Page 288 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

286  THE EAST C O AST AND INTERIOR

1 Durban Dangerous Creatures is a snake
and reptile park; and the Village
Vasco Da Gama’s Port Natal was renamed Durban in honour of Walk is an attractive open-air
Cape Governor Benjamin D’Urban, after Zulu chief Shaka gave shopping and restaurant mall.
the land to the British in 1824. Today, the former trading post is At the northern end of the
South Africa’s principal harbour and the holiday capital of Golden Mile on Battery Beach,
Suncoast Casino and Enter-
KwaZulu-Natal. Sunny days and warm waters attract visitors to tainment World is another
a beachfront flanked by high-rise hotels. Most attractions are entertainment complex built in
on the Golden Mile, but Durban also offers historic buildings, an Art Deco Miami Beach style.
museums, theatres and exciting markets. As well as the casino, there is a
cinema, restaurants, bars, a fast-
food court and two hotels.
Behind Battery Beach, the
Moses Mabhiba Stadium was
built for the 2010 FIFA World
Cup and named after an anti-
apartheid activist. The “arc of
triumph” over the top is now
Durban’s most striking
landmark and is beautifully lit at
night. As well as hosting soccer
matches and concerts, the
stadium also has the SkyCar, a
funicular railway car that climbs
the curve to the top of the arc,
and other activities including
the Adventure Walk up and
down the 550 steps and the
The Paddling Pools on Durban’s Golden Mile Big Rush Swing, a bungee-
like 220-m (720 ft) swing
Exploring Durban in beads and tall, elaborate beneath it.
Most of the attractions located headdresses, which are a curious
along the beachfront are amalgamation of traditional Moses Mabhiba Stadium
within walking distance of the African practices and Indian Isaiah Ntshangase Rd. Tel 031 582
hotels. By far the most useful influences. At the southern end, 8242. Open 10am–5pm daily.
of Durban’s bus services is the the leading Golden Mile & 8 = ∑ mmstadium.com
People Mover, which passes by attraction is uShaka Marine  Suncoast Casino and
every 15 minutes (5am–10pm). World, a massive beachfront Entertainment World
The three routes are the Beach complex that offers numerous Suncoast Boulevard. Tel 031
Line between Suncoast Casino attractions. Sea World is an 328 3000. 7 - 0 =
and Entertainment World in the aquarium where the highlight is ∑ suncoastcasino.co.za
north and uShaka Marine World the phantom ship that visitors  uShaka Marine World
in the south; The City Line that can walk through to see 1 King Shaka Ave, Point. Tel 031
serves the city centre; and the ragged-tooth sharks and game 328 8000. Open 9am–5pm daily.
Circle Line, a wider loop that fish; Wet ‘n’ Wild has swimming & 7 - 0 =
takes in Victoria Embankment pools, waterslides and rides; ∑ ushakamarineworld.co.za
and the railway station.
The Golden Mile
OR Tambo Parade.
The land side of this 6-km
(4-mile) long holiday precinct is
lined with a continuous row of
hotels, while the seaward edge
consists of amusement parks, an
aerial cableway, craft sellers,
pubs, restaurants, ice-cream
parlours, piers, sandy beaches
and a promenade.
Along the Golden Mile
visitors will find many brightly
decorated rickshaws. Their
colourful drivers are festooned Durban’s impressive Moses Mabhiba Stadium
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p389 and pp407–8

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