Durban - In Durban for the long weekend? What do you do to get the real Durban experience and make the most of Durban’s famed sunny skies and cool waters?
The Independent on Saturday brings you the awesome 24-hour Durban bucket list - if you do these, you know you’ve done Durban.
And when you’re leaving Durban’s shores, please buy an “I Heart Durban” hat and support the local traders.
Bunny chow
No person can walk away from Durban without having eaten a bunny chow. It’s iconic; it’s known the world over, and despite people trying to emulate it overseas, quite frankly nothing beats a bunny made in Durban. Quite often the beans bunny is tastier than a mutton bunny! Maybe it’s the salty air that accompanies the tasty filling, but no trip is complete without the culinary delight that is the bunny chow.
Blue Lagoon
People have long bemoaned the fact that Blue Lagoon lacked the atmosphere of years gone by - when you could rock up in a shiny new vehicle, sound pumping and check out the who’s who of the Durban scene. Even with a revamped parking area, new lighting and roads, all part of the municipality’s upgrade programme, something was still missing.
It may well have been that Coconut Grove - where you could grab a good bite in the form of a pizza, burger or bunny - completed an outing to the popular spot. This weekend, much to the delight of locals, the Lugz Food Emporium opens, recreating the nostalgia of days gone by.
Moses Mabhida Stadium
You can see it from most areas in Durban and when you at the top of it, you can see all of Durban. It’s Durban’s iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium.
And if you are an adrenalin junkie looking to do something adventurous, you have to try the Big Rush Big Swing. It was named the world’s tallest swing by the Guinness Book of Records in May 2011.
After you have had a lower body workout by walking up hundreds of steps to the top of the stadium, you then battle your nerves in taking a leap by swinging in a massive 220m arc - all the way to the centre of the stadium, where loved ones can sit and watch.
While at the stadium, you can also go up in the Sky Car for a bird’s-eye view of Durban. Then, take a Segway all along Durban’s beachfront and stop off at one of the dozens of restaurants on the famous strip.
Stand-up paddling
You can’t be in Durban and not go to the beach. Surfing is always the cool thing to do, but this time around try something different.
Stand-up paddling, or paddle-boarding, is a different kind of water sport and a great way to build upper-body and core strength.
Stand-up paddling basically looks like you are gliding across the water, with the oar slicing its way in the direction you want to go.
uShaka Marine World
Again, water, water everywhere is what you get in Durban. And for a great Durban experience, where families can relax and have fun in the water, as well as enjoy thrilling rides, uShaka can keep young ones entertained for hours on end. Be prepared to carry lots of towels and sunscreen, but adding a trip to uShaka will definitely be worth it.
And, if you have extra time to spend in beautiful KZN, there are many gorgeous places to visit just hours away from Durban. From the Drakensberg and the Midlands to the Blue Flag beaches on the South Coast, there is no shortage of things to do and see this holiday season.
Arthi Sanpath, Independent on Saturday