Africa's bewitching seaside playground in the sun, Durban has from its earliest days possessed a special charm, a certain mystique that adds 'something extra' to the meeting of the warm Indian Ocean, radiant golden sands and lush sub-tropical greenery. Durban offers the broadest possible spectrum of unforgettable experiences, with the cultural wonders of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, the long and tranquil beaches of The South and up-market ambience of the historic and culturally-rich Sugar Coast.

Durban is where the proud Zulu nation meets East and West, a wealth of influences to entertain and enthrall with traditional warrior dancers, mystic fire-walkers and colonial heritage. Sample the unique vibrancy of township life, the finest curries outside India and a calendar filled with thrilling, spectacular events.

We're sports-crazy and equipped for it, hosting countless international contests at our magnificent venues - including the beach. While estate golf inland features high on the list of courses that abound, you can also tee off alongside the ocean or pause on the green as horses thunder by on race day. Durban hosts two of our country's premier horseracing draw-cards, but should you not fancy their odds, there are always the slot-machines and gaming tables of our Sugar Mill casino. For a more relaxing experience, spend the day strolling through Durban's oldest natural attraction - the Botanic Gardens, renowned for the finest collection of botanic species anywhere in Africa, or visit Mitchell Park, a large and tree-filled menagerie that boasts a magnificent aviary complex and colony of tortoise that certainly appear to be as old as Durban itself.

Sophisticated and cosmopolitan, Durban after dark is abuzz with elegant lounges, funky taverns and cozy inns, distinctive local theatre and live music, trendy clubs, pubs and discos. Rave 'till dawn and catch sunrise over the vast Indian Ocean horizon - this is nightlife in a modern, authentic African metropolis.

• The uShaka Marine World theme park, oceanarium, dolphinarium and oceanographic research institute on Durban’s Point.
• Dolphin spotting or lazing the days away on the coastline between the Umdloti and Tugela rivers – the Dolphin Coast.
• The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, one of the largest game parks in South Africa and home to the Big Five, as well as cheetah and wild dogs.
• The eMakhosini Valley, birthplace of King Shaka. The new Valley of Zulu Kings tells visitors all about the Zulu nation.
• The Greater St Lucia Wetlands, with some of the highest forested dunes in the world, and an abundance of fish and birds.
• Travelling the Hibiscus Coast between Umkomaas and the Wild Coast on the Banana Express train.
• The Royal Natal National Park offers many scenic highlights, including the Amphitheatre, Mont-aux-Sources and the Tugela Falls.
• The Battlefields Route in northern KwaZulu-Natal has the highest concentration of battlefields and related military sites in South Africa.