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64°F / 18°C
(Mostly Cloudy. Mild.)
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Durban is often described as the liveliest and most 'African’ city in South Africa. The central streets are alive with the general hubbub of people, and the remnants of colonial charm and beach-living can be totally overwhelming. Don't choose central Durban for a quiet, restful holiday. Durban is also noted for its 'Golden Mile' of beach-front but this Miami-style stretch has lost some of its sheen, the city area behind it has becoming a little sleazy. There is nothing against staying in this area the beaches are wonderful and there are plenty of established hotels but expect it to be busy, consisting of high-rise, chain hotels. Durban is also referred to as the 'Gateway to KwaZulu-Natal' which indicate the many delights of the interior or along the coast north and south. However, this is not to say Durban has nothing to offer far from it.
Bear in mind that Durban remains a popular destination for families from Johannesburg, especially in the weeks before and after Christmas. If you can face the crowds at this time of year be sure to book accommodation early.
City Centre
All of Durban's main hotels are located along the Golden Mile, except for the Royal Hotel a famous five star hotel and Durban institution located in the historic city centre. At the cheaper end of the scale try the Albany Hotel.
Golden Mile
Most of the hotels along the Golden Mile are large such as the Holiday Inn, Durban, or the Blue Waters Hotel. Sun International operates a good standard catering for all pockets, starting at the bottom end with the Holiday Inn Garden Court, and rising to the top with the Beverley Hills Sun Inter-Continental. Guests can be assured of decent, clean rooms, but for those looking for places of particular character this is not the area to look though there are a–for something more individual, look at the smaller establishments in the suburbs like Fig Tree Cottage in Kloof. In addition to the big hotels, the Golden Mile offers large self-catering complexes mostly run by the RCI organization.
Berea/Durban North/Kloof
Durban has some very pleasant suburbs on the slopes around the city, such as Berea, Durban North and Kloof. These established areas are calmer than the central district, but still within easy reach of the centre and the Golden Mile, with pleasant shopping centres and places of interest in the area. You will not find large hotels in such areas, but there are bed and breakfasts, lodges and self-catering rooms aplenty, many of a good standard and always with a warm, Durban welcome. Sica's, in Berea, offers friendly, guest-house style accommodation, or you could try the Kloof Falls Lodge for a warm Durban welcome, or the Elephant House, the oldest house in Durban, now a historic bed and breakfast.
Umhlanga
Increasingly, for a restful beach holiday, people are choosing Umhlanga, just north of Durban. Try the Umhlanga Rocks Hotel, set in this up-market area with plenty of good accommodation, a lovely coastline and good beaches, good walks and bird-life around the lagoon and with plenty of amenities too. You could also try the elegant Fleetwood-on-Sea, offering the best in self-catering apartments. It is only a short drive south from Umhlanga into Durban’s city centre. To the south of Durban there are beach resorts, although none as sophisticated as Umhlanga.
Don't limit your horizons to the city of Durban as surrounding suburbs and areas have an enormous amount to offer, and Durban is only one aspect. The scenery in the Drakensberg is spectacular and the region between the Southern Drakensberg and Durban (the Midlands) is very pretty, offering plenty of horse-riding and other outdoor activities. It is cooler here than Durban (which can be very humid), and the famous Midlands Meander, an arts route, is attractive. There are only small country hotels, but again, plenty of bed and breakfast and lodge accommodation. If you prefer quiet out of town areas, then this is an attractive option, being close enough to venture into the city during the daytime (there are fast roads), heading back to the cool mountains at night.
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