As a holiday city, Durban has a wealth of activities aimed at children, both indoors and outdoors.

Beaches
The biggest attractions are the city’s beaches, which are family-friendly and can be used throughout the year. Among the most popular beaches are Addington, North Beach and Battery Beach, while Umhlanga Rocks in the north is probably the most sought-after destination. There are life guards on duty for these beaches from 8am to 5pm, and it is advisable to bathe only within the marked-out areas. Some sections are reserved for bathers, while others are for surfers.

uShaka Marine World
This is one of the city's finest facilities and an irresistible magnet for children. Located on a strip of land between the Golden Mile beachfront and the harbour, it comprises four sections, uShaka Sea World, uShaka Wet 'n Wild, uShaka Beach and uShaka Village Walk. Attractions include a massive aquarium, a private beach, a water theme park with slides and a shopping mall.

Durban Gateway theatre of shopping
Gateway is regarded as the largest shopping centre in the Southern hemisphere. It is located in Umhlanga alongside the N2 highway, north of Durban. Besides the many shops and department stores, it also has fabulous facilities for children. There are cinemas, a theatre, a surfing wave house, a skate part, the world’s highest climbing wall, a go-kart track, a games arcade and children’s rides. So, if the weather is inclement or the family needs a break from the sun, you know where to go.

Fitzsimons Snake Park
Fitzsimons Snake Park has about 120 different indigenous species of snakes, including mambas, cobras and puff adders, as well as crocodiles, iguanas and tortoises. On weekends and during the holiday seasons there are various demonstrations. Attached to the park are a snake research institute and a serum-collection station.

Natal Sharks Board
Visitors who want to know more about sharks should definitely visit the Natal Sharks Board, a research institute established in 1964 near Umhlanga Rocks. Children find the subject fascinating and are surprised to discover that the KwaZulu Natal coast is protected from sharks by more than 400 nets placed in the sea. The facility offers a surround-sound multi-media presentation with special effects, shark dissections and a display hall.

Besides the museums and historical buildings in the city, day trips into the heart of the traditional Zulu countryside and visits to the national parks provide visitors with a wealth of cultural opportunities.

PheZulu Safari Park
This park is located in a very scenic area known as the Valley of a Thousand Hills, located inland from Durban. It consists of a typical Zulu village, where you are able to see the traditional Zulu way of life. It also offers tribal dance performances. The park contains some of the oldest and largest Nile crocodiles in captivity as well as an exhibition of snakes. Off-road trips into the Valley of a Thousand Hills are available.

Durban Art Gallery
Containing collections from Europe, Asia and Africa dating from the 15th century to the modern day, the gallery in Smith Street is also notable for the monthly ‘Red Eye Art’ event, featuring the work of young South African artists, designers and performers.

The Campbell Collection
Although open by appointment only (the best way to see this museum is as part of an organized tour) this is well worth the effort. It includes the Mashu Museum of Ethnology, a major collection of native cultural items, and a major photographic and literary archive. It is located at 220 Marriott Road, Berea.

Kwa Muhle Museum
Housed in the notorious former Native Administration Department in Ordnance Road, from which Durban’s labour control system was administered in apartheid times, this museum tells the tale of darker times, and aims to offer an unbiased interpretation of life for ordinary South Africans under the ‘old’ regime. It gives visitors a fascinating glimpse into the city’s Apartheid past.

As a major holiday destination, Durban has a wealth of restaurants. You can find cuisine from all corners of the globe, but the most popular are the many Indian curry houses and the restaurants offering fresh seafood. You can also find traditional African dishes.

While the city centre is bustling by day, it tends to empty out at the end of the working day. Some of the top CBD hotels, like the Royal and the Hilton have excellent food outlets, but most of the better restaurants are located in the harbour area, along the Golden Mile and in trendy suburbs like Morningside and Berea. For some really interesting eateries, try Florida Road in Morningside. uShaka Marine World in the harbour has some excellent restaurants, some of which are located in the aquarium centre with views of marine life.

There are always a number of excellent restaurants situated up and down the coast from Durban. Excellent highways along the coast mean it is quite feasible to get for resort areas like Umhalanga Rocks or Umdloti for a meal. Many of the restaurants offer live music, a strong point of Durban’s nightlife.

For shopping fans, Durban has no shortage of first-rate malls, with hundreds of boutiques and designer shops. The big daddy of them all is the Durban Gateway theatre of shopping, which is the largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere. Besides a wealth of shops, it also offers great entertainment facilities, including many restaurants, cinemas, an IMAX cinema, a theatre and an art gallery.

A centre with a particularly strong holiday atmosphere is The Wheel, a modern entertainment and shopping complex just off the Golden Mile and close to the uShaka Marine World. With over 140 shops, restaurants and nightspots, it is notable for the huge Ferris wheel over its entrance.

For a more local feel, head for the Victoria Market. Here you will find a fascinating mix of Africa and the Orient, with more than 180 stalls selling everything from exotic spices and Indian fashion to African woodcarvings and basketwork. For curios, the best places to shop are the many flea markets that spring up around the city. A particularly good one is held on weekends opposite North Beach on the Golden Mile.

With its mild climate, Durban is perfect for all outdoor activities. In and around the city, there is shortage of water sports while specialist climbing, hot air ballooning and 4x4 trail riding is best enjoyed at resorts in the Drakensberg Mountains, about two hours inland from the city.

Sports Clubs
If you are keen on a game of tennis, squash, bowls or any of the traditional country club games, you can become a guest at one of the many Durban sports clubs. Many offer daily or visitor memberships, and it is a great way to meet the local residents.

Golf Clubs
The city has some excellent golf clubs, including the championship standard Durban Golf Club, regarded by many to have the finest course in the country. It is relatively easy to play at any of the clubs and most concierges will have full details of daily memberships at your nearest course. Most courses offer a caddy service and very reasonable green fees by internationals standards.

Sailing and watersport
Besides the wealth of sports available along the coast, you can also head inland to the Midmar Dam for flat water sailing and fishing. The dam is near Pietermaritzburg, about an hour’s drive inland from Durban.

Mountaineering
There are three great locations for mountaineering at the many first-class resorts in the Drakensberg Mountains. You can also take part in abseiling, paragliding and hot air ballooning at many resorts.

Durban Botanic Gardens
These botanic gardens are a must for every visitor. Located on the slopes of Berea Hill to the northwest of the city centre, the gardens contain a wealth of plants, including some very rare species. Established in 1849, attractions include an orchid house, a herb garden and a garden where blind people can touch the plants. The gardens attract at least 50 different species of birds.

Harbour and coastal cruises
Setting off from the Pleasure Cruise Terminal in the harbour, you can take an interesting cruise around the massive Durban harbour, with its huge sugar terminal, or an exhilarating trip along the coast to Umhlanga Rocks. Located nearby is the Royal Natal Yacht Club, where international travellers meet up with local sailing folk.

Umgeni River Bird Park
Located on the banks of the Umgeni River, the park offers a network of paths from which visitors can observe a variety of indigenous and exotic birds. These include loeries, cockatoos and aras.