High up on the east coast, Durban is South Africa's sub-tropical beach getaway. The city centre overlooks a long, golden beach that is probably the single most culturally diverse spot in Africa.

The Portuguese seafarer Vasco da Gama arrived at the bay of the Durban of today on Christmas Eve in the year 1497, and called it "Terra do Natal", Christmas Country. Because the Portuguese had already established a good port at Maputo, they were not interested in settling in a bay surrounded by mangrove swamps and dense coastal forests. Only sporadically some pirates and ivory or slave dealers laid anchor, and it was much later, in the year 1824, that a proper settlement started, initially named "Port Natal". In 1835 the town was named Durban after the Cape Governor of the time, Sir Benjamin D'Urban.

Durban enjoys a subtropical climate, with very hot, humid summers and mild to warm winters. Rain is frequent during the summer months, but comes in the form of thunderstorms in the afternoons, so the sunny holiday weather is not badly affected. In winter temperatures are more comfortable but still warm enough for beach-going.

Durban, the dynamic metropolis of the province of KwaZulu Natal, is the second most important seaport in South Africa. Durban's economic development experienced and is still experiencing an unprecedented rate of expansion and has been increasing in magnitude ever since. The sugar terminals are the largest in the world and became a fiscal pillar of Durban's economy, the other being the ever growing tourism industry. Over the last few years, Durban has created recognition for itself as the convention centre for South Africa and is now perfectly well equipped for the entertainment of guests.

The Durban International Airport (formerly known as the Louis Botha Airport) is located 15 kilometres south of the city centre and provides flights for international, regional, domestic and charter destinations. Trains run daily to and from all the major towns of South Africa—Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Durban and Port Elizabeth. The Durban railway station is located on Umgeni Road. The station has an information kiosk that can provide details on train service. All public rail transport in the country is controlled by Spoornet. Service standards are good, if not excellent. There are two classes of service—first and third.

Schools in Durban range from top-end private schools to government schools that are open to all. Schools in the former white areas are still much better resourced that schools in the historically disadvantaged areas, which means that many young people get bussed in from the townships every day to go to inner city or suburban schools, where their parents believe they will get a better education. There are also private colleges and schools that teach school subjects as well as other trade, technical or job-specific subjects. Technikons and a University of the highest level complete the educational landscape in the city.

Durban's cultural attractions are perhaps its most appealing diversions. There are Zulu cultural villages to visit, township tours and visits to mosques or the beautiful Temple of Understanding, which has an excellent, inexpensive vegetarian restaurant. Another interesting spot to visit is Inanda, which was the birthplace of both the Shembe religion and Natal Native Congress, which later became the African National Congress. It was also where Mahatma Ghandi, who lived there at the same time these two other movements were starting, pioneered the concept of Satyagrah, or passive resistance.

Durban’s Golden Mile, also known as ‘the mile’, runs the length of the Durban beachfront in the city. It is the promise of gorgeous stretches of golden sands, separated by artificial piers, sub-tropical sunshine and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, together with the reputation as a surfer’s haven that draws thousands of people year upon year.

uShaka Marine World in Durban is a world-class entertainment and tourism destination. uShaka incorporates fresh and sea water, lush vegetation, natural materials and the re-creation of a wreck of a 1940's cargo ship. With the 5th largest aquarium in the world by volume of water, the park is tatesfully themed with a focus on family entertainment.

The Durban Botanical Gardens are famous for the original specimen of a Cycad (Encephalartos woodii) that is still widely acknowledged as probably the rarest plant in the world, as well as for its extensive collection of South African Cycad species. A highlight of the Gardens is the Orchid House which is named after Ernest Thorp, who was resonsible for building it up to its position of world renown as the first "naturalistic" Orchid display house.