The colorful rickshaws that you see along the beachfront are almost a landmark in and of themselves. The role of the rickshaw-puller in Durban has changed with time, from that of providing everyday transport to tourist attraction. Sugar magnate Sir Walter Campbell brought them to the area in 1893. He needed a way to transport his wife around. By 1904, as many as 2,000 rickshaw-pullers operated in Durban, ferrying workers and shoppers with their purchases. However, between 1962 and 1977, rickshaws gradually began to disappear. Today, less than two dozen operate along the beachfront and none in the city. Nevertheless, a short jaunt in one of these man-drawn carriages delights children and adults alike.
