tends to be concentrated in
pockets throughout the country, for example in the township areas,
opportunistic crime is fairly widespread. Travellers should always
be aware of these risks and exercise the necessary precautions.
Doors should be locked when driving and one should not walk alone
at night in city streets, isolated beaches or remote areas. Berea
and Hillbrow in Johannesburg are high-risk areas and visitors
should be cautious in these areas. There have been recent incidents
of robbery involving hikers walking on Table Mountain and Lions
Head in Cape Town so visitors should avoid hiking alone. Be
vigilant when using ATMs and do not display signs of wealth (e.g.
mobile phones, money, expensive jewellery) on the streets. It is
worthwhile noting that the South African authorities do give high
priority to the protection of tourists. Power outages are common
throughout the country; frequent blackouts and rolling power cuts
in January 2008 has forced the government to acknowledge that the
country has an electricity crisis on its hands.
The Language
South Africa has 11 official languages, including
Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely
spoken.
Communications
The international access code for South Africa is
+27. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code
(e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). As of 8 January 2007, South
Africa has changed to 10-digit dialling (so city codes must be
included, e.g. 021 for Cape Town) and international dialling has
changed from 09 to 00. GSM mobile phone networks providing 900 and
1800 frequencies serve the country. Mobile service providers offer
very cheap 'pay-as-you-go' Sim cards, which are a good option for
visitors staying for some time. Internet cafes are widespread. Card
and coin operated pay phones are also widespread.
Electricity
Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Round,
three-pin plugs are standard.
Local Time Information
Local time is GMT +2.
South Africa Overview
Throughout the second half of the 20th century South Africa was
regarded by most of the world as a pariah state where the ruling
white minority passed a range of draconian laws to subdue and
enslave the black majority. All this changed in 1994 with the
release from prison of world-renowned freedom fighter and icon of
the oppressed, Nelson Mandela. A new age of democracy was ushered
in, and South Africa was suddenly revealed to the world in her
beautiful true colours: a rainbow nation with a kaleidoscope of
cultures and a host of attractions to enthral and entrance
visitors. A decade later tourists are flocking to sunny South Africa in
droves, particularly to the Western Cape with its magnificent
scenery, beautiful beaches, majestic mountains and green
winelands. The Republic, at the southern tip of Africa surrounded by ocean
on three sides, offers a taste of the African experience with the
chance to visit traditional tribal villages, game reserves and
sprawling townships. At the same time it also offers all the
pleasures of a first world holiday experience, with luxury hotels,
sophisticated shopping, exciting theme parks and clean beaches.
Have breakfast in a New York style deli; lunch in an African
shebeen; cocktails on a sunset cruise; and dine in style in a fine
British colonial restaurant. This is all possible in a South
African city. It is not only cultural diversity that makes South Africa
magical. The country has a wealth of animal and plant life
scattered across its varied climactic zones from desert to
snow-covered mountains, forests to grasslands and mangrove swamps.
Historically, too, there is plenty to discover, from the fossils of
ancient hominids, to the pioneering spirit of the Dutch
'voortrekkers' and the settlement of the Eastern Cape frontier by
the British colonialists. South Africa has been billed as 'a world in one country', and
any visitor who has experienced its delights, from the jumble of
Johannesburg, the city built on gold mines in the north, to the
sophistication of Cape Town in the south, is bound to agree.
Shopping basket
Bentley On The Beach - Durban
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