About Durban

Durban is situated in the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. Durban budget travel offers the ideal holiday for sun and fun.

Durban Budget Travel

Durban budget travel is very easy with great value for money backpacking tours and fantastic highlights. Below is useful information on Durban to help you plan your budget holiday in Durban. We offer a variety of budget tours and backpacking advice in Durban.

Airports

Nearest Durban airports include:
• Durban International Airport

Birdlife

Durban birdlife is rich and diverse, with a wide range of habitats and a number of parks and nature reserves offering a spectacular array of endemic and migratory coastal and inland birds across the city. Umgeni River Bird Park is one of the best places in Durban for birdwatching and offers a huge range of species.

Conservation

With a number of marine, game and nature reserves within the city and surrounds, Durban conservation efforts play a key role in preserving precious wildlife and plantlife. One of the largest conservation efforts is run by Natal Sharks Board, and seeks to educate the public on sharks, while protecting current shark populations with eco-friendly control methods.

Culture

Durban cultures include the following influences:
• Indian culture plays a key role in cuisine, music and dance
• Zulu culture is also a key part of the cultural mix
• Food and cuisine is a blend of Indian, African and Western
• Street culture is popular with younger generations

Customs

Durban customs allows for free import of the following:
• Wine - up to 2 litres
• Spirits and other alcoholic beverages - up to 1 litre in total
• Cigarettes - up to 200
• Cigars - up to 20
• Cigarette or pipe tobacco - up to 250g
• Perfume - up to 50ml
• Eau de toilette up to 250ml

Health

Durban health facilities are generally good ' with a wide range of excellent private clinics and hospitals, and overcrowded but fair government sponsored facilities. There are a wide number of pharmacies and local doctors available, and with safe drinking water, no malaria and very few major health risks, Durban visits are generally fuss-free.

AIDS

Durban HIV/AIDS basic precautions include the following:
• Don’t ever share needles or syringes
• Practice safe sex at all times
• Equipment should be sterilized
• If you require self-administered injections, take an adequate supply of your own needles
• Avoid tattoos, acupuncture treatment or body piercing from suspect or unsterile operators

Vaccinations

Recommended inoculations for travel to Durban are:
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Rabies
• Tetanus

Languages

Durban languages include the following:
• English
• Afrikaans
• Zulu

Malaria

Durban is a malaria free zone, so you will not have to worry about malaria medication, unless you are planning to travel to a malaria zone in South Africa or to a known malaria zone country in Africa. If you are travelling to a malaria zone after your visit to Durban, talk to a local doctor about malaria medication you will need to take.

Money

Durban money and banking information includes:
• Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9h00 ' 15h00, and Saturdays from 8h30-11h30
• ATMs can be found across the entire city, especially within malls or shopping areas
• Online banking can be done at any internet cafe
• Foreign exchange facilities are widely available at malls, airport, hotels and banks
• Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at almost all shops, hotels and restaurants

People

Durban people includes the following groups:
• Black Africans 68.30%
• Asians or Indians 19.90%
• Whites 8.98%
• Coloureds 2.89%

Phrase

Durban local phrases include:
• Goodbye ' Totsiens (Afrikaans)
• Good morning - Gooie more (Afrikaans)
• Thank you ' Dankie (Afrikaans)
• Hamba Kahle - go well (Zulu)
• Sawubona ' Hello (Zulu)

Vaccinations

Recommended inoculations for travel to Durban are:
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Rabies
• Tetanus

Plants

Durban plants are rich and diverse, with an array of tropical vegetation to be seen across the city. With a range of ecosystems including wetlands, forests, coastal areas and woodlands, the country is very green most of the year round. There are also a number of key botanical gardens and nature reserves to be found in Durban.

Religion

Durban religion includes the following groups:
• Christian 68.0%
• No religion 15.5%
• Hindu 11.3%
• Muslim 3.2%
• Traditional beliefs 1.9%
• Jewish 0.1%

Safety Tips

• Durban is mostly safe to visit however some basic precautions are advised
• Do not swim beyond protected shark net areas, and listen to life guards on duty who will tell you if there are sharks within the area
• Keep valuables out of sight and secure in a moneybag under your shirt
• It is illegal to talk on a mobile phone while you are driving in South Africa
• Avoid walking alone in remote areas, especially after dark

Transport

Durban local transport options include:
• Car
• Taxi
• Rickshaw
• Bus
• Train

Travel Books

Durban recommended travel books include:
• Durban Destination Map by National Geographic
• Undressing Durban by Rob Pattman
• Durban in a Nutshell by Nutshell Publications
• A new history of the Durban Botanic Gardens by Donal P. McCracken
• Durban's Heritage Explored: On Walks and Drives Around the City by Peter Johnston, Hyacithia Naidoo and John Churchill Simpson

Visa Requirements

Get more information on visas in South Africa

What To Buy

• Durban guide book with a good map
• Plug adapter for UK and US visitors
• Good sized backpack plus a decent moneybag Sleeping bag if you are on a camping or overland tour

What To Pack

Sunglasses, sunhat and sunscreen, plus swimming costume
• Casual clothes plus smart clothes for dinner or drinks at night
• Comfortable walking shoes plus sandals
• Warm jacket for cooler summer days and warm clothes for winter visits
• Camera, spare batteries and film or memory cards plus binoculars

When To Go

• Durban has good weather all year round
• Winter runs through May to July and is slightly cooler
• Summer runs through October to February and is hotter and humid

Wildlife

Durban wildlife ranges from marine animals to large game, with a wide range of parks, aquariums, reserves and game farms within the surrounding areas of Durban. Some of the more famous species include sharks, as well as reptiles which can be found in the Snake Park. Game includes rhino, antelope, zebra and many other species.