Nearly 3 million people live in Durban today, and its population is growing faster than almost any other city in the world. 

Durban is also home to the largest population of Indian descendents in South Africa, whose ancestors were originally shipped to the region in the 19th century as slaves.  Nearly 1 million Indians live in Durban today.

It is not surprising, therefore, that the city is renowned for its aromatic spice markets and delicious curries - reputed to be some of the best in the world outside of India itself. 

Whilst Durban is an interesting city with a unique cultural mix, there is no getting away from the fact that it is the sun, sea and sand that really give the place its extra appeal for overseas visitors and South African holidaymakers alike.

The main beaches form a 6 km run known as the Golden Mile, and their golden sands, lined with palm trees, are covered with bodies of all shapes, sizes and ages enjoying the sun, regardless of whether it is winter or summer.  Many hotels line the busy seafront and promenade, and restaurants and bars jostle for space and attention. The waves are just begging for surfers to try their luck, and snorkelling is another popular past time.

The many different beaches each have their own attractions: 

Addington and South beaches are ideal for families, with plenty of entertainment for the children during the holiday periods. Dairy, Wedge and North beaches are renowned for their great surf and wide range of watersport activities and surfing events. The Bay of Plenty and Snake Park Beach have earned a place in surfing history, with some of the best waves on the coast. Battery Beach is a sunbathers' paradise as well as a popular surfing spot, while further north, Oasis Beach offers rolling sand dunes and deserted stretches. Tekweni is a lovely family picnic spot, with grassed areas, while the Blue Lagoon attracts fishermen. And finally, Laguna Beach is the place to go if you are into kitesurfing or jetskiing.

Being the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, you would expect there to be some form of wildlife present.  True enough, the coast off Durban is home to several species of shark.  However, don't let this put you off from going into the water. Shark nets running the entire length of the beaches offer protection, and are checked daily.

If you don't fancy braving the ocean, then a visit to uShaka Marine World is definitely for you.

At the end of Durban’s Golden Mile is a world of fun, entertainment and excitement. uShaka Marine World, spanning over 15 hectares of prime beach front, is Africa’s largest Marine Theme Park.

uShaka incorporates fresh and sea water, lush vegetation, natural materials and the recreation of a 1920s cargo ship wreck into a magical world of sea and marine life. The marine park is tastefully themed with African imagery and exudes an air of fun and excitement.

No matter what the occasion, you will always find something to do here, from sizzling entertainment at Sea World, restaurants offering excellent cuisine to cater for all food passions, fun-filled water slides in Wet ‘n Wild, or simply a lazy day spent sunbathing on uShaka Beach.

Some of the best diving in South Africa can be found at Aliwal Shoal, just 50 km south of Durban.  Aliwal is voted as being one of the top 10 dive sites in the world.

Besides being able to dive and swim alongside the many tropical fish species and loggerhead turtles, the major attraction at Aliwal is the ragged tooth shark, or 'Raggy' as it is fondly known within the local dive community. From July to November the ragged tooth sharks visit Aliwal Shoal in their annual migration from the Cape to the St Lucia Marine Reserve for their gestation period. The docile nature of this species means that divers can get extremely close to the sharks without the need for a diving cage, and this attraction draws divers from all over the world. 

There are several dive centres located in the small town of Umkomaas. Experienced, friendly and safety conscious skippers expertly guide the dive boats out through the rough breaking surf off the beach, and the hand picked Dive Masters make sure that both new and experienced divers are looked after and enjoy their diving experience. Divers should be aware though that some of the 'fun' at Aliwal is actually launching the boat - the waves breaking against the beach make for an exhilarating boat launch even on a 'calm' day - and sea-sickness tablets are highly recommended.

There are also 3 wrecks at Aliwal, which can be found at a depth of about 30m.

Visitors from the UK or New Zealand will find the landscape of the (optimistically named) Valley of a Thousand Hills very familiar.  Rolling green hills scattered with small villages make this a pleasurable landscape to meander through and enjoy at your leisure. The first English settlers began to pioneer routes inland from the coast during the early 1830s, and the Valley of a Thousand Hills was the first overnight stop. A small 'hospitality industry' began, and has continued to grow and thrive ever since. The Paradise Valley Nature Reserve has several walking trails through the bush, and a number of waterfalls and scenic spots.

PheZulu is a purpose built Zulu 'village' only 35 km from Durban, which offers a theatrical telling of the history of South Africa's people, a tour of a Zulu village, and an exhibition of traditional Zulu dancing, all set against a magnificent view over the Valley of a Thousand Hills.  You can combine PheZulu with a visit to the Crocodile and Snake Farm, which is on the same site. 

Finally, Ghandi spent much of his early career as a lawyer in South Africa, and his first home in the country was only a short drive from central Durban. Unfortunately, the original building was burned to the ground during rioting in the 1980s.  A replica building has been built on the same site, and this is now a museum. There is an extensive photographic record of this extraordinary man's life, although not much else actually remains from his time in South Africa.