Durban is an exceptionally easy city to navigate. Like all modern city’s it has spread out as we have grown, however we have made sure that all the main FIFA World Cup action is close together, in the heart of our beautiful city. The stadium, FIFA Fan Fest™, hotels and beachfront entertainment nodes are all within walking distance from each other.

The main areas of Durban are as follows:

The City, Harbour and Beaches

Durban’s city centre is a bustling business and entertainment hub adjacent to the busiest port in Africa and has a number of attractions.

The City Centre

Our city centre reflects the historical past of the city, with its magnificent old buildings, museums and the city hall. To the west is the city’s Indian district – a fascinating labyrinth of bazaars, alleyways and mosques. Down at street level, the rich cultural blend includes Zulu street vendors selling herbs, fruit and trinkets right outside the Indian general dealers and spice merchants.

The Harbour

Durban’s harbour is the busiest in Africa. The best way to enjoy views of our harbour and city skyline is to take a harbour cruise. A sundowner cruise is even more spectacular as you get to experience the sparkling city lights from a dazzling viewpoint. After sundowners, enjoy a casual meal at one of the many waterfront eateries situated on Wilson’s Wharf.

The Beachfront

In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, we have embarked on a large scale beachfront upgrade. Come 2010 our famous golden mile, which runs from the harbour mouth in the south, to Blue Lagoon in the north will be transformed into a high-energy party strip. Join us and experience the beach festival that will be run on many of our central beaches.

Take a stroll along the uninterrupted promenade, which stretches along our exquisite coastline, starting at Ushaka Marine world - the fifth largest aquarium in the world. Ushaka is also home to the dolphinarium, Wet and Wild (where you can spend your day riding the exhilarating slides) and the Village walk that has a number of shops for you to browse through.

Your meander along the promenade will take you past entertainment nodes offering you a place to enjoy a bite to eat, grab a drink or simply sit and watch the waves. As you walk further up the mile, you’ll pass hotels, the FIFA Fan Fest™ on New Beach and end at one of our two casinos. It is here that you will reach the pedestrian thoroughfare that leads to the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Everything you need to make your 2010 FIFA World Cup™ a glorious experience is within walking distance of each other, and best of all, it’s hugged by our gorgeous golden beaches.

The Umhlanga Coast

Umhlanga is famous for its golden beaches framed by fields of green sugar cane. A mere 15 minutes from our city centre, this hot spot offers a variety of accommodation, restaurants, pubs and clubs. Hiking trails through the Hawaan Nature Reserve allows you to experience the cool tranquil forest environment. And then there’s always the beach providing endless activities - surfing, swimming, fishing, dolphin & whale watching, and micro-lighting. Too much like hard work? Well why not spend your days just lazing on the beach soaking up some sun? Later on take a walk into the Umhlanga Village where you can enjoy fine wining and dining in a relaxed holiday atmosphere.

The Aliwal Coast

Our golden beaches continue down the south of Durban, past Amanzimtoti, or “Toti” as the locals call it, until the border of the Eastern Cape. You’ll find laid back holiday towns dotted all along this coast line, giving you a great place to put your feet up and relax after a hard time cheering on your team!

Along this coastline you will find our internationally renowned reef - Aliwal Shoal. Consistently voted as one of the top 10 reefs in the world, Aliwal Shoal is Durban’s prime diving destination, attracting divers from the four corners of the globe. The reef’s many gullies, overhangs, caves and shelves offer shelter to a myriad of warm water reef and cold-water fish, creating a kaleidoscope of colour. The shoal also has 2 wrecks, the Produce and Nebo. If you are a diver, or are considering scuba diving this is a must! On a good day the shoal offers some of the best diving in the world!

Winter is the best time to dive this amazing piece of the ocean. Not only are you treated to incredible visibility, it’s also the time of year our ragged-tooth sharks, or raggies, as they are affectionately known, converge on the reef as they come to breed. It’s not uncommon to see 20 sharks on a dive during raggie season, making Aliwal Shoal internationally famous amongst divers for sightings of this shy creature.

Durban Suburbs

Another area you’ll hear spoken of often is the Berea. Durban’s oldest residential district found west of the city and rising above the city centre and harbour, offers some of the most phenomenal views of our city, especially at night. It’s palm-lined avenues offer a wonderful accommodation alternative to the city centre and beachfront.

The Berea is also home to Helen Joseph and Florida Roads - entertainment hotspots which are guaranteed to make your 2010 nightlife a time to remember forever!

Durban Townships

Fanned out around the city are the Apartheid-era townships of KwaMashu, Inanda, Umlazi and Cato Manor, to name a few. Originally established to house black people close to the city, these townships have become vibrant neighbourhoods in the post-apartheid era where an exciting new urban African culture is being born. Tours by knowledgeable locals will provide you with an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich community life and social history of these townships. Whilst you are there, visit a shebeen (or hidden bar) and absorb the lively atmosphere of township life where locals meet to eat and drink together.

Valley Of 1000 Hills

An easy 30 minute drive inland from the city centre will bring you to the cool, green suburbs of Kloof, Gillitts, and Hillcrest – and the wild and rugged Valley of 1000 Hills. It is aptly named as the land literally tumbles down to the Umgeni River Valley in thousands of hills dotted with traditional Zulu homesteads, grazing cattle and goats. The 1000 Hills Trail takes you through this area, to Shongweni and Inanda Dams, both of which offer excellent tourist activities, such as game viewing, boating, fishing and camping.

Adjacent to Inanda Dam, you will find one of the most historically significant parts of Durban – the place where Nelson Mandela made his momentous vote in 1994 and the house where Mahatma Gandhi lived for many years.