Passport/Visa Requirements: Citizens of Canada and the U.S. need passports but not visas. Proof of sufficient funds and onward passage are also required. Proof of yellow-fever inoculation is required of anyone entering South Africa from an area infected with the disease. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
Population: 2,631,000.
Languages: English, Zulu, Afrikaans.
Predominant Religions: Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish.
Time Zone: 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 27, country code; 31,Durban city code;
| Currency Exchange | Top  |
The unit of currency is the rand (R). Bank notes are issued in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200; coins in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5.
Following years of instability, the South African rand is on the upswing, meaning that South Africa is no longer as inexpensive of a destination as it previously was. Yet it is still much less expensive than Europe and North America. You can exchange currency at bureaux de change offices (available in most shopping centers) and at many hotels and banks. ATMs are widely available, especially at shopping centers and malls. They accept major credit cards and bank cards (provided you have a PIN).
Because of vandalism, some ATMs automatically switch off after 10 pm or during weekends. For this reason, withdrawing money late at night usually involves some effort—ask at your hotel or a business in the area for advice. Always exercise caution when withdrawing money from the machines. Banks are open Monday-Friday 9 am-3:30 pm, Saturday 8-11 am.
All goods and services are subject to a value-added tax (VAT) of 14%. You can get a refund on purchases of more than R250. A VAT refund guide is available at most shops. To claim your refund, go to the International Departures Hall at Durban International Airport. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to do this before boarding (there's usually a long line). You'll need the original tax invoices, your passport and the goods you bought ready for inspection. Be prepared to fill out some paperwork.
Tip a minimum of 15% in restaurants, more if you feel the standard of service warrants it. Tip hotel bellhops and baggage handlers R2-R5 per piece of luggage.
At night, the popular tourist areas along the beachfront are regulated by parking attendants wearing bright, neon-colored bibs and equipped with business cards. They are employed by restaurants, bars and clubs to ensure the safety of vehicles. Feel free to tip them according to the length of time you leave your vehicle in their care. For a long night, tip them R10, for a two- or three-hour meal, R5.
Durban has a subtropical climate that is fairly constant year-round with high humidity levels on the coast during summer; inland areas are more temperate. Swimming in the sea can be enjoyed all year, as the warm waters of the Indian Ocean rarely fall below 65 F/17 C. Temperatures range 60-77 F/16-25 C in winter and 73-91 F/23-33 C during summer (September-April). January is generally Durban's hottest month, with an average daily temperature of 90 F/32 C. The city also boasts 320 days of sunshine on average per year.
| Weather Forecast | Top  |
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| Pressure: | 1019.97271632 Millibars | | Dew Point: | 62 °F/ 17 °C | | Humidity: | % | | Visibility: | 3 Miles / 6 Kilometers | | Wind: | 8 MPH / 13 KPH ENE | | Comfort Index: | 69 °F/ 21 °F | | Last Updated: | 10/15/2008 10:00:00 AM |
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| THU | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS | 78 °F
26 °C | 66 °F
19 °C | | FRI | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| MAINLY SUNNY | 71 °F
22 °C | 60 °F
16 °C | | SAT | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS | 71 °F
22 °C | 59 °F
15 °C | | SUN | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS | 73 °F
23 °C | 59 °F
15 °C | | MON | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS | 77 °F
25 °C | 60 °F
16 °C |
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| What to Wear | Top |
Comfortable, lightweight clothing that is casual is what you'll need for most of the year in Durban. In winter, a jacket or coat may be needed, particularly in the evenings. Safari clothing and comfortable shoes are suggested for game reserves and hiking expeditions. With the exception of a few upmarket restaurants and hotels, casual dress is the norm there. South African women, however, are rather modest when it comes to beachwear. You won't find most local women diving into the ocean in a bikini or even a revealing one-piece bathing suit (locals refer to swimwear as "costumes"). Instead, most women, particularly Indians and Africans, will wear some covering over their swimwear.
| Communication | Top |
| Internet Access | Top |
You'll find Internet services, including Wi-Fi hot spots, at most Durban hotels and at area shopping malls. Durban Online is located at uShaka Village Walk (phone 337-1818) on the beachfront, and Kaya e-Cafe (phone 304-5932) on Broad Street.
| Mail & Package Services | Top |
Post Office branches are available throughout the city, and you can buy stamps at all locations. Stamps are also becoming widely available at newsstands and small local shops. Post Office hours are generally Monday-Friday 8 am-4:30 pm, Wednesday 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Saturday 8 am-noon. Durban's Central Post Office is located at the corner of West and Gardiner streets. Phone 336-333. There's also a Post Office at the airport.
| Newspapers & Magazines | Top |
The Natal Mercury (morning newspaper), The Daily News (evening) and the Saturday Independent (published Saturday only) are English-language newspapers that can be purchased at newsstands and grocery stores and from curbside hawkers. The Zulu-language daily is Ilanga. The Sunday Tribune is a locally published Sunday paper. However, the nationally circulated Sunday Times has a local section. The Post is a newspaper that comes out on Wednesday, and it targets the Indian population. Although published in Johannesburg, the Mail and Guardian, an English-language weekly, is well worth buying to read in-depth news stories about South Africa, and it always features some news and events that take place in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.
