Durban

The history of the region goes back more than 100,000 years when it was occupied by hunter-gatherers. However, the written history of the region appears only after Vasco da Gama was discovered in 1497. He named it Natal, or Christmas in Portuguese. The city we see today began in 1824 when a group of 25 Britishers moved to establish a settlement from the Cape Colony. Henry Francis Fynn, an adventurer, helped a Zulu King recover from a wound he suffered in battle, and received a 50-kilometre-long strip of land along the coast, stretching 160 km inland.

The name d'Urban was given to the city in 1835 after Sir Sir Benjamin d'Urban, then governor of the Cape Colony. The Voortrekkers then established the Republic of Natalia near Durban in 1938. After several conflicts between them and the Zulus, the British decided to get involved due to fear of losing their own control in the region. The British were triumphant by 1944, and the entire region was brought under colonial rule. Durban then grew under the British, mainly due to the plantation business.

Around the 1860s, many labourers were brought from British colonies, especially from India, to work on these plantations. As a result, today there are several thousand Indians in Durban today. Today, Durban is a great tourist destination. It is the busiest container port in Africa. Its famous Golden Mile has become an iconic destination for people all over South Africa for holidays.

Durban has a great nightlife. There are several clubs and bars where the party goes on until dawn, and you can see the sun rise over the Indian Ocean as you are on your way back. There are several great clubs on the famous Golden Mile, located right across the beach. Other popular areas are Glenwood, and the suburbs of Kloof and Hillcrest. As you go around the town, you will learn much more about the fascinating nightlife of Durban.

From high-end boutiques to street shopping for famous curries, spices, and local goods, Durban has it all.

• The prime destination for shopping in Durban is the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Umhlanga. It has a great collection of top-end boutique stores and many great restaurants, along with cinema complexes and an iMax theatre.
• Other really good malls include the La Lucia and the Pavillion Shopping Centre. Street markets like the crafts speciality market, the Essenwood Market, or the farmers' market in Shongwemi are also popular.
• And also, do check out the Stables Lifestyle Market, set up on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in actual stables that were built a century ago!
• Since Durban has a major population of Indians, shops and stores of Indian spices and curries are something you should check out as well, in Downtown Durban.

These months are easily the best time to visit Durban. This is because the weather is dry and sunny and the temperatures are pleasant. Durban is bustling with life and activities during this period, with the International Film Festival in July and the Good Food and Wine Show.
Read More

Durban is a an international city and as such you have a plethora of options of where to eat. There are several high end restaurants where you can find the best of some international cuisines, as well as fast food joints for a delicious quick fix. A great feature of Durban food is the influx of the Indian cuisine, since Durban is home to the biggest Indian population outside India. Some dishes you have to try though include the 'bunny chow', a famous street food; 'shisa nyama', a zulu delicacy of tender meat; 'Bombay crush', which is literally the falooda from India, a favourite syrupy dessert; and of course don't forget to try the sardines, caught fresh and served on a toast.
Read More

There are 744 in Durban which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Durban are Red Tudor B&B, Lavender Moon Guest House, Unit 801, 801 Oyster Schelles, Executives Cove B&B, Charltonland. You can see all the hotels in Durban here

The top things to do in Durban are uShaka Marine World, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Golden Mile, Durban Botanical Gardens, SunCoast Casino, Umgeni River Bird Park. You can see all the places to visit in Durban here