Things to do in  KwaZulu-Natal

Set at nearly 10,000 feet (2,865 meters) above sea level, Sani Pass is the gateway between KwaZulu-Natal and the landlocked mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Via 4-wheel-drive, experience the rugged dirt road cut with hairpin turns on a steep climb to the top of Sani Pass. Your reward is a bumpy adventure along with panoramic views.

Built on the site of the 1910 Indian Market, Victoria Street Market is Durban’s oldest market. With more than 200 stalls spread across two stories, the gaudy modern building houses an intoxicating blend of India and Africa. Known to locals simply as “The Vic,” it offers everything from spices to luggage to Indian fabrics to African souvenirs, including Zulu beadwork.

It’s easy to see why iSimangaliso Wetland Park was South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site: Here you’ll find long swathes of beach populated by birds and sea turtles, while crocodiles, hippos, and elephants make their homes in the swamps further inland. This lush, coastal environment is best explored by boat as you discover the biodiversity for which South Africa is famous.

Durban City Hall is a downtown Durban landmark. An exuberant neo-baroque building, it features a double-height stripy portico topped off with a towering dome, four smaller domes, and plenty of sculptures. In addition to municipal chambers, it’s also home to the Durban Art Gallery, the Durban Natural Science Museum, a library, and an auditorium.

Established in 1849, Africa’s oldest botanic gardens spread across 37 acres. With winding paths, manicured lawns, and a diverse array of flora, the spot is a green oasis just outside the city. You’ll find treasures, including the Orchid House–home to more than 8,000 plants–and the Butterfly Garden, which highlights species native to KwaZulu-Natal.

The Moses Mabhida Stadium, built to host the 2010 World Cup games, is one of the country’s top sport and concert venues. Its modern architecture and massive arch set it apart on the Durban waterfront. Overlook the city from a viewing platform at the top of the arch and push your limits on the world’s largest stadium swing.

The white water of Howick Falls plunges 310 feet (95 meters) into a pool, which is said to be the home of Inkanyamba, a huge serpent-like creature with the head of a horse. Its legendary temper is blamed for the region’s seasonal storms, while its presence gives the waterfall the name KwaNogqaza, meaning place of the tall one.

The rolling green countryside outside Howick is idyllic but marks a dark moment in South Africa’s complex past. In 1962, anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested on the road. He would be imprisoned for 27 years before gaining his freedom and becoming South Africa’s first president. Today, the site of his capture is marked by a visitor center and a stunning sculpture.

Surrounded by South Africa’s scenic mountains and home to wildlife, villages, and some of the best views in the Kwa-Zulu Natal region, Valley of a Thousand Hills offers a rural countryside experience not far from beaches and highrises of Durban. The valley’s mix of culture and hospitality make it a popular holiday destination for locals and tourists alike.

With massive water slides, impressive sea life, and white-sand beaches, Ushaka Marine World is one of Durban’s top waterfront attractions. This theme park and aquarium is home to eight different attractions. Visitors can observe sea life in the aquarium, race down slides, challenge themselves on a ropes course, and more.

The greatest victory in Zulu history—and likely the worst defeat in British military history—happened at Isandlwana in 1879, when Zulu warriors armed mainly with traditional weapons massacred a British force equipped with guns and cannons. Some of the survivors would go on to fight at nearby Rorke’s Drift, depicted in the 1964 British film Zulu.

Immortalized in the 1964 film Zulu, Rorke’s Drift was the site of one of the great defenses in British military history. In 1879, 150 British soldiers, some sick or wounded, fought off around 4,000 Zulu warriors soon after Zulu forces triumphed at Isandlwana. Today, a museum/orientation center, a memorial, and rock cairns commemorate them.

Located in a 19th-century villa that was once home to anthropologist and activist Esther Roberts, Durban’s Phansi Museum hosts a world-class collection of Southern African art and artifacts. Galleries feature statues, body art, beadwork, pottery, and textiles, while the space also hosts classes, book launches, workshops, and exhibitions.

Set in a colonnaded 1927 building that once housed the Department of Native Affairs (a key element in the machinery of apartheid), the KwaMuhle Museum explores how the racist system developed in colonial Durban. Displays show how the Durban Corporation used beer proceeds to break apart families and divide communities, and showcase the impact of apartheid on society.

A stretch of white-sand beaches lined by a boardwalk on one side and the warm Indian Ocean on the other, the Golden Mile is what draws many travelers to Durban. Whether you’re looking to sunbathe, visit a few cultural attractions, or experience the city’s nightlife, the Golden Mile has it all.