BY Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe
As holiday makers head to KwaZulu Natal, one of the capitals of the festive season owing to its great weather, the warm Indian Ocean, and lots to offer holiday makers from luxury to budget stays. With Durban being the unofficial spice capital of South Africa that bursts with great flavours and amazingly warm people, it is a must-visit. But KZN has much more to offer than Durban alone. We Xplore some of the gems worth checking out this festive season and ensure there is something new to see or do throughout your stay.
Cuisine
When you land in Durban, first get your spice craving out of the way by having an aromatic curry dish of your choice. The Jewel of India restaurant at Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom in Umhlanga, on the North Coast, is an important key point. The chefs at this beautiful laid-out restaurant take you on an unforgettable journey of the aromatic flavours of India with an extensive menu that offers a wide variety of dishes. After your sumptuous meal, you can try your luck at the wide variety of slot machines which include touch-bet Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, and Poker, or even decide on real Table games.
Picture perfect opportunity
The iconic Umhlanga Pier is a must-visit even if for a photo opportunity to get your social media ablaze about your holiday. This is the spot where people from all over the world watch the most amazing sunset and click away while gazing into the horizon, but you can take perfect pictures at any time of the day at this much-loved spot.
Watersport
Owing to the warm Indian Ocean, watersport is big in Durban and there is something for everyone to enjoy. Umdloti, Umhlanga, or Ballito are the beaches that you need to check out even if it’s just to lie on the sand and read a book, swim, or surf to your heart’s content. For adventurous adrenaline junkies, there is shark diving, snorkelling, scuba, kitesurfing, and deep-sea fishing, among the activities that get your heart racing. You can also book a helicopter or Microlite to view whales from the sky and even schools of sardines during the annual sardine run.
Sharks experience
For a true bucket list experience, venture out to the Natal Sharks Board and join divers for an interactive tour down Durban’s Gold Mile aboard a boat at dawn when there is a high chance of seeing sharks, dolphins, whales, and seabirds. If you have a stomach for it, you can also watch marine scientists dissect the bodies of dead sharks as part of their research.
Bird watching
Nature lovers are also spoilt for choice to spot rare bird at Umgeni River Bird Park, with about 200 bird species found in the park. You can also unleash the Indiana Jones in you, without the dramatic effects, and visit Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve trails for a magnificent sights of prehistoric shell midden.
Township tours
A trip to Durban is not complete without a heart-thumping trip to the township to soak in the cultural diversity. Inanda and KwaMashu offer cultural trips where you get to interact with locals and learn about the rich heritage of the Zulu kingdom and its resilient people. For history lovers, you get to walk the same path as some of the world’s greatest leaders such as John Langalibalele Dube, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela while listening to their inspirational stories. These tours end at a traditional shisanyama for some mouth-watering braai and lots of laughter with new-found friends.
Adventure
MacBanana Adventure Park is a secret located in KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, in Port Edward. Experience three zip line courses through a banana plantation with added challenges at Zip Rope Adventure Park. For older children (10+) and adults, a paintball game in a deliberately created combat zone will drive you insane. Consider archery or air gunning. Ages 16 and up may ride 4×4 quad bike routes around the farm in seven groups. On this guided trip, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes tour of the unique banana farm. Conquer Obstacle Park is an adult course with 20 obstacles and a kids’ play area to entertain them for hours.
Golf
For golfers, there is a wide selection of world-class courses to choose from around Durban. You can tee-off at the much-loved Zimbali Country Club, or visit Durban Country Club, the Umhlali Country Club and Prince’s Grant, all these clubs can be found along the north coast.
