Durban is the third biggest city in South Africa (behind Johannesburg and Cape Town). The city is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country and for this reason I’m featuring 3 places in Durban to visit this festive season today. If you want more general information about Durban, you should probably read my 10 Things You Did Not Know about Durban post from a while back.
This city has its fair share of interesting tourist attractions. Attractions vary from beaches to museums and other cultural spots that are worth checking out. Check out the list of 3 places to visit in Durban this festive season below.
Umhlanga Rocks: This upmarket coastal village is located only 15 km North of the Durban city center. There’s plenty of amenities and lots of shops. Umhlanga Rocks also has its own beach. It’s a perfect base from which visitors can participate in a wide variety of watersports and enjoy many land-based adventures as well.
From Umhlanga Rocks visitors can easily access the Gateway Shopping Centre, Umgeni River Bird Park and various other Kwazulu Natal destinations. Umhlanga Rocks is also situated close to the King Shaka International Airport.
Hotels and holiday flats are usually fully booked over the festive season in Umhlanga Rocks, but it’s still a nice place to check out if you’re going on a Durban day trip. Check out the official Umhlanga Rocks Tourism Info Website for more information about this town.
Durban’s Mini Town: This popular attraction is located on the Durban’s Golden Mile on North Beach and has been around for more than 40 years. For those of you who did not know, Mini Town is a replica of some of the buildings in Durban on a scale of 1:24.
The models in Durban’s Mini Town contain great detail. There’s a mini supermarket and liquor store, a mini harbour with boats, mini helicopters, wildlife, a school, a replica of the Southern Sun Garden Court Hotel and model trains. This is definitely an outing that kids will enjoy.
Entrance for adults costs only R15 and entrance for kids between 2 and 13 years costs only R12. Durban’s Mini Town is open for visitors from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM daily. For more information, check out the Durban Tourism Website.
The Old Courthouse Museum: This museum is located close to Durban City Hall and was completed in 1866. The building was first used as a courthouse. The building has a rich history. To give you an idea Ghandi (the Indian activist) made an appearance here and it was used as a recruitment center during the First and Second World Wars.
The museum features a number of collectables in it’s foyer. There’s an extensive miniature car collection, the Daphne Strutt Costume Room (which features fashion from the 20th Century), interesting accessories like bags, shoes, jewellery and hats. The Old Courthouse museum also houses a number of rare Art Deco and Nouveau pieces. You should also check out the ‘Movers and Shakers’ exhibition at the museum. This exhibition features miniature figurines relating to the Kwazulu Natal province’s history.
The Old Courthouse museum is definitely the place in Durban to a taste of the city and South Africa’s culture. Visiting hours are Monday to Saturday from 8:30 AM to 4 PM. The museum is also open on Sundays and Public Holidays from 11 AM to 4 PM, but is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. For more information, check out the Durban History website.
There you go, 3 places in Durban to visit this festive season. Check one of these out when you’re making your way down to the coast towards the end of this year. You might also want to read our post pointing out 5 Other Places to visit whilst on holiday in Durban if you’re looking for more tourist attractions in this coastal city.
Did you know that Junk Mail has adverts for holiday accommodation and timeshare? Browse through these categories if you’re still looking for a place to go this coming festive season! You can also place free adverts with us if you’ve got holiday accommodation if you want to rent out.
Watch this space for regular updates in the Useful Tips category on the Junk Mail Blog.
