DURBAN Day Tours

Our tour begins as we travel along the brand-new Golden Mile, the revitalised beachfront promenade which hugs the beckoning beaches of Durban viewing the newly upgraded Point Waterfront. We move through the City, viewing the majestic City Hall, and enjoying its humorous history! We continue to the small craft harbour viewing the 8th largest harbour in the world. Drive past the sugar terminals and very busy harbour warehouses on our way to the University of Natal – Durban Campus where we view lovely sights of the harbour down below. Then we visit the bustling African/Indian Markets at Warwick Triangle – home to 9 distinct markets developed around Durban’s largest public transport interchange and where approximately 6 000 street vendors ply their trade, to an average of 460 000 daily commuters – an authentic experience. From culture to nature, we visit the peaceful Durban Botanic Gardens founded in 1849, a treasure trove of massive trees from Asia, Africa and America, and a magnificent orchid house. We then conclude with a visit to an icon of Kwazulu Natal, the Moses Mabhida Stadium where you will have the option of experiencing the cable car ride (own account) to the top of the Stadium for that phenomenal view of Durban and its surroundings.

Discover the beauty of the undulating Drakensberg Mountain range as we travel through such breath-taking vistas as we visit the World Heritage Site of Giant’s Castle. The enigmatic Bushman paintings in the vicinity are not far, so we set off on foot for a leisurely 3km round hike to the site of the caves to discover this magical legacy of the bushmen (moderate fitness level required). Our guide there will share his knowledge of the paintings which date back 2 000 years. We’re bound to have built up an appetite, so we’ll tuck into the hearty lunch laid on. Our return to Durban is via a visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture site – a historically significant moment in South African history and now commemorated with a world class sculpture, in memory of Nelson Mandela and his heroic role in the struggle against apartheid.

For those with a sense of adventure, a 4x4 drive up the highest road pass in Africa will certainly provide you with a hefty dose of adrenalin. For your efforts, you’ll be rewarded with its breathtaking scenery. From Durban, we drive through the green hills of the Midlands towards the little country town of Underberg. Here, our 4x4 vehicle awaits us...the only form of transport equipped to tackle Sani Pass! You’ll have your passport stamped as we enter the Kingdom of Lesotho, and we stop at a nearby Sotho Village for you to enjoy a taste of the local culture. Lunch is served at the highest pub in Africa – truly – and, it stands to reason, the views are utterly breath-taking. Once you’ve recovered your breath, we wind down the Pass very slowly, and wind our way gently back to Durban. You’ll certainly have had a day filled with altitude!  A passport is required & visa conditions may apply.

Historians will love it for sure, but if you enjoy a really great story, the Battlefields tour is for you too – it’s both a thriller and a drama. KwaZulu-Natal is rich in Anglo-Zulu war history, where two of the most famous, at times heart-wrenching battles fought between the Zulu and British Armies took place. We visit the eerie battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, and let your imagination paint mental pictures of the battle scenes played out here. Our tour includes lunch, and we wind our way home thereafter through some of the most spectacular scenery in the province of Kwazulu Natal. 

* A specialist Battlefield Guide is available at a surcharge on request.
 

Experience traditional Zulu culture and customs at the largest Zulu kraal in all of Zululand, look into the future with an iSangoma or traditional healer...all this and more, packed into one exhilarating day. We’ve laid on some traditional Zulu beer for you to sample, while the craftsmen and community who make the spears, shields, beadwork, pots and their huts, open their doors so you can witness their skills and artistry. The Zulu dancers will thrill with their grace and energy, and we’ve made sure you’re treated to a most satisfying lunchtime feast! Come live a day in the life of a traditional community – you’ll find it informative and a far cry from anything you’ve ever experienced!

Arrive at the historical memorial monument by 10h00 – a tribute to Nelson Mandela. It was here that Nelson Mandela was arrested while driving incognito from Durban to Johannesburg on the 5th of August 1962, after having been on the run from the Security Police for seventeen months and where he said goodbye to freedom for 27 years. Spend time marvelling at the fascinating sculpture, by artist Marco Cianfanelli. Made up of 50 steel poles that symbolize the 50th Anniversary of the arrest, they range in height from 6 – 10 meters, and, over 20 metres wide, and lined up, form a portrait of Mandela, when viewed from a distance of 35 meters. We depart for Tsonga Shoes & Bags. The time-perfected art of hand-stitching beautifully-styled leather uppers to their uniquely designed soles is a Tsonga tradition, kept alive by local Zulu women who craft each shoe and handbag with a spirit of their authentic African heritage. Our next stop is Swissland Cheese! Here the pure, healthy milk of a small herd of free-roaming goats, is made into a large range of Swissland goat cheeses, free of antibiotics and colourants. Enjoy a tea and cheese picnic. We visit Ardmore Ceramic Art, where functional, superb quality ceramic and non-ceramic products including dinnerware, tapestries, furniture, fabrics for soft furnishings, and more, are on offer. Artists from the Ardmore studio are given training, direction, materials, a studio and a guaranteed market for their work, and, over the years, have won numerous awards and exhibited widely in South Africa andaround the world. Before returning to Durban, stop at Blueberry Hill for tea and eats, while taking in the beautiful views across the Drakensberg Mountains. The adjacent shop stocks a range of beautifully crafted furniture, home accessories and other goodies.  Available daily on request.

This magnificent Big Five game park is not only home to 84 species of game, but it’s the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, world-renowned for its highly successful white rhino conservation programme. A day on safari in the magical Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park doesn’t stop at the thrill of searching for the Big Five, but the hilly terrain offers spectacular views of the Reserve and your camera is going to love it. We’ve arranged lunch at the lofty Hilltop Camp – or similar – and it’ll give you a chance to check how close your bird count has come to the 425 listed birds in the Park. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is Kwazulu-Natal’s pride and joy, and after your visit, you’ll understand why.