Practically everyone in South Africa has a cell phone, or at least it seems that way. In fact, South Africa's three cellular operators claim they provide coverage to more than 20 million subscribers, which means that almost half of the people in the country have a cell phone.
The communications network in South Africa is 99% digital and coverage is fairly widespread, except for perhaps in rural areas and outlying game reserves. Visitors can rent phones at the airport or at locations in the city. You can also purchase a SIM card to use with your own cell phone while in the country. Prices to rent a phone are extremely reasonable, and it is highly recommended that you get one if you plan to drive yourself to destinations.
Most pay phones come in pairs, one for coins and one for cards. A card may be purchased at local post office branches, the airport, CNA bookstores, grocery stores and small shops. It is available in denominations of R10, R20, R50 and R100. You may also rent a cell phone at the airport. The kiosk is located in the arrivals terminal, and it's open Monday-Saturday 6 am-9 pm, Sunday 7 am-9 pm.
| Transportation | Top |
Durban International Airport is 10 mi/16 km south of the city center. A number of international airlines, including South African Airways, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air Mauritius, Air Zimbabwe and Swazi Express, fly in and out of the airport. There are also frequent domestic connections linking most cities in South Africa.
However, although the airport is capable of handling international, regional, domestic and charter flights, there are not many intercontinental flights direct to or from Durban—most come or go via Johannesburg or Cape Town. Construction of a new airport, the King Shaka International Airport, is expected to change that situation. The airport will be located in La Mercy, an area north of Durban. Plans for the King Shaka airport have been on the drawing board for 40 years, but the World Soccer Cup has added impetus for its completion. And when complete, the current Durban International Airport will close.
Taxis, coach and shuttle services, and car rental agencies all operate from the airport.
Major routes include Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Harare, Bulawayo, East London, Pretoria and the Garden Route. Daily 4:30 am-1 am. N.M.R. Avenue, Motor Coach Terminal, Durban. Phone 334-9720.
Major routes serviced from Durban to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Phone 308-8111. http://www.greyhound.co.za/BookingOffices.asp.
A number of car rental agencies operate in Durban. At the airport, you'll find representatives for 11 different car hire companies, including Avis (phone 408-1777), Imperial (phone 469-0066), Hertz (phone 469-4247), Khaya (phone 469-4057), Europcar (phone 469-0667) and Tempest (phone 469-0660). Driving is on the left-hand side of the road.
At Durban International Airport, taxis leave from the departures terminal. In the city, taxis are not hailed as in some countries, but must be booked in advance. Along the beachfront, however, taxis are plentiful, so finding a driver in a parked taxi should be easy.
Cab companies include Mozzie Cabs (phone 086-066-9943); Eagle Radio Taxis (phone 337-8333); Bunny Cabs (phone 332-2914); The London Cab Co. (phone 566-366); and Zippy Cabs (phone 202-7067).
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. Always travel first-class (the tickets are not expensive); third-class is overcrowded and unsafe. Be alert when waiting on isolated station platforms in the evening or on weekends. Although steps are being taken to improve safety on trains and in stations, it's always preferable to travel with a friend except during rush hour (7:30-9 am and 4-6 pm). Timetables are available from CNA (newsagents) and the Durban Station information kiosk at Umgeni Road. Phone 361-3388 for inquiries, 086-000-888 for reservations.
| For More Information | Top |
| Tourist Offices | Top |
ACSA shares an information kiosk with Durban Africa and Tourism KwaZulu-Natal at Durban International Airport. Travelers can pick up maps, as well as information on events, attractions and accommodations in the city. Open Monday-Saturday 8 am-9 pm, Sunday 9 am-9 pm. Phone 451-6548.
Durban Africa is the tourism and marketing arm of the eThekwini municipality. It operates three tourist-information centers. The largest one is located at 160 Pine St. on the first floor of the Tourist Junction in the Old Station building. A variety of brochures and publications on Durban and all of South Africa are available there. Book-a-Bed-Ahead is a free, full reservation service through which you can book accommodations at more than 500 recommended establishments countrywide. Durban Africa is also the appointed reservation agent for KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife and South African National Parks. Branch offices are located on the beachfront in the Joe Kool's restaurant complex, at uShaka Marine World and in the domestic arrivals hall of Durban International Airport. Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 9 am-4 pm. Phone 304-4934. http://www.durbanexperience.co.za.
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal is true to its name: It promotes all locations in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, including Durban. Information centers for Tourism KwaZulu-Natal are located at the Durban International Airport (phone 408-1000), the Tourist Junction, Suite 303, 160 Pine St., in the central business district of Durban (phone 336-7500). http://www.durban.kzn.org.za/durban.
